KIGALI -The government has scrapped work permits for foreigners with Masters’ degrees and above, the Ministry of Public Service, Skills Development and Labour, has announced.

Speaking at a news conference this week, Public Service minister Prof. Manasseh Nshuti, said Rwanda considered the move as a way of building capacity within the country.

"Our immigration policy opened up for expatriates with high skills to freely work in Rwanda without being charged work permit fee," Nshuti said.

He clarified that not all foreigners will have access to this free service, saying the government has set up criteria of knowing who should benefit from the initiative.

"One of the criterion is that an expatriate has to be having at least a Masters degree or above," he said.

The revolutionary move comes after President Paul Kagame promised to scrap work permits for East African citizens as a way of facilitating free movement of goods, services and people, within the five-nation community.

Kagame made the pledge last November in his speech at the Commonwealth Business Forum held in Kampala, Uganda.

The step taken by Rwanda is seen as extraordinary as neighboring countries, such as Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, still charge work permit fees on foreigners.

However, Nshuti said that the move to scrap work permits may not continue for a long time.

"After Rwandans develop capacity, we could close doors and every foreigner pay for work permits," he said

A work permit costs Frw200, 000 annually.

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