Should show proof of annual income of NRs. 600,000
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an eight-point directive Sunday stating that in order to go Gulf countries on a visit visa, he or she should have visited at least two countries other than the Gulf countries earlier and also has an annual income of Rs. 600,000 and half of it, or Rs. 300,000 should be in bank balance.
According to the Ministry spokesperson Phanindra Mani Pokharel the government banned visit visas to 18 countries– Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Yemen and Malaysia citing Omicron on Friday has brought some relaxation with a new conditions set.
Visit visa is given to people who want to enter a foreign country for short-term purposes. Be it for a vacation, medical-treatment, or attending a conference or any other purposes.
After all-round criticism of the government’s new rules through a press statement of the Ministry of Home Affairs have been brought to correct it. However, after complaints from the society on banning visit visas, the Ministry has made Sunday a little easier Sunday. According to the ministry, family members within three generations who go for care of the sick will also be allowed to visit. For that, the letter of recommendation from the concerned Nepali embassy must be issued which has to be available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu.
Nepalis who have gone abroad Gulf countries + Malaysia) on visit visas have been living and working.
In the last few months, a large number of Nepalis had gone to those countries on visit visas through manpower due to the lure of attractive salary and other fringe benefits.
According to the Immigration Department, in 2021, 10,000 Nepalis flew to the Gulf and Malaysia on a monthly visit visa. The Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that those who go on visit visas with such attractive salary facilities are facing problems aboard.
Seventy percent of Nepalis who have gone abroad on visit visa are employed and live abroad. The government does not have data on how many stay and how many return home.
According to the Department of Foreign Employment, the government only finds out when there is a problem.
One year ago, Immigration said that in case of women under the age of 40 going abroad on a visit visa, the recommendation of the ward and the consent of the family are required. But the issue became controversial.
It has been in the news that Nepalis who have gone abroad on visit visas through manpower and agents have become stranded in different countries. Thus, workers abroad have more problems during the epidemic. Therefore, the ministry has stated that the visit visa has been banned.
Managers and official representatives of manpower companies going for foreign employment business promotion will also be allowed to visit.
Similarly, it has been decided to provide this facility to the representatives of business organizations importing and exporting goods in Nepal, representatives going for government work and representatives of banks and financial institutions doing international business.
Visit visa is still in dispute The government has repeatedly discussed the long-running visit visa issue. An investigation committee was also formed to resolve the issue. But instead of solving the problem, it is getting worse.
The committee had also suggested making insurance of Rs. 1.5 million and parental approval mandatory for going on a visit visa.
However, even that issue could not become practical. The problem is not being able to manage the visit visa in this way.
