Khaleej Times

ABU DHABI, Jun 28 — The Ministry of Interior will soon launch a new round-the-clock service allowing clients to obtain visas via the Internet on the same day without the need to report to the Department of Naturalisation and Residency.

This new service is part of an innovative package of services that will allow clients to process immigration transactions in a friendly way even from their offices and homes, Lt-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, said in a reply to a question posed by Khaleej Times. He was speaking after the signing yesterday of an agreement in this regard with a specialised company.

“The agreement to process transactions via the Internet aims at simplification of procedures and alleviation of burden on clients who will soon obtain visas via the internet whether they are inside or outside the country,” Shaikh Saif explained.

Clients, he added, can directly contact various sections which means more excellent services will be provided by the ministry.

Brigadier Mohammed Salim Al Khaili, Director of the Interior Ministry's Department for Naturalisation and Residency, told Khaleej Times that under the new service, clients can apply for all kinds of visas via the internet through the ministry's web site. The applicant will have to fill in the form and pay the fees through credit card. After a few hours, the client can get the visa.

''Fees will be less than that charged in the traditional process,'' he affirmed.

'Arrangements will be initiated immediately so as to put the service in place in three months at the maximum. The service will be available inside and outside the country within nine months,'' he said.

Brigadier Mattar Salim Al Neyadi, Director of Interior Ministry's IT Systems, noted that the agreement features re-engineering the unified data base at the systems of naturalisation, residency and criminal security. A three-tier modern system for internet-based integrated infrastructure, mechanisms for processing transactions through the smart form which contains a bar code and personal information and photo will be developed under the agreement.

He affirmed that the service would be available round the clock.  ''The Interior Ministry is currently coordinating with the Foreign Ministry to enable embassies abroad issue visas through the new service,'' he said, adding that 150 employees were trained to run the new system which will be based at the ministry's headquarters.