Frequently asked questions about Fumba Town and Zanzibar.

In a meeting with our investment advisers, we show you all available properties, their locations in the city's master plan and the different floor plans. Once you transfer a reservation fee, the property is blocked for you. After that:

• About 4 days after the reservation fee, you receive your individual contract.
• You have 30 days to return the signed contract.
• 30 days after signing, you transfer the first instalment. You then receive a document from the government authority ZIPA securing your claim to the property, similar to a priority notice of conveyance.

Once your first instalment has been received, ZIPA issues you a document comparable to a priority notice of conveyance. After full payment, ZIPA issues a title deed and an investment certificate. You are then the 100 % owner of the house or apartment you bought.

At the same time, you receive a leasehold on the land, or an ownership share in the case of apartment buildings, for 99 years. The term starts when the deed is issued.

Yes. You need an extract from the commercial register showing the shareholders. If there are several shareholders, one shareholder and their family can apply for the Golden Visa for two years at a time. After that, the same or another person from the company can apply for the visa again.

Payment is made by international bank transfer. Transfers from Europe, and from Germany in particular, are common practice. In rare cases, your bank may ask for additional documents such as the purchase contract. You will receive these as part of the purchase process.

If you live in Germany, foreign transfers of 50,000 € or more must be reported. The report is made by phone to the Bundesbank.

Returns come from value growth and rental income. In recent years, average value growth was around 10 % a year, and 20 to 30 % in sought-after locations. Long-term rentals can yield around 5 %, short-term rentals 15 % and more.

For short-term rentals in particular, the furnishing of the apartment matters. That is why we offer high-quality furniture packages, and some properties can be bought fully furnished.

These figures are based on past experience and are not a promise. Actual returns depend on location, property, furnishing and market development.

An example for illustration: a studio is rented out for 240 nights a year at 150 USD per night and earns 36,000 USD. Of this, around 21,600 USD goes to the owner, 7,200 USD to the management and 7,200 USD to taxes (around 10 % on rental income in Zanzibar) and estimated running costs.

Depending on the property, the operator expects an occupancy of up to 68 % a year and rates of 150 to 175 USD per night. Depending on where you are resident, rental income may also be taxable in your home country. Taxes paid in Zanzibar are usually credited. Our partner Perspektive Ausland can advise you on tax questions.

The Town Operations Company (TOC) runs and manages Fumba Town and offers property management services. These include:

• Maintenance through regular inspections, servicing and repairs
• Tenant support and a contact person for questions
• Rental management, including tenancy agreements and viewings
• Management and upkeep of common areas
• Security management for residents and visitors
• Financial management, including rent collection and statements
• Rental and guest services, including via Airbnb and Booking.com

When renting through the operator, the owner typically receives 50 to 60 % of the income, 20 % goes to the operator and around 20 % to taxes and running costs. Whether you rent through TOC, use other partners or rent out yourself is entirely up to you.

The annual fee for all city services is around 1.10 USD per m², so about 50 USD a month for a 50 m² apartment. In premium developments with a private pool, gym or concierge, it is up to 2 USD per m². A backup power supply can be added for 0.09 USD per m². The fees cover infrastructure, security and maintenance, among other things.

Demand for housing and tourist infrastructure is growing strongly. Around 26,000 housing units and about 5,000 hotel rooms are currently needed. Infrastructure is being expanded, including a new airport terminal for around 1.5 million travellers a year. Investors from more than 70 countries are already investing in the region.

Yes. You can arrange an individual appointment, and we will take 1 to 2 hours for a tour and advice, usually in English. Just write to office@fumbatown.agency.

Alternatively, an investor trip offers 1 to 3 full days in German, with accommodation, half board and workshops. You will also get to know the island and the old town of Stone Town, and questions about visas, setting up a company and taxes are discussed in detail. The workshops take place every 3 to 4 months.

The Golden Visa is a residence permit for Tanzania and Zanzibar, linked to a property investment of at least 100,000 USD (around 91,000 €). It covers up to 6 people, usually the parents and up to 4 financially dependent children. You are entitled to it for as long as you own the property. The visa in your passport is renewed every 2 years.

We are happy to explain the age limit for children in a personal conversation. Older children can no longer receive a visa through their parents' investment. They can invest themselves or use another visa, such as a student or work visa.

For the renewal every two years, the fees are:

• approx. 500 USD for the main applicant
• approx. 50 USD for each additional person

You can find the legal basis on the website of the ZIPA authority: https://www.zipa.go.tz/services/investment-incentives/

Yes. Retirees aged 55 and over do not need to invest 100,000 USD. They can apply for the retirement visa (Resident Permit Class C, Retirement) and prove with a pension statement or other passive income such as rent or interest that their living costs are covered. The visa is valid for 12 months and is renewed every year. Student or work visas are other options. Which option suits you depends on your situation, and we are happy to advise you.

