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Nepal Halts Visa-on-Arrival for Iranians Citing Regional Conflict, Security

Nepal has suspended its visa-on-arrival facility for Iranian citizens, requiring them to obtain visas from diplomatic missions abroad first. The government cites the ongoing conflict in West Asia and national security concerns, including the risk of entry via the porous border with India. This brings the total number of countries excluded from Nepal's visa-on-arrival scheme to thirteen, including several conflict-affected nations. Immigration officials deny the move is in response to US pressure, stating no such diplomatic communication was received.

Key Points: Nepal Stops Visa-on-Arrival for Iranian Citizens

  • Visa-on-arrival halted for Iranians
  • Move linked to US-Iran conflict & security
  • Must now get visa from Nepali embassy abroad
  • 13 countries now on Nepal's no visa-on-arrival list
2 min read

Nepal halts visa-on-arrival facility for Iranian citizens

Nepal suspends visa-on-arrival for Iranians, citing regional conflict and national security. Iranians must now get visas from embassies abroad.

"The decision was taken on national security grounds - Ram Chandra Tiwari"

Kathmandu, March 13

The government of Nepal has decided to stop providing visa-on-arrival facilities to Iranian citizens visiting the country amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict in West Asia, the country's Department of Immigration said on Friday.

"The move is aimed at preventing an influx of Iranian citizens into Nepal due to the ongoing conflict in the region," Ram Chandra Tiwari, Director General of the department, told IANS. "We have been adopting similar policies for other nations affected by conflicts."

He said that, based on the recommendation of the department, the Ministry of Home Affairs decided to stop providing visa-on-arrival facilities to Iranian citizens.

"The decision was taken on national security grounds, as there is also a possibility that Iranians could enter the country via India through the porous border," he said.

Under the new provision, Iranian nationals - except those holding official and diplomatic passports - will now be required to obtain a visa from a Nepali Embassy or diplomatic mission abroad before entering Nepal, the department said. With this decision, the number of countries whose citizens are not eligible for visa-on-arrival in Nepal has reached 13.

The other countries or territories whose citizens are not eligible for visa-on-arrival include Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria.

The Nepali government has also maintained that individuals travelling with refugee-status travel documents must obtain a visa from a Nepali diplomatic mission abroad before entering the country.

Nepal has been expressing concern about a potential influx of foreign nationals who could seek refugee status after arriving in the country. In the past, hundreds of Rohingya refugees arrived in Nepal due to the war waged by Myanmar's military government against them. Nepal also hosted more than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees for two decades since the early 1990s, before most of them were resettled in several Western countries.

When asked whether the decision was also aimed at addressing US security concerns regarding Iranian nationals in Nepal, Tiwari said this was not a factor behind the decision.

"We have not received any diplomatic communication from the US about any threat posed by Iranian nationals in Nepal," Tiwari said.

The department said the latest measure regarding Iranian nationals is part of Nepal's immigration regulations governing entry procedures for certain nationalities.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's a smart, pre-emptive move. Nepal has already dealt with refugee situations from Bhutan and Myanmar. They know the strain it can put on a small nation's resources. 🇳🇵
A
Arjun K
While I understand the security angle, I feel for the ordinary Iranian tourists or students who might be caught in this. Their plans get disrupted because of geopolitics they have no control over. Not entirely fair.
S
Sarah B
The list of 13 countries is interesting. It's mostly African nations and conflict zones. Shows how global instability forces smaller countries to constantly adjust their immigration policies.
V
Vikram M
Good decision by Nepal. Every sovereign nation has the right to protect its borders. The mention of the India-Nepal border is a reminder that we need coordinated security measures with our neighbours. Jai Hind!
K
Kavya N
Hope this doesn't affect the many Iranians who come for medical tourism or to visit religious sites like Lumbini. The process at embassies should be smooth for genuine travellers.

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