Government Limits Daily Passport Issuance to 1,000 Amid Supply Shortage

The Government of Nepal has restricted the issuance of passports to just 1,000 per day, citing a sharp decline in stock despite rising demand. This development poses a potential setback for Nepalis planning foreign travel, with more than 2,000 people departing the country daily.

According to the Department of Passports, the demand for passports has surged unexpectedly in recent weeks, while existing inventory has been steadily depleting. Director General Tirtha Raj Aryal stated that a quota system has been introduced to manage distribution. Although the department is capable of issuing up to 3,000 passports in normal circumstances, only 1,000 will now be issued daily, while demand remains nearly double.

The department has advised applicants to seek passport services only in urgent cases. Aryal explained that the limited availability is due to a transitional “handover–takeover” phase between the current supplier and the newly contracted supplier.

In July 2025, the government signed a procurement agreement with a new supplier to deliver approximately 6.4 million passports. The selected companies are currently developing infrastructure and systems to begin full passport service operations by February 23, 2026.

Earlier, on November 28, 2024, the Department of Passports had called for bids to procure passports under two separate packages. Mühlbauer ID Services GmbH secured the first package worth Rs 1.55 billion, while Veridos GmbH won the second package valued at Rs 6.1138 billion. The department has stated that the current supply constraints are linked to this ongoing procurement and transition process.

To manage high applicant flow, the department has also limited biometric appointment slots (for photographs, fingerprints, and other data) to 1,000 per day, excluding days before public holidays. These slots will open on weekdays starting Monday at 5 pm through the department’s online system.

The department has cautioned the public against relying on unauthorized intermediaries and warned of possible fraud.

Stakeholders have criticized bureaucratic and political delays in anticipating such supply shortages, warning that mishandling a sensitive service like passport issuance could lead to a broader administrative crisis.