How to Apply for a Nepali e-Passport: Step-by-Step Guide with Fees, Documents and Status

The Nepali e-passport is an electronic machine-readable travel document (eMRTD) that embeds a contactless chip storing the holder's biographic data and biometrics (facial image and fingerprints). It complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and replaced the earlier machine-readable passport (MRP). Nepal launched the e-passport on 17 November 2021, with the document produced in partnership with the security firm IDEMIA.

The passport is issued by the Department of Passports (DoP), an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu. Standard (ordinary) e-passports are issued in two booklet sizes, 34 pages and 66 pages, both carrying identical security and biometric features. An adult passport is valid for 10 years, while a passport issued to a child under 10 is valid for 5 years.

The core identity document is the original Nepali citizenship certificate, which is mandatory for every applicant; a clear photocopy is also required. Since 2025, a National Identity Number (NIN) issued by the Department of National ID and Civil Registration (DoNIDCR) is required for new e-passport applications, so applicants should complete National ID (NID) enrolment first; the 10-digit NIN or the digital NID in the Nagarik App can serve as proof while the physical card is pending.

For renewals or replacements you must also present the previous passport (original and photocopy). Minors require additional papers such as a birth certificate or minor identity certificate and both parents' citizenship certificates, and in many cases the parents' marriage registration. Documents uploaded during online pre-enrolment must be clear scans in JPEG or PNG format, generally kept under 300 KB per file.

All applicants begin online at the pre-enrolment portal, emrtds.nepalpassport.gov.np (reachable from the Department of Passports site nepalpassport.gov.np). You select the application type — First Issuance, Renewal, Replacement (Lost/Stolen), or Replacement (Damaged) — and choose the booklet size (34 or 66 pages). You then pick an enrolment location and book an appointment date and time slot from the calendar; for missions abroad, appointment slots are released on a set schedule and can fill quickly.

Next you enter your demographic details exactly as they appear on your citizenship certificate — citizenship number, issuing district and date, full name, date of birth, sex, and parents' (and spouse's, if married) names — and upload the required document scans. A key constraint is that the entire online form must be completed within about 30 minutes, or the session expires and you must restart. On finishing, the system generates a reference / enrolment number and a printable PDF form; save this number, as it is used to track status later.

Fees in Nepal depend on the booklet size and the service speed. For ordinary passports, regular processing costs NPR 5,000 for 34 pages and NPR 10,000 for 66 pages. Fast-track (expedited) service costs NPR 12,000 for 34 pages and NPR 20,000 for 66 pages. Choose the 34-page booklet for ordinary travel and the 66-page booklet if you travel very frequently and fill pages quickly; both formats share the same chip, validity and security. Applicants applying through embassies and consulates pay equivalent fees in local currency, which differ from the in-Nepal NPR amounts.

Payment can be made online through the portal's payment system, or by bank voucher in line with the Department's instructions; the original payment voucher is then presented at the biometric appointment. Fees are set by the official Department of Passports schedule and are subject to revision, so confirm the current amounts on the official portal before paying.

Biometric enrolment must be done in person on your appointment date. At the enrolment counter, staff capture your facial photograph, fingerprints and signature, and verify your original documents against the pre-enrolled data. You bring the printed pre-enrolment form, your original citizenship certificate and photocopy, the previous passport for renewals, recent photographs, and proof of fee payment.

Inside Nepal you can apply at the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, or at the District Administration Office (DAO) of any of the 77 districts, all of which are equipped with biometric enrolment counters. Outside Kathmandu, biometric data captured at the DAO is forwarded to the central facility for personalisation, after which the printed booklet is sent back. Nepali citizens abroad apply at the relevant Nepali embassy or consulate (for example, in Doha, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, New Delhi, Bangkok, London or Washington, D.C.).

Processing time is counted from the date of biometric capture. Fast-track passports are typically ready in a few working days, while regular processing generally takes a couple of weeks; sources cite roughly 11–15 working days for regular service, and the overall timeframe can extend to several weeks depending on demand. If you applied through a DAO outside the Kathmandu Valley, allow extra time for the finished booklet to be couriered from the central office.

You can track your application using the reference / enrolment number. The official follow-up search at emrtds.nepalpassport.gov.np lets you check the print and processing status using your enrolment ID and date of birth, and the official 'Nepal ePassport' mobile app (published by the Government of Nepal's National Information Technology Centre) offers status checking on Android and iOS. Applicants abroad are usually notified by the mission when the passport is ready for collection.