By Our Reporter
Nepal’s passport ranking reflects a frustrating reality: citizens face paperwork, costs and uncertainty before travelling abroad. The September 2026 Henley Passport Index places Nepal at 99th, with access to 34 destinations without a visa obtained in advance. That is the seventh-lowest rank, although countries sharing scores occupy the same position. Nepal’s score has fallen from 35 destinations in May.
The proposed amendment to the Passport Act offers a chance to repair parts of the system. It cannot, by itself, persuade foreign governments to open their borders. Henley measures travel access, not how quickly authorities issue passports or how tough their penalties are. A more secure document helps diplomacy, but wider access still requires agreements with other countries.
Authorities should keep that distinction clear. Promising a stronger passport through legislation alone would create expectations the bill cannot meet. Its immediate purpose should be to provide reliable services, protect identity records and prevent fraud. Those improvements can give diplomats stronger grounds for seeking easier entry for Nepali travellers.
The service proposals deserve support. Removing repetitive paperwork and allowing applicants to collect passports from a different office could spare families unnecessary journeys. For Nepalis abroad, accessible application facilities could reduce travel expenses and time away from work. But simplifying requirements must come with accurate record checks. Otherwise, officials may replace one bureaucratic obstacle with another or leave gaps that fraudsters exploit.
Outsourcing biometric collection raises a harder question. Private providers could extend services beyond embassy locations, but fingerprints and facial records require strict protection. The proposal to let private organisations collect this information needs clear limits before implementation. Convenience alone cannot justify handing sensitive records to contractors whose responsibilities remain unclear.
Parliament should require transparent contractor selection, independent security audits, restricted access and clear rules on storage and deletion. Contracts must prohibit commercial use of applicants’ information. Authorities should retain control of the records and provide a complaint process. If information leaks, citizens must know who answers for it and what remedy they can seek.
Tougher penalties also need careful targeting. Punishing forged documents makes sense. Treating clerical mistakes like deliberate deception does not. Investigators should pursue brokers, trafficking networks and officials who enable fraud, alongside individual offenders. Passport restrictions should have written reasons, time limits and prompt review, particularly when investigations remain unresolved. Security measures lose credibility when they become arbitrary barriers to travel.
The migration problem requires equally practical thinking. Officials cite overstays, irregular migration and asylum claims as concerns affecting confidence. These categories must not be lumped together: seeking asylum is not evidence of passport fraud. Authorities need destination-specific evidence rather than broad suspicion of Nepali travellers.
To reduce abuse, Nepal should regulate recruitment agencies, explain visa conditions before departure and strengthen consular assistance. Fraudulent job offers and misleading advice can push people into situations they never understood. Enforcement should reach those who profit from deception.
Diplomats should identify countries where reciprocal visa arrangements or simpler entry rules are realistic, then pursue measurable goals. Publish progress on agreements, passport delivery times, fraud investigations and data security. Citizens deserve evidence that reform improves their lives.
The bill can begin restoring trust, provided authorities implement it fairly and protect the people whose information they hold. A passport’s worth ultimately lies in the opportunities it opens. Nepal should judge success by whether citizens can travel with fewer obstacles and greater confidence. That requires honest administration, patient diplomacy and accountability. Passing the law is the starting point. Earning trust is the work that follows.
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