Nepal eases visit visa requirements; mandatory USD proof removed, six-month valid passport now sufficient

KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal has officially eased visit visa travel requirements, removing the previous mandatory provision that required Nepali travelers to show a minimum of USD 500, a two-way air ticket, advance hotel booking, or sponsor verification. The decision, made at the ministerial level and announced by the Department of Immigration on Thursday, aims to simplify outbound travel and ensure citizens’ constitutional freedom of mobility.

At a press briefing, the Department of Immigration stated that Nepali citizens traveling abroad on a visit visa will now only need a passport valid for at least six months, a confirmed travel ticket, and—where applicable—entry permission or on-arrival visa eligibility for the destination country. Travelers must also provide a self-declaration acknowledging that the trip is voluntary and that they are responsible for any outcomes, including compliance with immigration and labor laws abroad.

This marks a significant policy shift from earlier rules, under which visit visa travelers were required to show USD 500 in cash, confirmed hotel reservations, or a sponsor guarantee. The previous system had drawn widespread criticism for being difficult, costly, and discriminatory, particularly for working-class migrants and frequent travelers.

According to the Department, the reform stems from the recommendations of a high-level investigation committee formed to address recurring issues in Nepal’s immigration system and eliminate exploitative practices linked to travel agents, brokers, and informal labor migration channels.

The committee noted that travel restrictions, although originally introduced to curb illegal labor migration through visit visas, had unintentionally violated citizens’ fundamental right to movement, guaranteed by Nepal’s Constitution, and had encouraged informal networks that profited from bureaucratic barriers.

In line with the recommendations, the government has revoked the six-point guideline previously implemented on Magh 10, 2080, along with all visit-visa-related directives issued over the years that enforced financial or third-party guarantee requirements.

Officials emphasized that the new policy aims to strike a balance between freedom of travel and immigration integrity, especially at a time when global mobility, international tourism, and labor migration trends are evolving rapidly. Nepal remains one of the major labor migration source countries globally, with citizens traveling to the Gulf states, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the United States for work, study, and short-term visits.

The Department has urged citizens to travel informed and independently, cautioning against reliance on brokers or unregistered agents who often mislead travelers under the pretext of visit visas leading to illegal employment.

“We request Nepali citizens not to fall under the influence of middlemen. Travel only when fully aware of your destination country’s immigration and visa policies,” the Department stated.

The new provisions take effect immediately, allowing travelers greater flexibility during peak travel and migration seasons.