The Department of Immigration (DoI) has revised its trekking permit policy for restricted areas, allowing individual foreign tourists to obtain permits that were previously issued only to groups of two or more.

The decision, made at the department level on Sunday, comes after sustained lobbying by the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) and other tourism stakeholders, who argued that the restriction on solo trekkers was hindering tourism and discouraging independent travellers.

Issuing a notice on Sunday, Tikaram Dhakal, the department’s spokesperson, said that solo travellers would still be subject to strict safety provisions. They must be accompanied by a licensed trekking guide, and their trip must be arranged through a registered trekking agency.

“The facilitating agency will be fully responsible for emergency rescue and logistical arrangements,” the department said.

The revised rules apply to restricted areas in 13 districts, including Upper Mustang in Mustang, Upper and Lower Dolpa in Dolpa, the Manaslu and Tsum Valley regions of Gorkha, and the Nar and Phu valleys of Manang, among others.

To enhance monitoring, the department has also introduced a guide-to-trekker ratio, allowing one guide to lead a maximum of seven trekkers. Officials say this will help improve safety and oversight in remote and sensitive regions.

The DoI has also digitised the permit application process. Foreign nationals can now apply using their valid Nepali visa numbers, while those applying from abroad can use an “Application Submission ID” to pay permit fees in advance.

The department said the revised policy aims to strike a balance between ensuring trekkers’ safety and promoting tourism while creating local employment opportunities.