Dhiraj Kandel
Managing DirectorSchedule a free consultation with our expert counselors to discuss your study
A valid passport is one of the first documents you need when planning to study overseas. It proves your identity and Nepali nationality, allows a university to record your official personal details, and is required for a student visa and international travel.
Students should apply for a passport early instead of waiting for an offer letter or visa appointment. Appointments and processing can take time, while a spelling mistake or short remaining validity can delay your admission, NOC, banking and visa steps.
This guide explains the Nepal passport application process, required documents, eligibility, fees, processing time, validity and renewal. To prepare the rest of your application documents, follow this study abroad document checklist for academic, financial and visa-related requirements.
A passport is an official identity and travel document issued by a country’s government to its citizens. It confirms the holder’s identity and nationality and allows them to travel internationally. Many countries now issue electronic passports, or e-passports, containing a secure chip that stores personal and biometric information.
Universities, visa offices, test providers, banks and immigration authorities may use passport details throughout the study-abroad process. The spelling and order of your name should remain consistent across your passport, academic records and application documents. Check these details carefully before submitting any university or student visa application.
A passport is required for several stages of the study-abroad process, including university applications, English language test registration, admission records, banking procedures, student visa forms, biometrics, visa interviews and international travel. Nepali students may also need to submit a passport copy when completing an NOC application in Nepal.
Nepali citizens who meet the required identity and documentation conditions can apply for a passport. Students aged 16 or above normally need their original citizenship certificate and National Identity Number, while applicants below 16 may need a minor identity card and supporting documents from a parent or guardian.
For most students who have completed +2, the process involves preparing valid identity documents, paying the applicable fee and attending the selected passport office for verification and biometric enrolment. Make sure your name, date of birth and other personal details match across your passport, citizenship certificate, academic records and study-abroad documents.
Passport applications in Nepal are processed through designated government offices based on the service type and the applicant’s location. Students can use regular service through an eligible district or area administration office, while expedited service is available through the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu. The selected office affects the appointment process, fee, processing time and passport collection method.
Regular applications are accepted through the relevant District Administration Office or designated Area Administration Office. Applicants should normally use the office connected to the district where their citizenship or minor identity card was issued, subject to applicable migration and verification arrangements.
Students needing a passport urgently may apply at the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu. The Department provides expedited service, while district and area administration offices provide regular service.
Choose the application location carefully. Your appointment, payment method, fee and collection process depend on the selected enrolment centre.
For an application made within Nepal, the usual Nepal passport requirements include:
The Department says the downloaded PDF may be printed or shown digitally, but a screenshot is not a replacement for the original file. Applicants below 16 may also need their minor identity card, district verification, parent or guardian citizenship, and other supporting records.
Where your address details do not match across documents, check this guide to preparing an address verification document for study abroad.
The passport application starts online, but you must attend the selected enrolment centre for verification and biometrics.
Keep your citizenship, National Identity Number and old passport beside you. Enter details from original records, not from memory.
Check the English spelling of your name, surname, date of birth, birthplace and citizenship number before opening the application portal.
Visit the Department of Passports website and open the official e-passport pre-enrolment portal.
Avoid unofficial websites that claim to issue passports or reserve guaranteed appointments. You may receive technical help while filling out the form, but personally check every detail before submission.
Choose First Issuance if you have never held an MRP or e-passport, Renewal if you have, or the correct Lost/Stolen, Damaged or data-correction option. Choosing the wrong type can require a new form.
Students who previously had only an old handwritten passport may need to choose first issuance rather than renewal. Follow the option and instructions displayed on the current portal.
A 34-page passport is enough for most students. A 66-page booklet is more useful for frequent travellers who expect to collect many visas and entry or exit stamps.
A 66-page passport does not improve student visa approval chances. It only gives you more pages and costs more.
Choose the application country, province, district and enrolment centre, then select an available date and time.
Make sure you are eligible to use that office and can attend with the required original documents. Seeing an earlier appointment at another location does not automatically mean that office can process your application.
Complete the required personal, citizenship, contact and previous passport fields. Upload clear scans within the file format and size limit shown on the current portal. Do not use cropped, edited or unreadable files.
Your emergency contact should be another person, such as a parent or close relative. Do not enter your own details again in the emergency contact section.
Review the application summary carefully, submit the form, download the PDF and save the request or reference number.
Bring the original downloaded PDF, not only a screenshot. Printing it is safer, even when the enrolment centre permits you to show the downloaded file on your phone.
Go to the selected office at the booked time with your original documents and payment proof. Staff will verify your documents and collect your:
Applicants normally do not need to bring a passport photograph because it is taken at the enrolment centre. Limited exceptions may apply to very young children who cannot sit properly for a live photograph.
Verify your:
Corrections may be possible before final approval. After the photograph, signature and final approval, an applicant-caused mistake may require a fresh application and another fee.
Use the official status service, application reference or Nepal ePassport app to check progress.
Collect your passport only after receiving the relevant status, SMS, email or collection instruction. Take the application form, citizenship certificate, payment receipt and old passport where required.
Passport costs and processing times in Nepal vary depending on the application location, service type and number of pages selected. Regular applications are more affordable but may take longer, while expedited service costs more and is processed faster. Students should also check the passport’s validity carefully to ensure it comfortably covers their university application,
| Application route | 34-page passport | 66-page passport |
| Regular district or area office service | NPR 5,000 | NPR 10,000 |
| Expedited Department of Passports service | NPR 12,000 | NPR 20,000 |
| Lost or damaged replacement at the Department | NPR 17,000 | NPR 25,000 |
Fees depend on location, page count, age and application type. Separate rates apply to applicants below age 10. These figures were verified in August 2026. Check the official passport fee page before paying.
