Why Nepal is launching a system to track foreign nationals

A rise in visa misuse, illegal activities and gaps in tourist data lead to enforcement of Foreign Nationals Management Information System—eight years after it was proposed.

Over the past year, Nepal’s immigration authorities have dealt with a growing number of cases where foreign nationals entered the country for one declared purpose but engaged in entirely different—and often illegal—activities. These cases have ranged from religious teaching and business operations under the wrong visa category to organised online fraud and unregistered commercial ventures.