KATHMANDU: Following the Gen-Z movement, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a major labor destination for Nepalis, has informally halted visa approval processes. The suspension has left thousands of Nepalis seeking visit and work visas unable to proceed.
According to former president of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, Rajendra Bhandari, the UAE stopped approving visas for Nepalis after the movement. He noted that although companies in the UAE continue to demand Nepali workers, immigration authorities are no longer approving visas, stalling applications in recent days.
The UAE is one of the top employment destinations for Nepalis. In fiscal year 2081/82 alone, 274,581 Nepalis migrated there for employment, making it the single largest labor market for Nepalis abroad.
Bhandari suggested that the UAE may have suspended visas out of security concerns following the Gen-Z movement. “Previously, around 500–600 visas were approved daily, but now none are being issued,” he said. “While it hasn’t been officially labeled a ban, reports suggest police clearances are being requested. It seems they fear that escaped prisoners from Nepal could reach the UAE and affect their society.”
However, Department of Immigration spokesperson Tikaram Dhakal clarified that Nepalis with previously approved visas are not being stopped. “On Saturday alone, 1,346 Nepalis departed for the UAE, and by Sunday noon, another 300 had left, including both workers and visit visa holders,” he said. Dhakal added that UAE authorities have unofficially cited “technical reasons” for halting new approvals.
Meanwhile, the interim government formed after the Gen-Z movement has yet to expand its cabinet. Prime Minister Sushila Karki is still handling the responsibilities of both the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security. Without appointed ministers in these key ministries, the government has yet to initiate diplomatic efforts to address the visa issue, according to ministry sources.
Bhandari warned that halting visa approvals in such a critical labor market would create major problems for Nepalis seeking employment abroad, urging the government to take immediate diplomatic action.
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