KATHMANDU, Nov 6: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured the public that the ongoing shortage of passport booklets is being actively addressed, as the government won’t leave any stone unturned to meet the high demand for passports from service seekers.
There have been reports of acute shortages of passports due to excessively high demand on a regular basis. The MoFA, clearing the air on Thursday, said the shortage is not as severe as has been reported. The MoFA noted that the Department of Passport had already signed a purchase agreement a few months ago with a new supplier for electronic passports, paving the way for a more stable passport supply in the future.
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According to the MoFA, installation of infrastructure and systems is progressing rapidly, with full passport services expected to resume from February 23, 2026.
MoFA Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said, "We are currently in a transitional period of handover–takeover between the new supplier and the current supplier. According to the new purchase agreement, the new service provider is confirmed to start passport production from February 23."
While essential passport services continue to operate, the MoFA has requested that only individuals with urgent needs—such as medical treatment, immediate employment or difficulties abroad—proceed with the current application process.
The MoFA has also appealed to the public for patience and cooperation during this transitional phase. Spokesperson Chhetri added that measures have been implemented since 5 PM on November 3 to accept applications from up to 1,000 applicants daily (excluding the day before a public holiday) to manage urgent demand effectively.
The MoFA expects these arrangements to address the immediate need for passports and has urged citizens to apply only when absolutely necessary until full services are operational from February 23.
