KATHMANDU: The Department of Immigration is moving to replace the 35-year-old Immigration Act of 2049, proposing a new system that introduces 17 distinct visa categories to replace the existing nine. The proposed legislation aims to better regulate the entry and activities of foreign nationals in Nepal.
Department spokesperson Tikaram Dhakal acknowledged that the outdated legal framework has caused significant difficulties for international athletes, investors, and tourists. ‘Our Immigration Act is 34-35 years old, and the regulations are about 32 years old. During this time, the state did not prioritize immigration, and the need for amendments was overlooked,’ Dhakal said.
The draft bill introduces specialized visas for athletes, those seeking medical treatment, and individuals visiting for spiritual meditation. Currently, international athletes are often forced to compete on tourist visas, a situation the department described as embarrassing. ‘Targeting this issue, we have included a sports visa in the new bill. We are addressing this for athletes,’ Dhakal stated.
Furthermore, the proposal includes medical and spiritual visas to accommodate the growing number of foreigners visiting Nepal for natural therapy and meditation. Dhakal admitted that the department previously focused too heavily on restricting Nepali citizens at departure points, often leading to administrative irregularities, rather than monitoring foreign nationals. He emphasized that the new focus will shift toward the supervision of foreign visitors’ activities and purposes. The bill, currently with the Ministry of Home Affairs, is expected to proceed to the cabinet and eventually to parliament for enactment.
