With Thursday’s cabinet decision made by the Government of Nepal, now the Honorary Consul Generals and Honorary Consuls appointed by foreign countries in Nepal are not entitled to use blue plate numbers in their vehicles effective Friday October 10, 2025.
The government has decided to revoke the use of blue number plates for vehicles used by those honorary diplomats.
But according to the decision, however, those honorary diplomats will be allowed to use the national flag of Nepal during Nepal National Day celebrations within their designated consular areas, on the national day celebrations of the appointing country, during official meetings, welcomes, and farewells when the head of state/government or foreign minister of the respective country visits Nepal, and on occasions when the ambassador of the respective country visits Nepal.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) “This decision has been made in accordance with international law concerning unpaid consuls general/consuls, reciprocity, the Honorary Commercial Consul Rules, 2039 (1982), and current practices. Additionally, the government has made this decision based on complaints regarding the misuse of vehicles with blue number plates.”
In the past days changes have been made several times regarding use of blue number plates in honorary diplomats’ vehicles. But in 2021 the Government of Nepal had decided to revoke the use of blue number plate vehicles by honorary consuls general and consuls.
However, again in 2022, the government decided to allow the use of blue number plates by those honorary diplomats.
There were many complaints lodged as these vehicles have been misused.
An honorary consul is a local citizen of various walks-of-life who is a representative (as appointed by the foreign country) of a foreign country to work in promotion of bilateral relations, supporting citizens of the represented country, and facilitating trade and cultural exchanges.
They are unpaid jobs.
