KATHMANDU: Foreign visitors coming to Nepal will no longer need to stand in line at immigration to obtain a visa on arrival. The Department of Immigration is preparing to launch a fully operational e-visa system, allowing foreign nationals to apply and pay for their visas online before travelling to Nepal.

The department plans to implement the system from Bhadra 15 (August 31) after nearly three years of testing and preparation. Acting Director General Tikaram Dhakal said all technical preparations for the system have been completed.

“All preparations for the e-visa have been completed, and we are preparing to implement it from Bhadra 15,” Dhakal said. He added that a proposal to amend the existing immigration regulations has already been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The current Immigration Regulation does not contain clear provisions governing e-visas. The government therefore plans to amend the regulation through the Cabinet before the system is fully implemented.

Under the new system, foreign nationals will no longer need a physical visa sticker attached to their passports. Travellers will be able to submit their applications and make payments online from wherever they are. Once the application is approved, they will be able to print the e-visa and travel to Nepal.

Upon arrival, immigration officials will verify the e-visa and its authenticity before stamping the traveller’s passport.

The Department of Immigration expects the system to reduce congestion at immigration counters and make the entry process more convenient for foreign visitors. It will also reduce the workload of immigration officials.

The online system will also cover visa renewals. Foreign nationals already staying in Nepal will no longer necessarily need to visit an immigration office in person to extend their visas. They will be able to apply and make payments online from anywhere in Nepal.

Preparations for the e-visa system began in February 2024, when the department launched an Electronic Travel Authorisation and online payment system under then Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha. However, the system could not be fully implemented because of technical and regulatory requirements.

Following further technical upgrades and legal preparations, the department is now moving toward full implementation.

E-visa systems are already widely used by many developed countries and are designed to simplify international travel by shifting visa processing online.

For Nepal, the system is expected to make the country more accessible to foreign tourists by reducing paperwork, queues and processing time at entry points.

However, immigration officials acknowledge that the digital system will also require reliable technical infrastructure, system stability and effective data-security measures to ensure smooth operation.