KATHMANDU, June 10: It is common for Indian and Nepali citizens to travel to third countries using airports in Nepal or India, but doing so without fulfilling certain formal requirements is unusual. While Nepalis frequently use Indian airports for international travel, Indian citizens have long used Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to reach third countries by obtaining a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the Immigration Office.
From the tenure of Ram Bahadur Thapa to that of Ramesh Lekhak, a total of 75,876 Indian citizens travelled to third countries via TIA. According to Immigration Office data, Indian citizens frequently used TIA to travel abroad during the terms of five Home Ministers—sometimes bypassing regulations set by the Home Ministry, sources from the Immigration Department revealed.
Rabi Lamichhane, chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), served twice as Home Minister for short periods. During his combined tenure, 8,279 Indian citizens travelled to third countries from TIA. Although his terms were brief compared to other Home Ministers, the travel volume remained significant.
During Rabi's second term, 7,040 Indian citizens travelled to third countries via TIA within just four months—an average of 58 travellers per day. In his earlier one-month-and-two-day tenure, when he also served as Deputy Prime Minister, 1,239 Indian citizens travelled abroad, averaging 38 per day.
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Sources stated that the highest number of Indian citizens travelling without a No Objection Certificate occurred during Rabi's term. Immigration data show that Indian citizens travelled to destinations including Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE (Dubai), Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
Although the Immigration Department requires all Indian citizens using Nepal's airports to present an NOC issued by the Indian Embassy, many have travelled without providing this document.
During Narayan Kaji Shrestha’s tenure as Home Minister, representing the Maoist Centre, 14,074 Indian citizens travelled to third countries via TIA over one year and three days—averaging 38 travellers per day. Most travelled to China, Thailand, Malaysia, the UAE, and Sri Lanka.
Ram Bahadur Thapa (Badal) served the longest among the recent Home Ministers—three years, four months, and 16 days. During his tenure, 15,032 Indian citizens used TIA to travel to third countries, with an average of 12 travellers per day. Although Thapa's tenure was longer than Shrestha’s, fewer Indian citizens travelled during his time in office.
Data show that Nepali Congress leader Bal Krishna Khand oversaw the highest number of Indian citizens travelling to third countries via TIA during his tenure as Home Minister. Over one year, five months, and 13 days in office, 24,621 Indian citizens travelled abroad via TIA—an average of 47 travellers per day.
Similarly, during the three months when Maoist Centre chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal briefly held the Home Ministry portfolio, 82 Indian citizens travelled to third countries. Immigration data indicate an average of one traveller per day during his tenure, with Bhutan and Dubai being the most common destinations.
During Ramesh Lekhak’s tenure of nearly 11 months, 13,788 Indian citizens travelled from Nepal’s airports to third countries. At the time, the then Chief of the Immigration Department at the airport, Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, launched an investigation into how many Indian citizens had used Nepal’s airports during different tenures. This came after two most-wanted Indian nationals, involved in smuggling 95 kilograms of gold, were able to leave without obstruction. Authorities are currently debating whether to investigate visa and visit visa issues dating back to the year 2064 BS.
The Immigration Department stated that travellers have used Nepal’s airports as a transit route to third countries for decades. Director General Govinda Rijal clarified that this practice is not unlawful. “Indian citizens using Nepal’s airports to travel to third countries is not a new issue. They use it as a transit point, just like Nepali citizens do. It is not illegal,” Rijal said.
