KATHMANDU: At the time there is still confusion on the implementation of e-passports, companies from France and Germany have started a process to acquire the tender for it.

The stock of passports at the Department of Passport is running out with only 700,000 passports left.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on November 8 had annulled an international tender called for printing five million e-passports at the eleventh hour.

The government had annulled the tender saying to establish security printing in Nepal.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has already issued a directive saying that no country will be issuing MRP to its citizens on/from 2025 and therefore, all countries need to streamline their passport office to issue e-passport henceforth.