Yes. Zanzibar offers foreign retirees the Class C Residence Permit. Communities like Fumba Town are designed for international long-term residents.

Remote work for foreign employers is generally possible. Working for a Tanzanian company requires a separate work permit. Tourist and retirement visas usually do not allow you to work locally.

The Golden Visa is a residence permit, not citizenship. Naturalisation is generally possible after around 10 years. Tanzania currently does not allow dual citizenship, so you would have to give up other citizenships. If you want to give up your current citizenship, the Golden Visa alone is not a solution. Our partner planbProjekt.com advises on alternatives.

In Fumba Town, every apartment and house has a fibre connection. The internet is fast and reliable, and many international residents work remotely for companies abroad. In hotels in holiday areas, the internet is often not reliable enough. With a local prepaid SIM card you get affordable LTE there, which you can use as a hotspot.

Starlink currently works through a roaming contract. Zanzibar plans to approve Starlink soon, and affordable regional plans are then expected. Negotiations between Starlink and Tanzania are ongoing.

Many digital nomads and freelancers live and work in the city. That is why there is an optional backup power supply that switches on automatically during an outage. It costs 0.09 USD per m², so 4.50 USD a month for 50 m². In December 2024, electricity cost 8.9 US cents per kWh.

For a permanent stay abroad, international health insurance is advisable, although some providers limit the contract term to 5 years. Commonly used providers are PassportCard, BDAE and Henner. For investors and residents in Fumba Town, we have agreed special terms with PassportCard if you enquire through us.

You need a tourist visa for 50 USD, which you can get online or at the airport. It is valid for up to 90 days. Applying at the airport can take 30 minutes or longer, so it is worth applying online: https://visa.immigration.go.tz/

Since 1 October 2024, travel and health insurance taken out in Zanzibar is also mandatory. It costs 44 USD per person, with family and group discounts: https://visitzanzibar.go.tz/

Many websites offer the visa application for unnecessarily high fees. You can do it yourself or directly at the airport.

Yes. It is one visa, so you can travel to both the mainland and the island, by domestic flight or ferry.

Zanzibar is increasingly becoming an international location for investors and expats. This includes the expansion of the airport, fibre internet, a growing international community and urban development projects like Fumba Town. Fumba Town is a free economic zone. People from more than 70 nations already live here, a solar power plant is planned and a backup power system is in place. Most streets are cul-de-sacs, so traffic is calm.

Yes, Zanzibar can be reached directly from more than 20 countries. Current examples are Edelweiss from Zurich, Condor, Lufthansa and Discover Airlines from Frankfurt, KLM from Amsterdam and connections from Rome and Milan, among others. A new terminal has been built and will open soon, bringing more flights.

DHL is reliable and fast, and there is a DHL drop-off point in Fumba Town. Amazon delivers products that sellers have released for worldwide shipping, and there are Amazon forwarding services via the UK (5 GBP per kg). Residents of Fumba Town can order from IKEA in Dubai, plus customs and shipping.

Yes, both in Zanzibar and in Dar es Salaam, just 25 minutes away by plane. A pilot's licence is possible from around 5,000 USD. We are happy to advise you.

Rental income in Zanzibar is taxed at around 10 %. Depending on where you are resident, this can be credited in your home country, so double taxation is often avoided. Fumba Town is a free economic zone with special conditions:

• No tax on foreign income
• Half the rate on domestic taxes
• 99-year leasehold instead of 33 years

Please clarify tax questions with a tax adviser. Our partner Perspektive Ausland is happy to help.

The German developer CPS works with three construction companies, two of which are run directly by experienced German and Swiss site managers. In total, more than 300 people are employed and continuously trained.

Lessons from earlier projects flow into new ones. The façade paint, for example, was adapted to the tropical climate, and a façade solution from a Norwegian manufacturer is currently used. The façade coating is renewed when needed at no extra cost to owners.

Many of the buildings are built using modern timber construction developed for African climate conditions. Protective measures:

• Drying the timber to around 8 % moisture
• Structural designs that prevent pest infestation
• A combination of material and construction

If you like, we can show you the production facilities on site.

Modern engineered timber products from Europe (Germany, Austria) are used. For CheiChei Living, African engineered timber from South Africa is used for the first time. CPS planted all the trees in the city, mostly in soil it produced itself.