Kathmandu- Nepal will begin issuing passports through a new digital system from Monday with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Passports completing final preparations for its nationwide rollout.
The new system is being introduced to make passport services more efficient, simpler and more effective Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri said.
He said the government expects the transition to improve overall service delivery although minor technical issues may arise during the initial phase of implementation. Authorities are working to ensure that passport services remain smooth throughout the transition, he added.
As part of the new arrangement the government has signed an agreement with the Department of Postal Services to ensure that newly printed passports are delivered promptly to the respective District Administration Offices and Area Administration Offices across the country.
Chhetri also said the government has initiated procedures to allow citizens to apply for passports from any district regardless of their permanent place of residence. Once implemented applicants will be able to submit passport applications at the nearest District Administration Office or Area Administration Office where they are currently living eliminating the need to travel to their home district.
The government said the reform is aimed at improving accessibility and reducing the time and inconvenience associated with obtaining passport services.
Officials said the agreement with the postal service will help speed up the distribution of printed passports to local administrative offices enabling applicants to receive their travel documents more quickly after processing.
The new passport system forms part of the government’s broader effort to modernise public service delivery and improve access to essential government services across Nepal.
