KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Department of Passports has significantly increased its electronic passport (e-passport) production capacity, producing a record 5,878 passports in a single day on August 10.

The department said daily production has recently crossed the 5,000 mark as it expands capacity to cope with rising demand. Previously, its daily production capacity stood at around 1,500 passports.

The expansion is aimed at making passport services faster, more accessible, secure and efficient for Nepali citizens, the department said.

Officials said further increases in production capacity are underway, with the department coordinating with relevant agencies to strengthen service delivery and ensure applicants receive their passports on time.

E-passport services are no longer confined to Kathmandu. Passport-related services are currently available through all 77 district administration offices, as well as a number of area administration offices across the country. Nepali citizens living abroad can also apply for e-passports through Nepali diplomatic missions.

The department is also working to address technical problems that may affect passport production and distribution. It said technical and managerial measures are being implemented to make the system more stable, with further improvements targeted over the next three months.

The department said it is maintaining continuous coordination with technical partners to improve the system’s capacity, stability and overall performance.

The latest expansion marks a substantial shift from Nepal’s previous passport-production capacity, but the department’s ability to sustain higher output while keeping the system reliable will be crucial as demand continues to grow.

The department said its priority remains to make e-passport services faster, more reliable, secure and efficient for citizens at home and abroad.