Foreign Ministry says passport shortage temporary, assures full service from February 23

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that although the number of passport booklets currently in stock is slightly low due to high public demand, the situation is under control and moving toward a resolution.

Dismissing widespread rumors of an acute shortage, the Ministry clarified that passport services are still being provided and the issue will soon be resolved as new supplies arrive.

According to the Ministry, the Department of Passports signed a new procurement agreement with a supplier in July 2025 for the production of electronic passports. Under this contract, the new supplier is set to begin full-scale passport production and service operation from February 23.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri said, “We are currently in a transitional phase between the outgoing and incoming suppliers during the handover–takeover process. The new service provider will begin production as scheduled from February 23.”

He assured that essential passport services will continue uninterrupted. However, the Ministry has urged applicants to submit new passport applications only in cases of extreme necessity—such as emergency medical travel, urgent employment abroad, or critical situations faced by Nepalis overseas.

Kshetri added that the government is taking steps to ensure there is no shortage of passports during this transitional period. Starting from November 3, the Department of Passports has arranged to accept up to 1,000 applications daily, except on public holidays, to manage the most urgent cases.

“The arrangement to process 1,000 applications a day is expected to meet the current emergency demand,” the Ministry said in a statement.

It also appealed for public patience and cooperation, emphasizing that the temporary slowdown is part of a necessary transition toward a more advanced and efficient electronic passport system.

Once the new system becomes operational in February, full-scale services will resume nationwide with improved infrastructure and faster delivery timelines, the Ministry assured.