Nepal suspends on-arrival visa for Iranian citizens

Kathmandu, March 13: The government has suspended the on-arrival visa facility previously provided to citizens of Iran entering Nepal.

The decision was taken considering national security concerns amid the ongoing tensions in West Asian countries. The restriction applies to all Iranian citizens except those holding official and diplomatic passports.

Spokesperson of the Department of Immigration, Tikaram Dhakal, said that Iranian citizens will now have to obtain visas from Nepali embassies abroad before entering Nepal.

“Earlier, Iranian citizens were allowed to obtain on-arrival visas while visiting Nepal. However, considering the recent situation, those except special passport holders must now secure visas from Nepali diplomatic missions abroad before entering the country,” he said.

Dhakal said that the decision was taken after concerns that Iranian nationals might seek refuge in Nepal following the growing conflict in Iran.

Previously, Nepal had already suspended the on-arrival visa facility for citizens of 12 countries, and with this decision, the number has now reached 13.

While Nepal generally provides a 90-day on-arrival visa to foreign nationals at entry points, Iranian citizens were earlier granted only a 15-day visa even if they requested a longer stay.

The government had already suspended the on-arrival visa facility for citizens from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and Syria.