For some Nepali migrants, even death does not bring them home
Summary
For some Nepali migrants who die abroad, families are left to fight a maze of ministries and consular offices to bring their bodies home. In many cases, repatriation depends on visa status, employer support, insurance, and crowdfunding — leaving poorer families unable to afford the final journey.
Key Points
- Families of Nepali migrants who die abroad often face months of delays and bureaucratic dead ends trying to repatriate bodies.
- Repatriation costs can run into hundreds of thousands of rupees, especially for workers on visit visas or without employer coverage.
- Nepal’s existing welfare fund covers some labor migrants, but visit-visa holders and others outside the system are often excluded.
- A promised relief and rescue fund at Nepali missions abroad has not been implemented, despite a 2023 cabinet decision.
