For the first time, the government has made it mandatory for foreign nationals to register as soon as they enter Nepal, and will also track their movement.

In the first phase, the registration and movement tracking of foreign nationals will start from September 17 at five-star hotels in Kathmandu, said Ram Chandra Tiwari, director general at the Department of Immigration.

While announcing the new measures on Tuesday, the Department of Immigration also released a “user manual for foreign national registration and tracking system”.

The NepaliPort Traveller/Foreign National Tracking Module is a digital platform developed to strengthen immigration monitoring, improve tourism data analytics, and enhance communication between service providers (e.g., hotels, travel agencies, transport operators) and foreign travellers, according to the user manual.

The system integrates QR code scanning, mobile app authentication, and real-time tracking to simplify immigration processes and improve foreign national management, the manual added.

In the second phase, registration and movement tracking of foreign nationals will begin from November 17 in all star-rated hotels, airlines, tours and travel companies, money exchangers, and will gradually expand to all types of hotels, guesthouses, and other public and private service-providing institutions, said Tiwari.

“According to the Immigration Act, 2049 [1992] and the Immigration Rules, 2051 [1994], the primary responsibility of the immigration administration is to regulate the entry, presence, and departure of foreign nationals within Nepal, and to manage the departure and arrival of Nepali citizens,” said the immigration department in its statement.

The department said it is working to promote national security and good governance by maintaining an effective balance between immigration regulation, free and safe movement of travelers, and tourism promotion.

“To enhance the international reputation and national dignity of the country, and to promote tourism and foreign investment, all movements and activities within the country must remain under the purview of the state,” the department stated.

As soon as any foreign national enters inside Nepal, he or she has to update their status, location, address and other details at https://nepaliport-new.immigration.gov.np/. The dedicated link provides windows and provisions for visa on arrival, visa from Nepali missions, electronic travel authorisation, visa extension, visa conversion, visa transfer, entry visa and visa plan upgrade.

It also covers arrival/departure certification, non-visa arrival/departure certification, visa application tracking, visa checking, checking trekking permits, trekking agencies, individual trekking permits, overstay processing, service provider, and self-declaration.

Foreign nationals visiting Nepal should select the window relevant to their visa status and other details and upload the required information. Each section describes how service providers can register, get approval, and generate QR codes for use in the system.

This manual provides step-by-step guidance for service providers (hotels, travel agencies, and transport operators) and individual foreign nationals/travellers using the Department of Immigration (DOI) mobile app.

After updating the required information in the app or through the designated website, a six-digit token is sent to the registered mobile number, and the service seeker will get a password.

The Department of Immigration then reviews documents and approves the account, enabling QR code generation features.

To register for QR codes, one has to log on to the NepaliPort service provider dashboard, navigate QR code management, and generate QR codes for business locations or individual services (e.g., hotel rooms, tour packages, transport routes). Service seekers should then download and print QR codes for display on their business premises.

The immigration department has also developed a mobile app for foreign nationals, and the website also provides facilities to scan and verify QR codes generated through the system.

Once foreign nationals upload their required information, the system sends reminders via SMS and push notifications 7 days and 2 days before visa expiry, including instructions for visa extension or departure. The system also allows filtering of foreign nationals’ movement reports by date range, nationality, or visa type, viewing heat maps, and export data.

Service providers can also interact with reports of their guests like check-ins, user feedback, and performance and visa relations issues like visa compliance reports, and identifying overstays or visa violations.

“Various international laws and agreements that Nepal is a part of have created an obligation for all member states to manage immigration-related records,” the department said in the statement.

In full commitment to these international responsibilities and duties, the department has developed the foreign nationals registration and tracking system with the objectives of ensuring the security of foreign visitors to Nepal, facilitating access to information, controlling potential crimes and supporting tourism promotion, the statement added.

“Through the implementation of this system, it is expected that the residency and activities of foreign nationals entering Nepal will be systematically recorded, making it easier to ensure rescue and security in emergency situations. Further, it is anticipated that this system will contribute to the secure and organised development of the tourism sector by making the information exchange process effective among security agencies, tourism entrepreneurs, and other concerned entities.”

This system applies to all foreign nationals who possess passports, other valid documents and identity cards, said Tiwari. Indian nationals who travel via land routes who usually do not carry passports but other identity documents must also go through the registration process.

Therefore, all public institutions and private companies providing services to foreign nationals are requested to compulsorily enroll in this system, said the statement issued by the department.

The registration process and user manual of the system were released on Tuesday and can be accessed on the website of the immigration department.

Letters have already been sent to the District Monitoring Committees in all 77 districts to monitor the implementation of this system, and regular monitoring will be conducted through the respective District Administration Offices.