KATHMANDU: The Department of Immigration has issued strict directives to curb irregularities in foreign travel, including ticket overbooking, fraud, brokerage exploitation, and unauthorized currency exchange.
The move comes amid rising concerns over the mistreatment of Nepali travelers and growing incidents of forced ticket sales and entrapment.
At a press conference held on Sunday, the Department called on various stakeholders—including airlines, local administrations, media, diplomatic missions, travel and tour operators, and currency exchange institutions—to address these issues and support safer and more transparent travel practices.
Airlines have been instructed not to exert unnecessary pressure on immigration and security procedures, particularly regarding passenger safety, passport verification, visa status, and ticketing.
The Department warned carriers to stop overbooking flights, refusing to board passengers with confirmed tickets, and last-minute offloading. Passengers facing such issues have been urged to report directly to the Immigration Department.
Local administrations have been directed to collect and share information about citizens planning to travel abroad. They are also expected to immediately report any suspicious activities to the department for necessary action.
Similarly, the media has been requested to raise awareness through public information campaigns and news reports, cautioning citizens not to fall victim to scams or fraudulent travel arrangements.
Additionally, diplomatic missions have been instructed to closely monitor the travel, employment, and safety of Nepali nationals within their jurisdictions. These missions are also required to send regular updates to the Immigration Department regarding any issues faced by Nepali citizens abroad.
Likewise, the Department has warned travel and tour companies to immediately stop deceptive practices such as forced ticket sales, last-minute offloading, and selling tickets after flight departures.
The Department emphasized that no misleading schemes or irregularities will be tolerated, especially when sending passengers abroad on tourist visas.
Currency exchange institutions have also come under scrutiny. The department has instructed them to immediately halt illegal currency transactions related to foreign travel and to ensure that all exchanges are conducted through authorized channels only.
The Immigration Department further highlighted a growing trend of passengers being trapped by brokers, confined to hotels, or forced to purchase tickets under pressure. Security agencies have been asked to remain alert to these issues and report any suspicious activity without delay.
Aditionally, the Department urged all prospective travelers to complete their preparations—particularly by using the Nagarik app—before attempting to travel abroad. It also made public the phone numbers of designated officials for assistance and reporting.
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