Department of Immigration Initiates Probe into Unauthorized Passport Annotations

Kathmandu. The Department of Immigration has initiated disciplinary action against officials who improperly annotated the passports of Nepali citizens traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with unauthorized conditions.

The department expressed serious concern after images circulated on social media and news outlets showing handwritten notes stating, 'Employment is strictly prohibited. Visit till' alongside departure stamps on travelers' passports.

In a press release issued by Department Director and Spokesperson Tikaram Dhakal, it was stated, 'It is not the policy or decision of the immigration administration to impose conditions on any Nepali citizen beyond the scope of the law when granting departure permission.'

An internal investigation has been launched to take action against employees who engaged in illegal practices outside of prevailing laws and departmental decisions. The Department of Immigration also clarified that the process for traveling abroad on a visit visa has recently been further organized and simplified.

According to the department, based on the Government of Nepal's decision on Kartik 13, Nepali citizens traveling on a visit visa can easily depart by making a 'self-declaration' if they possess a passport valid for at least six months, a visa for the destination country, and a round-trip air ticket. The statement added, 'The department is implementing policy facilitation and system modernization to control fraud and exploitation that capitalize on the vulnerabilities of citizens. In such a situation, it is wrong for employees to write unnecessary remarks on passports based on personal discretion.' The department also stated that it is committed to making passenger movement hassle-free and strengthening national security.

Following public outcry on social media regarding the 'arbitrary' actions of officials on sensitive government documents like passports, the department immediately launched an investigation into the involved personnel.