A passport is a mandatory document for everyone for international travel. For an average Nepali citizen, making a passport has become quite a norm as thousands are fleeing every day for abroad study and job opportunities. So, this article will all be about how to apply for an epassport in Nepal.
How to apply for an epassport in Nepal?
Documents required for passport application in Nepal
- National Identity Number (NIN)
- Citizenship
- Marriage/Divorce Certificate (If married)
What’s an ePassport?
Before heading to the process, let’s learn about the e-passport first. So, an e-passport is an electronic passport that contains all of your info such as name, address, birth date, signature, and other info. All these sets of information are stored digitally inside a chip, just like on the National ID Card (NID). The Government of Nepal introduced the e-passport on the 17th of November 2021. And Satya Mohan Joshi was the first Nepali citizen to receive it.
Also known as the biometric passport, it replaced the Machine Readable Passport (MRP). Made by IDEMIA, a French company, the e-passports are more secure than the last-gen MRPs.
Steps of applying for an e-passport in Nepal
- First, you can go through this website: https://emrtds.nepalpassport.gov.np/
- Then, click on the “First Issuance” option.
- Choose the Ordinary 34 pages or 66 pages option and hit the proceed option. (For the moment, only the 34-page option is available)
- Book the appointment date by putting your current province, district, and location.
- Select the date of appointment. Do note, that the appointment dates are subject to appear as per quota basis. So, you might have to keep checking it time and again.
- Fill in the demographic information such as surname, name, gender, DOB, place of birth, birth country, nationality, etc.
- Then, type your citizenship information correctly, then, your contact details and emergency contact details.
- After that, you need to upload your citizenship’s front and back. Make sure the image size is under 300KB.
- Review the application summary and make edits if necessary. And save it after filling up the CAPTCHA.
- Then, you’ll get the reference number copy it for future reference, and paste it into your desired notes app.
- Download the application profile and print the downloaded form.
- Then, go to the designated office on the appointed date with all necessary documents alongside the printed bar-coded application form.
- Your biometrics will be taken on the appointment date alongside the payment.
- You might have to wait for a month to get your e-passport.
Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the validity period of a passport in Nepal?
A passport is valid for 10 years from the date of issue in Nepal.
How many types of passports are there in Nepal?
There are four types of passports in Nepal: Ordinary e-passport, Diplomatic e-passport, Official e-passport, and Peacekeeper’s e-passport.
How much does it cost to obtain a passport in Nepal?
It costs NPR 5,000 for an ordinary e-passport with 34 pages while the 66-page one costs NPR 10,000.
What’s the price for an emergency passport in Nepal?
You need to pay NPR 12,000 – NPR 15,000 to get an emergency passport on the same day of application.
