A Nepali passport is issued by the Department of Passports under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and since the rollout of the electronic passport (e-passport) system, the process has moved almost entirely online, with an in-person visit needed only for biometric enrollment. Here's how the whole process actually works, from the paperwork you need before you start to picking up the finished booklet.
Who issues Nepali passports
The Department of Passports, headquartered in Kathmandu, is the sole issuing authority for Nepali passports, with additional passport application collection facilitated through District Administration Offices (DAOs) around the country and Nepali diplomatic missions abroad. Since Nepal switched to the chip-based e-passport, older machine-readable passports (MRPs) are being phased out, and all new applications go through the same centralized, biometric system regardless of which office you apply through.
What you need before you start
A Nepali citizenship certificate is a hard prerequisite, there's no route to a Nepali passport without one, since the passport application system verifies your identity against it. Beyond that, you'll generally need:
- Your citizenship certificate (original, plus the citizenship number handy for the online form)
- A recent passport-size photo meeting the department's specifications, taken at enrollment for e-passports in most cases
- Your National ID number, if you've already been issued one
- For minors, a birth certificate and parents' citizenship details
If you've changed your name, married, or otherwise need supporting documents to match records, gather those ahead of time too, mismatches between your citizenship record and application are one of the most common causes of delay.
The online application
Applications start on the Department of Passports' online portal, where you fill in personal details, citizenship information, and choose your local application office (a DAO, the central passport department, or a diplomatic mission if you're abroad). The system generates an application slip and a payment voucher once submitted. You then pay the passport fee at a designated bank, since fees vary by passport type and processing speed, always check the department's current fee schedule rather than relying on an old figure, and keep the payment receipt, you'll need it at your in-person appointment.
Biometric enrollment in person
Because e-passports embed a chip with your photo, fingerprints and signature, every applicant has to show up in person once, no matter how much of the paperwork was done online. At your chosen office, staff verify your documents, capture your photo and fingerprints, and record your signature digitally. This is also the point where errors on your application get caught, so bring your original citizenship certificate and payment receipt even if you already uploaded copies.
Fee categories and timelines
Nepal's e-passport comes in different page-count and validity options, and processing speed is generally split between ordinary and fast-track service, with fast-track costing more but cutting the wait significantly. Exact fees and turnaround times are revised periodically by the government, so treat any number you see in an old blog post, including general figures elsewhere on the web, as a rough guide only. The Department of Passports' own site is the only place to confirm current fees before you pay.
Applying from outside Nepal
Nepalis living abroad apply through their nearest Nepali Embassy or Consulate General rather than a domestic DAO. The online application step is the same, you just select the relevant mission as your application office, and biometric enrollment happens at that mission instead of in Nepal. Processing from abroad often takes longer than domestic applications since passports are typically produced centrally in Kathmandu and shipped back to the mission, so it's worth applying well ahead of any planned travel.
Renewing an existing passport
Passport renewal follows essentially the same process as a fresh application, you'll still need your citizenship certificate and will still go through biometric enrollment again, since e-passport data isn't simply carried over. Bring your expiring or expired passport to your appointment, it gets cancelled and typically returned to you alongside the new booklet.
Common issues that slow things down
The most frequent hold-ups are citizenship or name-spelling mismatches between the certificate and the online application, missing supporting documents for minors or name changes, and payment vouchers that don't match the selected service tier. Double-checking every field against your citizenship certificate before submitting, and confirming the fee amount at the bank matches what your chosen service tier requires, avoids the vast majority of rejected or delayed applications.
Keep your citizenship number, ward details and other identity information organized offline with the Nagarik Nepal app.
Join the WaitlistFor current fees, required documents and office locations, the Department of Passports' official site is the authoritative source, always confirm details there before starting an application.