KATHMANDU, Nov 1: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has introduced a new guideline allowing Nepali citizens to travel abroad on a visit visa under their own responsibility through a self-declaration process.
According to the Department of Immigration (DoI) under MoHA, travelers must now submit a self-declaration stating that they are traveling for visit purposes, possess all necessary documents, and will take full responsibility for any consequences arising from their travel.
The provision was simplified following criticism that visit visa procedures were being misused by officials and intermediaries.
Director General of the DoI, Ram Chandra Tiwari, said the previous six-point guideline—considered controversial—has been scrapped and replaced with the new one. “The government has made the visa process easier,” he said, urging citizens not to fall under the influence of middlemen and to ensure they are fully informed about their destination and travel plans before departure.
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Under the new provision, travelers must have a passport valid for at least six months, a visa or on-arrival eligibility for the destination country, a flight ticket to their destination, and the required self-declaration. The system came into effect on Friday.
“All Nepali citizens are requested to travel confidently and responsibly, being fully informed about their journey and destination without being influenced by any intermediaries,” the DoI said in a statement. It also urged local levels and district administration offices to help disseminate this information to citizens.
Previously, the six-point guideline required travelers to have a passport valid for at least six months, a visa (or on-arrival eligibility) for the destination country, a two-way air ticket, proof of hotel booking for the visit, or documents showing family relations within three generations if staying with relatives. They also had to present an invitation letter from a government or non-government organization covering travel expenses, or proof of currency exchange equivalent to at least USD 500.
For travelers to the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia on visit visas, a self-declaration in accordance with Schedule 2 was mandatory, with the traveler bearing full responsibility for the information provided.
The DoI stated that all these provisions were nullified following a ministerial-level decision by MoHA on October 30 and replaced with the new requirements. To address long-standing issues related to entry permits and visit visas, a high-level study and investigation committee had previously recommended measures to simplify the visit visa process. Following these recommendations, the Ministry has been gradually making the process more facilitative.
After the Cabinet decision on June 23, a high-level advisory committee was formed under the coordination of former Chief Secretary Shaker Das Bairagi. The committee, which included Joint Secretaries from six different ministries, was tasked with resolving long-standing problems related to entry permits and visit visas.
The committee conducted studies, analyses, and fact-based investigations to facilitate travel for all purposes, including visit visas, and proposed immediate and long-term policy, legal, and structural reforms to address observed issues.
It submitted suggestions, along with a draft, recommending amendments or reviews of existing acts, regulations, procedures, and standards, and also proposed structural and human resource improvements within the immigration management system.
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