Passport impasse: Stock critically low, Nepal can’t accept fresh deliveries due to corruption case
Summary
Nepal faces a critical shortage of passport booklets as half a million unused passports are stuck due to a corruption case involving German companies, complicating the government's ability to meet high passport demand amid diplomatic tensions.
Key Points
- Nepal's passport department has fewer than 45,000 booklets left while half a million passports from German company Veridos GmbH remain unused due to a corruption case.
- Charges were filed against officials and representatives of Veridos GmbH and Muehlbauer ID Service GmbH by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority regarding the electronic passport procurement contract.
- The corruption case has created a diplomatic issue with German firms lodging complaints to the German foreign ministry, which held a cordial discussion with Nepal's acting ambassador.
- Nepal must decide whether to use the German passports under investigation or obtain new booklets from IDEMIA, which plans to exit Nepal soon, risking a passport shortage amid high daily demand.