Online payment through the Department portal is intended for expedited applications. Regular applicants should follow the payment instructions provided by their district or area administration office.
The Department of Passports commonly issues an expedited passport within two working days after successful enrolment.
Regular district service can take several weeks. Different official Department pages indicate a broad processing period of approximately 10 to 45 days, depending on the office, distance, verification and delivery conditions. Applications submitted through Nepali missions abroad may take approximately 15 days to two months.
Verification, holidays, workload and technical issues can cause delays. Do not book a non-refundable flight until your passport has been issued and checked.
An ordinary Nepal passport is generally valid for 10 years from its issue date. A passport issued to a child below 10 is generally valid for five years.
Legal validity does not mean the passport will remain suitable for every visa until its final day. Your destination may require enough remaining validity for visa processing, travel or the duration of your stay.
Passport renewal in Nepal follows a process similar to a first-time application. Applicants must select Renewal on the official portal, enter their previous passport details, choose an enrolment office, book an appointment and upload the required documents. They must then attend the appointment with their citizenship certificate, National Identity Number, old passport and payment receipt to complete document verification and biometrics. The existing passport is not extended; a new booklet is issued with a new passport number and validity period.
Students should consider renewing their passport when:
The previous passport number is normally recorded in the new booklet. If the old passport contains a valid visa, check the destination country’s rules, as you may need to carry both passports while travelling. After renewal, update your university, visa application, airline account and other relevant records. You should also review your study abroad document checklist to ensure the new passport details match your remaining application documents.
Renew early enough to avoid delays in admission, visa processing and travel. Do not rely on a general six-month validity rule, as passport requirements can differ by country and visa type.
A lost, stolen or damaged passport can interrupt university applications, visa processing and travel plans. Students should report the issue promptly and follow the correct replacement procedure through the passport authority. Do not attempt to travel with a passport that has been reported lost or is seriously damaged.
Choose the lost or stolen replacement option and follow the office’s document instructions. Current Department guidance says a newspaper notice is not required to submit the replacement application.
A reported passport becomes invalid. Do not travel with it even if you later find it. Contact the passport authority and arrange to have the recovered passport cancelled.
If the passport is lost while you are abroad, contact the nearest Nepali embassy or mission. Depending on your circumstances, the mission may guide you on a replacement passport, temporary passport or one-way travel document.
Select the damaged replacement option and take the damaged booklet to your appointment.
Serious tears, water damage, altered pages, a damaged cover or chip problems may make a passport unusable. Do not attempt to repair it with glue, tape, lamination or handwritten changes.
A mistake discovered before final enrolment approval may be corrected by the verification staff. Check the amended information carefully before signing.
If the issued passport contains an error, contact the issuing office immediately. An official printing or office error may be corrected without a fee under the applicable conditions. Incorrect information supplied or approved by the applicant may require a new application and payment.
Universities often request the passport information page during the application or before preparing final admission documents.
Upload a clear and complete copy showing:
Your university, visa and passport details should match exactly. A minor spelling difference can create confusion when the institution prepares an admission letter or country-specific visa document.
A passport that is close to expiry may not always prevent an initial university application, but it can cause difficulties later. If you renew after receiving an LOA, CAS, CoE, I-20 or another admission document, inform the institution immediately.
A passport for student visa use must be genuine, readable, undamaged and valid under the destination’s current immigration rules.
The visa authority may use your passport to connect your application form, admission record, biometrics, medical examination, travel history and final visa decision.
| Destination | Student passport planning |
| Canada | Review the latest Canada student visa requirements and avoid using a passport that may limit the period of your immigration document. |
| Australia | Keep the same passport details across your CoE and application, and check the Australia student visa requirements. |
| United Kingdom | Match your passport with the university application and CAS-related details. Follow Goreto’s UK application guide. |
| United States | Use the correct passport for the application and interview, together with the documents listed in the F-1 student visa guide. |
Small errors in a passport application can lead to delays, additional costs or problems during university and visa processing. Students should review every detail carefully before submitting the form or approving the final passport information.
Your passport should be prepared early, rather than left until the final stages of your study-abroad plan. Apply through the official portal, select the correct application type, carry the required original documents, and carefully check every detail before approving the application. Your name, date of birth, and passport information should remain consistent across your academic, financial, university, and student visa documents.
Once your passport is ready, the next steps may include selecting a suitable course and university, preparing admission documents and understanding the student visa process. For personalised support at each stage, contact an experienced study abroad counsellor and discuss your study plans.
Some universities may accept an initial application without it, but many need a passport before final admission or visa documentation. Applying early is safer.
Applicants aged 16 or above applying within Nepal normally need the National Identity Number. The physical card may not be necessary where accepted registration proof is available.
Regular service costs NPR 5,000 for a 34-page passport and NPR 10,000 for a 66-page passport. Expedited and replacement applications cost more.
Expedited service commonly takes about two working days after successful enrolment. Regular service may take several weeks depending on the office, location and verification.
Yes. Renewal is allowed when less than one year remains and may be permitted earlier in specific situations, including when its validity is shorter than the documented study period.
No. A 34-page passport is enough for most students. More pages do not improve your chances of receiving a student visa.
Do not ignore the difference. Review the original records and obtain the appropriate legal or documentary guidance before submitting university and visa applications.
No. Once reported lost or stolen, the passport should not be used even when it is recovered later.
No. A renewed passport normally has a new number. Update your university, visa application and other relevant records.
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