News Summary
- Nearly 260 official divorce documents were issued in one year by the Nepali Embassy in London.
- Financial burdens and mental stress have increased the tendency toward divorce among Nepali students and skilled workers in the UK.
- Acting Ambassador Bipin Duwadi urged caution against hasty marriages without a strong foundation, as they can affect one’s entire life.
May 26, London – Vinod* (name changed), 22, arrived in London last September to study Digital Marketing at the undergraduate level at the University of Roehampton. He married and left his dependent spouse back in Nepal due to the UK government’s recent rule banning dependents for all except research and PhD students.
Vinod took out a loan to gather £10,000 (around NPR 2.1 million) for his first year but did not find work immediately upon arrival in London, remaining unemployed for nearly four months.
Alongside academic and work stress, the financial burden, pressure to repay debt, and expectations from his parents and wife led him into depression. Living alone far from home, misunderstandings within the couple increased. Trust diminished and cracks appeared in the marriage formed just a year ago in Nepal, ultimately leading them to decide on divorce.
Vinod registered his divorce officially in Nepal by obtaining an official divorce certificate from the Nepali Embassy in London.
Another story reflects different circumstances. Kailash, who arrived in the UK two years ago on a Tier 2 visa, was unable to fulfill the lifelong commitment to his spouse. Working in a restaurant, Kailash adhered to his employer’s demands to work full hours, with weekends becoming particularly busy in hospitality. His partner often complained about the lack of time together. Financial insecurity, regular alcohol consumption, occasional gambling, and frequent quarrels led to the breakdown of their household.
In Kathmandu, 31-year-old Pradeep* (name changed) was studying management at a reputed college, sharing an exciting world with his 22-year-old wife, Srishti. Fueled by the dream to pursue higher education and build a better future, they hastily married legally before moving to the UK together.
After arriving in London together on respective main and dependent visas, the harsh reality they faced at Heathrow Airport soon eroded their once warm relationship.
Pradeep’s daily schedule became dominated by university assignments, lectures, and strict academic regulations. Meanwhile, the main responsibility to cover rent, groceries, and expensive tuition fees for the next semester fell heavily on Srishti.
Unaccustomed to hard work back in Nepal, Srishti now worked 12 to 13 hours daily at a store and care home. When Pradeep returned tired from college and part-time work, Srishti was already gone for work.
The distance between Pradeep and Srishti grew, turning them into strangers even while sharing the same room. Rather than supporting each other during difficult times, they became burdened by unresolved issues. Within less than two years of marriage, they decided to separate and legally divorce.
Their experience is common among hundreds of student couples who come to the UK for higher education.
Sandeep Bhatt, a final semester MSc International Business Management student at the University of West London, observes that young people are becoming more aware of their personal identity, career, and mental well-being. “They prefer not to remain in toxic or dead relationships due to social or family pressure, which is positive,” Bhatt says. “However, rushed marriages, lack of anticipation of marital financial and mental challenges, and poor communication during crises are ruining many students’ lives.”
Embassy Issues 260 Official Divorce Certificates in a Year
Acting Ambassador Bipin Duwadi shared that the number of Nepali youths obtaining official divorce certificates from the Embassy in London is rising. “In 2025 (Nepali year 2082), around 260 certificates were issued. Most applicants are students and skilled visa holders,” he said.
Divorces are registered legally only if the marriage is legally registered in Nepal. Those who marry and divorce in the UK fall under a different category.
Ambassador Duwadi emphasized that divorces at a young age can have long-term emotional and social effects and urged parents to carefully consider their children’s marriages. “Marriages made without sensitivity and a solid foundation can impact a person’s entire life,” he warned.
Statistics show that nearly 42 percent of marriages in the UK end in divorce.
Emotional distance, living apart, poor communication, misunderstandings, domestic violence, financial difficulties, midlife crises, and infidelity are among the key reasons for divorce.
