Nepal to implement new passport system after current stock depletes to avoid financial loss

Nepal's government will delay the implementation of a new passport printing system until the existing stock of booklets is nearly depleted. Minister of Foreign Affairs Shishir Khanal stated that an immediate switch would cost the state approximately US$2.5 million, based on the value of the remaining 250,000 booklets.

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Switching to the new system before using the remaining stock would cause the state an estimated loss of around US$2.5 million, calculated at US$10.13 per passport booklet.

The new system, awarded to a company via international tender last year, faced delays due to legal and technical challenges. The Department of Passports is preparing to launch the new process next week, which involves migrating the digital data of about 10 million Nepali citizens. To facilitate this transition, passport application services at district offices and diplomatic missions abroad are suspended from Tuesday through Friday. Services at the main department office in Tripureshwor will also be affected for two days.

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For this reason, the new process will begin only after the current inventory is reduced.

Minister Khanal addressed lawmakers' questions regarding an ongoing investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority into passport printing, noting it would be inappropriate to comment on a matter before the court. He assured that operations are proceeding according to the contract. The first three months of the new system will be a stabilization period, with a technical team on standby to manage any disruptions and ensure public services remain largely unaffected.

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Although the contract had been awarded to the new company through an international tender last year, its implementation was delayed due to legal and technical hurdles.