Nepal Overhauls Visa System to Address Policy Gaps and Abuse
Summary
Nepal is overhauling its outdated visa system, replacing nine traditional visa categories with 17 proposed types to address loopholes, misuse, and illegal activity. The new bill would add specialized visas for sportspersons, medical visitors, and spiritual practitioners.
Key Points
- The Department of Immigration says Nepal’s decades-old immigration law has created major policy gaps and opportunities for abuse.
- A new bill proposes 17 visa categories to replace the current nine and better match foreigners’ purposes for visiting Nepal.
- The reform would introduce sports, medical, and spiritual visas, while also tightening monitoring of foreign nationals.
- Officials say the changes aim to curb misuse of business, dependent, and tourist visas and stop illegal activities.
