BRELA ORS: How to Use Tanzania's Online Registration System
A plain guide to BRELA ORS, Tanzania's Online Registration System: creating an account, name clearance, registering a company or business name, paying, annual returns, and checking a registered company.
ORS is the Online Registration System of BRELA, the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency of Tanzania. It is where companies and business names are registered, where name clearance happens, and where registered companies file their updates and annual returns. This guide explains what you can do on BRELA ORS, step by step.
What you can do on BRELA ORS
- Name clearance and reservation for a new company or business name
- Company incorporation, including the memorandum and articles of association
- Business name registration for sole traders and partnerships
- Post-registration filings: changes of directors, shareholders, address and other particulars
- Annual returns for registered companies
- Other BRELA services, such as trade and service mark applications
How to register a company on BRELA ORS
- Create an ORS account. Tanzanian individuals register with their national ID (NIDA) number; foreigners use passport details. Verify the account from the confirmation message.
- Clear the name. Search your proposed name. ORS checks it against existing and similar names on BRELA's register. If it is free, reserve it.
- Prepare the documents: the memorandum and articles of association, and the details and identifiers of directors and shareholders (NIN and TIN for Tanzanian residents).
- File the incorporation application on ORS and upload the documents.
- Pay the fees using the government payment control number ORS generates.
- Download the certificate of incorporation once BRELA approves the application. Then register for tax with the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and open bank accounts.
Existing companies and ORS
When BRELA moved its services online, companies registered on paper were required to bring their records into ORS so they could keep filing. A company that never completed this may have out-of-date particulars on the register. If you are dealing with an older Tanzanian company, check that its record is current.
How to check a company registered with BRELA
You do not need an ORS account to check whether a company exists. Search the company's name or registration number on Fylings to see the registered name, status, type and incorporation date from BRELA's register. Our BRELA search guide and how to check if a company is registered in Tanzania go further.
What is BRELA ORS?
ORS is the Online Registration System of BRELA, Tanzania's Business Registrations and Licensing Agency. It handles name clearance, company and business name registration, post-registration changes and annual returns.
What is the BRELA ORS website?
BRELA ORS is at ors.brela.go.tz. You need an account to file, but checking whether a company is registered can be done without one.
How do I pay on BRELA ORS?
ORS generates a government payment control number for each application. You pay against that number through a bank or mobile money, and the payment is matched to your application.
How do I check if a company is registered with BRELA?
Search its name or registration number. On Fylings you can do this free, without an ORS account, and see the company's status and incorporation date.
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