Nepal Suspends On-Arrival Visa Facility for Iranian Nationals Amid Regional Security Concerns

Kathmandu. The government has stopped the 'on-arrival' visa facility previously provided to Iranian citizens. The Ministry of Home Affairs made this decision, effective from Falgun 29, taking into account the escalating military tensions and security challenges in West Asia.

Following the directive from the Home Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has implemented this decision, and relevant bodies have been informed about the new regulation.

Under the new arrangement, Iranian citizens, except those holding diplomatic or official passports, must now mandatorily obtain a pre-visa from a Nepali embassy or mission abroad before entering Nepal.

Previously, Iranian citizens had the facility to obtain a visa upon arrival at Nepal's airport or entry points. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the visa restrictions have been tightened due to concerns that Iranian citizens might enter Nepal under various pretexts due to the conflict raging in West Asia, and potentially use Nepali territory to travel to other countries.

Nepal had already stopped granting on-arrival visas to citizens from 12 other countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria. With the inclusion of Iran in this list, Nepal has now deprived citizens from 13 countries of the facility to obtain visas at the border points.

The Department of Immigration has increased surveillance, particularly in light of the possibility that citizens from conflict-ridden areas might enter Nepal as refugees or become involved in other suspicious activities.