Passport shortage looms after December

Nepal government explores stopgap solutions to cover three-month gap until new e-passports arrive in March.

With Nepal’s passport stocks dwindling rapidly, the Department of Passports (DoP) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could face an acute shortage after December. Current stocks will only meet demand up to December, while as per the new agreement, two German firms are scheduled to deliver passports only after mid-March, 2026.