By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 14: Further relaxing restrictions imposed to control the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, the government has decided to grant on-arrival visas to non-resident Nepalis.
The Department of Immigration published a notice informing about the relaxation Wednesday. The department said the Cabinet meeting held on January 24 had taken decision to this effect.
As per the decision, foreigners of Nepali origin (those whose passports mention Nepal as their birthplace), foreigners related to Nepalis, and non-resident Nepali citizens will get on-arrival visas to enter the country, unconditionally, according to director and information officer Tek Narayan Paudel.
Until now, only those obtaining a permit in advance from the Nepali diplomatic mission in the country concerned would get on-arrival visas.
Meanwhile, the government also decided to grant on-arrival visas to diplomatic and official passport holders including the staff of the UN and international agencies in Nepal.
The on-arrival visa facility is available only at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, not at other entry points on the border. Others should obtain the visas from Nepali missions abroad before embarking on a trip to Nepal.
All passengers from the countries having new variant of COVID-19 as first port of embarkation or transits are required to obtain a prior visa approval from the mission abroad. Such passengers are also subjected to hotel quarantine for 10 days at their own cost, in the hotels designated by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, according to Paudel.
After five days of hotel quarantine, those with COVID-19 negative report will be allowed to spend their remaining five days in home quarantine, according to the notice.
Nepali nationals, NRNs and their children visiting Nepal to attend the funeral or medical treatment of their relatives can manage an alternate quarantine in coordination with CCMC secretariat, according to director Paudel.
Foreigners visiting Nepal under tourist visas should compulsorily possess COVID-19 negative report issued within 72 hours and should obtain tourist entry visa from Nepali diplomatic missions abroad, otherwise they should have a pre-approval/recommendation letter from the government authorities of Nepal for securing visa on arrival, according to the immigration notice.