Nepal has formally proposed to India that its National Identity Card (NIC) be granted the same legal recognition as Nepali citizenship documents and be accepted by immigration authorities. The proposal is currently awaiting a response from the Indian government.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent the proposal to the Indian government last month, according to a spokesperson from Nepal’s Department of Immigration.
This week, officials from the Consular Section of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu discussed the proposal with senior officials from Nepal’s Department of Immigration. The Indian government is currently considering the matter.
Currently, Nepali citizens travel to India by air and land routes using either citizenship certificates or passports as valid identification.
The government is working on developing the National Identity Card as a ‘single identity card,’ and efforts related to this have recently advanced.
According to the Registration Department, more than 21 million Nepalis have registered their information in the national identity card system, and over 4 million have already received their cards.
What Has Nepal Requested from India?
In the third week of Ashad (June/July), as per a decision by the Department of Immigration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally submitted a request through the Ministry of Home Affairs for India to recognize the National Identity Card.
Nepal has requested that its National Identity Card (NID), used as a primary identification document for Know Your Customer (KYC) and other administrative processes, receive the same status as citizenship certificates.
On Thursday, Department of Immigration Director-General Ramchandra Tiwari and other officials met with representatives of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to discuss the matter.
Immigration Department spokesperson Tikaram Dhakal said, “Our proposal has reached the Indian side. We have agreed to conduct further discussions and reach a decision. We hope for a positive outcome.”
Image Source, EPA
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu states on its website that passports and photo voter ID cards issued by the Indian government are accepted for Indian citizens residing in Nepal.
However, other identification documents such as Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and driving licenses are not recognized.
Nepali officials have expressed confidence that although the process may take time, the proposal will move forward.
Director Dhakal, who also serves as the Immigration Department’s director, stated, “If both sides agree, implementation can commence immediately. When Indian immigration accepts the National Identity Card, all related agencies will be notified for enforcement.”
Nepal and India share an open border, allowing citizens of both countries to travel without visas.
While the exact number of Nepalis residing in India is unclear, experts estimate it to be in the millions over decades, primarily for employment.
According to India’s Ministry of Home Affairs annual report for 2024-25, 155,000 Nepali arrivals were recorded through various airports that year.
Last year, Indian immigration recorded more than 202,000 Nepali entries.
How Many Nepalis Have Received the National Identity Card So Far?
Nepal began distributing the National Identity Card in November 2018 as a pilot project.
As of now, the National Identity Card and Registration Department Director Kamal Prasad Pandey reported that information for over 21.17 million individuals has been registered in the system.
He added that 8 million cards have been printed, and 4 million cards have been distributed to recipients.
The National Identity Card is currently used for passports, labor-related services, and approximately 13 other services. Banks also utilize it for customer identification through the Citizen Portal, officials said.
The budget for this fiscal year includes provisions for using the National Identity Card as the fundamental identification document for public services.
Plans are underway to expand its use in areas such as land revenue, transportation, civil registration, and social security management in the near future.
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