The new proposal, which was tabled in the Cabinet, has identified more national dignitaries eligible to get the diplomatic passport—commonly known as red passport.

President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker of the House, former heads of state and government, ministers, opposition leader in Parliament, former Vice-president will be eligible to get the diplomatic passport as per the new proposal.

Similarly, deputy speaker, state minister, vice-chairman and members of the National Planning Commission, Supreme Court Justice, members of Parliament and Judicial Council, Chief of the Army Staff are also eligible for the diplomatic passport.

According to the proposal, chief of the constitutional bodies and office bearers, governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, chief secretary, chief judges of appellate courts, secretaries of Nepal Government from all services, appellate court justice, special class officers of Nepal Army, Police, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department and chief of metropolitan city, Nepali Ambassador, Nepali Ambassador to the UN, all gazetted officials of foreign ministry will be eligible to get such passport.  

Under the proposed provision, Nepali citizens serving in top positions at the UN and Saarc will also be granted diplomatic passport.  “UN Under Secretary General Gyan Chandra Acharya and Saarc Secretary General Arjun Bahadur Thapa were issued diplomatic passports,” said a senior Foreign Ministry official. Nepali citizens serving above assistant under secretary  level at the UN and similar positions in other regional organisations will also be granted diplomatic passports.

Similarly, chancellors and vice chancellors of the several academies will be given diplomatic passports.

“Earlier, issuing diplomatic passport was prerogative of the Cabinet or foreign minister. But in the new proposal, it comes with a list of categories,” said a ministry official.     

Officials representing Nepal at the UN and its specialised agencies, meetings

at ADB, Saarc and other regional organisations (and whose visit was approved by the Cabinet) will also be eligible for the diplomatic passport.

Kin of officials posted at various Nepali missions, including in-laws, foster-son/daughter, step mother are also beneficiaries of the diplomatic passports.

Such passports must be returned to the ministry within 15 days from the completion of the trip abroad.