The Nepalese Immigration Ministry has formally asked the Indian government to consider the country’s National Identity Card (NID) as a valid travel document for Nepalese citizens to enter India. If approved, this would make the NID the third document, alongside the existing citizenship certificate and passport, to be used as a travel document.
A formal proposal to this effect has been submitted to the Indian government through diplomatic channels, and Nepali officials are awaiting official confirmation from India, news agency PTI reported.
“We have already sent the proposal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has forwarded it to the relevant authorities in India,” Tika Ram Dhakal, spokesperson for the Nepal Immigration Department, told PTI.
He added: “We are in contact with the Indian embassy in Kathmandu regarding the matter and are awaiting an official response from the Indian side.”
What changes if the proposal is approved?
Under current travel regulations, Nepalese citizens traveling to India, by air or land, are required to carry either a citizenship certificate or a passport as proof of identity. On the other hand, Indians are free to carry a passport or voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India for this purpose.
If the Indian government approves this new proposal, the NID will also become an eligible travel document for Nepalese citizens to carry with them for identification.
The Government of Nepal officially launched the NID initiative in 2018 as part of its efforts to modernize public administration. Since then, the card has become mandatory for citizens to benefit from services in government offices and the banking sector.
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Eventually, the government also plans to replace the traditional citizenship certificate with a digital alternative, the biometric ID card.
As part of the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950, citizens of India and Nepal may travel and work in either country without visas, provided they can produce any of the above documents for identification purposes.
Additional reviews for travelers heading to Nepal
In addition to requiring reforms in travel documents, Nepal has also allowed Indian and Nepalese travelers to carry currency notes $200 and $500 in Indian castes.
After demonetization by the Indian government in November 2016, the Nepalese government placed restrictions on the use of currency notes $100 or fewer denominations in the country.
Proceed with the initial reduction of $25,000, Nepalese citizens can now bring currency notes of higher denominations from India to Nepal and vice versa. Hence, notes $200 and $500 issued by the Indian government is now available for Indian and Nepalese citizens to travel.
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Any traveler carrying an amount above the ceiling $However, a payment of 25,000 is required to submit a customs declaration.
(With inputs from agencies)
