Kathmandu, February 20
In 2023, 459 foreign nationals were deported from Nepal, which is 111 fewer than in 2022 when 570 foreign nationals were deported.
Over the last seven years, a total of 3,577 foreign nationals have been deported. This data is outlined in a report on the Department of Immigration’s activities presented to the Parliament’s State Affairs and Good Governance Committee. The report indicates that 559 Nepali citizens were deported in 2017, 678 in 2018, 671 in 2019, 332 in 2020, and 308 in 2021.
According to the Department of Immigration, the majority of deportees are tourists who have overstayed their visas. Prem Prasad Dahal, the department’s information officer and director, explains that foreigners entering Nepal must obtain a 15, 30, or 90-day tourist visa. This visa can be extended to 60 days, allowing tourists to stay for a maximum of 150 days.
However, if a tourist exceeds the 150-day limit without obtaining another visa, they are subject to deportation. Information Officer Dahal said that before their visa expires, tourists can extend its duration or convert it into a study, work, marriage, or relationship visa.
Dahal further said that there is no visa fee for Chinese nationals staying in Nepal for up to 150 days. Despite this, some Chinese nationals have been deported for overstaying their tourist visas and failing to change to another visa type. “Approximately 47 per cent of deportees are Chinese, while eight per cent are tourists from the United States,” Dahal said.
