Nepal’s Department of Immigration launches online route permits for restricted areas

KATHMANDU: In a significant move to streamline and expedite the process for tourists, Nepal’s Department of Immigration (DoI) has introduced an online system for obtaining route permits for both domestic and foreign travelers visiting restricted areas. Previously, these permits were issued manually on paper.

This initiative by the DoI aims to enhance the convenience for tourists seeking access to restricted regions, eliminating the need for physical paperwork. Binod Sapkota, General Secretary of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), stated that tourists can now acquire “route permits” online, making the process more accessible.

Magical Nepal Pvt Ltd has successfully issued online route permits to three Chinese citizens, namely Bing Si, Chichi Ping, and Winhua Luo. This digitalization of permit issuance is expected to particularly benefit tourists exploring upper Mustang, upper Dolpo, Chum and Nubri valleys in the Manaslu region of Gorkha, as well as Simikot, Changkheli, Namkha in Humla, and Kanchenjunga in Taplejung.

TAAN President Nilhari Bastola expressed optimism about the positive impact of online route permits on trekking experiences for tourists and entrepreneurs alike. He emphasized that such digital services contribute to attracting more tourists to Nepal, ultimately benefiting the tourism industry.

Acting Director General of DoI, Krishna Bahadur Katuwal, highlighted the efficiency brought by the online permit system, putting an end to the lengthy and cumbersome manual process. Tourists can now easily obtain permits through their company and personal accounts using ‘QR payment,’ ushering in a new era of convenience in the trekking permit system.