The Nepal government has banned the 'on-arrival' visas that were being issued to Iranian citizens at Tribhuvan International Airport. According to the Department of Immigration, now Iranian citizens will have to obtain prior approval (visa) from the Nepali embassy or mission abroad before visiting Nepal.
According to Tikaram Dhakal, Acting Director General of the Department of Immigration, this rule will not apply to Iranian citizens holding official and diplomatic passports. Nepal has discontinued the visa-on-arrival facility for ordinary citizens and other passport holders.
With this decision, the number of countries that Nepal does not issue 'on-arrival' visas has reached 13. Earlier, due to security reasons and immigration policies, citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and Syria were also deprived of such facility. Now, Iran has also been added to the same list.
Similarly, entry into Nepal has also been tightened for people who have obtained refugee status and those holding travel documents. The department has stated that such people must also complete the visa process from the Nepali embassy abroad before coming to Nepal.
The department claims that this step has been taken to make the immigration administration more systematic, keeping in mind the international security situation and Nepal's national interests.
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