Iranian security ‘threat’ in Nepal or precaution?

KATHMANDU, March 17: As tensions escalate in West Asia following attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, the government of Nepal has suspended the visa-on-arrival facility for Iranian citizens, citing national security concerns.

The move comes amid fears that rising instability in the region could push refugees toward safer destinations, including Nepal. However, the government has stopped short of labeling Iranian nationals as a security threat.

The Department of Immigration Nepal (DoI) said the decision should be viewed as a precautionary measure rather than a response to any confirmed security risk. Officials say people from conflict-affected countries often seek refuge in safer nations and may remain there for extended periods.

Director General Ramchandra Tiwari said the visa suspension was implemented for national security reasons. Iranian citizens must now obtain prior approval from a Nepali embassy or diplomatic mission before travelling to Nepal.

“The visa-on-arrival facility was suspended, considering national security and national interest. The decision was taken in time by learning from past shortcomings. No other context besides Nepal’s national interest is attached to it,” Tiwari said.

According to the DoI, the rule will not apply to Iranian citizens holding diplomatic or official passports. “The visa-on-arrival facility available at entry points for ordinary passport holders has been suspended,” Tiwari said.

Authorities had already begun tightening entry rules for Iranian citizens after the conflict began. Nepal first reduced the visa validity for Iranian nationals from 30 days to 15 days, then suspended the facility altogether.

Officials say the move also aims to prevent Iranians staying in neighboring countries, particularly India, from entering Nepal.

Nepal has previously experienced refugee inflows during regional conflicts. During internal unrest in Myanmar, a significant number of Rohingya entered Nepal, and many continue to live in the country as refugees. Authorities say similar situations could arise if regional tensions intensify.

Officials also say some Iranian nationals have entered Nepal through land routes in the past and remained in the country for extended periods without visas, prompting the government to take preventive action.

Despite the ongoing conflict, only a small number of Iranian citizens have recently arrived in Nepal. According to the DoI, the war involving Iran began on February 28. Between March 1 and March 14, 19 Iranian nationals entered Nepal and were granted 15-day visas.

With the latest decision, the number of countries whose citizens are ineligible for visa-on-arrival in Nepal has reached 13. The facility had already been suspended for citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria due to security and immigration concerns.

The DoI has also tightened entry rules for individuals holding refugee travel documents. Such individuals must now complete visa procedures at Nepali embassies abroad before traveling.

Officials say the stricter policy is partly aimed at preventing Nepal from becoming a hub for refugees. Currently, citizens from nine countries are living in Nepal as refugees. Including refugees from Tibet and Bhutan, people from 11 countries are taking shelter in Nepal.

Authorities also point to the poor track record of Iranian nationals in Nepal as a factor behind the decision. According to the DoI, cases involving fake passports and visa overstays have contributed to the stricter policy.

Of the 496 foreign nationals deported by Nepal in 2024, 18 were Iranian. Seven were deported for overstaying their visas, while the remaining 11 were expelled for using fake passports or visas.

Considering these records, the DoI decided to suspend the visa-on-arrival facility for Iranian citizens.