Notice urges educational institutions to ensure foreign students attend classes regularly and report violations
KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 26
The Department of Immigration has issued an urgent notice warning educational institutions against enrolling foreign students solely for financial gain and urging stricter oversight of visa holders to prevent misuse of study permits.
According to the DoI, the department is committed to supporting and facilitating foreign students who wish to pursue higher education in various universities and educational institutions in Nepal, as well as those seeking to study Nepali language, culture, arts, literature, music, and other subjects. In line with this commitment, the department has been issuing Study Visas to foreign nationals wishing to pursue academic and non-academic education strictly in accordance with prevailing immigration laws.
However, the department stated that during recent monitoring, several educational institutions were found admitting foreign nationals despite not conducting regular academic programmes. The notice flagged cases where institutions recommended study visas for foreign nationals seeking long-term residence through irregular means and for students engaged in activities prohibited by law.
The Department of Immigration reported instances where foreign nationals holding study visas failed to attend classes regularly, submitted forged documents when extending visas, and presented false academic certificates despite not completing coursework. In many cases, concerned educational institutions did not report these violations to immigration authorities or local administration.
The department requested all educational institutions enroll foreign students strictly for legitimate academic and teaching purposes and recommend study visas only after verifying regular class attendance. Institutions must immediately report to the department or local administration if any student is found engaged in activities outside academic purposes.
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology have been instructed to regularly monitor all institutions teaching foreign nationals. The District Monitoring Committees across all 77 districts have been requested to monitor foreign citizens' activities, the notice stated.
The Department of Immigration emphasised the need for immediate reporting if any foreign national is found involved in illegal activities contrary to the purpose of their study visa. Educational institutions are encouraged to cooperate with local administration and immigration authorities to ensure visa regulations are followed and that study programmes operate with academic integrity.
