Kathmandu, August 3: Nepal has formally requested the Indian government to recognize its National Identity Card (NID) as a valid travel document for cross-border travel. A senior immigration official stated that this initiative aims to enhance identity verification and security while facilitating easier movement between the two countries.
The NID is similar to India’s Aadhaar card and contains biometric information, including fingerprints, facial images, and iris scans. The Nepalese government has made the NID mandatory for various government services, such as passport applications, land registration, and opening bank accounts.
The current Nepalese administration is gradually replacing old citizenship certificates with digitally readable identity cards. This step is part of their broader strategy.
Nepal also seeks India’s recognition of the NID as a valid document for its citizens crossing the border, as India currently accepts only Nepalese passports and citizenship certificates as official identification. Citizens of both countries can travel between Nepal and India without needing a passport or visa.
Ram Chandra Tiwari, Director General of the Department of Immigration, revealed that their office submitted a proposal to the Indian government at the end of June, requesting the NID’s acceptance as a valid travel document for Nepalese citizens.
Tiwari stated, “Currently, India primarily recognizes Nepalese passports and citizenship certificates as official identification documents. We have formally proposed that the National Identity Card also be accepted as a valid identification document for air travel and cross-border movement.”
Following Nepal’s appeal, officials from the Indian embassy in Kathmandu recently sought information from Nepalese immigration authorities regarding the NID.
Tiwari noted, “Embassy officials informally inquired about the card’s technical and security aspects. This was not a formal bilateral meeting, but rather an exchange of information.”
He emphasized that the NID offers stronger security than traditional citizenship certificates. “A citizenship certificate is merely a paper document without biometric information, whereas the NID provides a secure and reliable means of identification. This will enhance security arrangements for both Nepal and India.”
The border between Nepal and India is open, allowing citizens of both countries to cross without a passport or visa for most types of travel. Indian citizens traveling to Nepal by air are currently permitted to use a passport, voter identity card, or identity cards issued by the central or state governments of India.
According to the National ID and Civil Registration Department, over 4.5 million Nepalese citizens have already received their National Identity Cards, while approximately 20 million have enrolled for them.
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