ARUSHA, Tanzania, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania will soon start using a digitalized system in offering both residential and work permits for foreigners whereas candidates will be required to apply for both documents at once, a senior official said Thursday.
Under the new digitalized system, foreigners will be required to submit applications online.
Jenister Mhagama, Tanzania's Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, said in the capital Dodoma that the country's immigration department in the Home Affairs Ministry, has already started working on the new arrangements which are expected to reduce complaints and corruption amongst migration officers.
"The new system will control corruption among some few dishonest servants and improve the provision of services", said the minister, noting that the changes are inevitable following global technological developments.
She said the aim is to completely shift from the current manual system where each of the permits is issued separately.
The minister explained that through online applications, the government will easily identify dishonest workers in the immigration department.
Mhagama mentioned the other benefit of the new system whereby it will help control the influx of foreigners and provide correct statistics on the number of people from abroad seeking jobs in the country.
"Once a foreigner applies for a work permit, Tanzanian officials will have to find out whether there are no qualified locals who can fill such specific position. We want to ensure Tanzanian graduates get jobs before we offer chances to people from outside the country", she noted.
Mwigulu Nchemba, Tanzania's Home Affairs Minister said the digitalized permit application system will fast-track the process as responses will be sent to applicants within a short period.
