Nepal deported 339 foreigners in 2016

Kathmandu, March 15

The Ministry of Home Affairs deported as many as 339 foreigners found guilty of criminal and immigration offences in 2016.

According to a figure maintained by the MoHA, citizens of 51 countries were expelled on the recommendation of the Department of Immigration. Of them, 277 foreigners, mostly living in Nepal without visa, were booked in connection with the immigration offence while 62 had served jail sentences for fraudulent activities and drug smuggling.

Those facing expulsion included Chinese, Pakistani Russian, Bangladeshi, German, French, Korean, American, British, Italian, Israeli, Australian, Canadian, Uzbek, Portuguese, Taiwanese, Swiss, Dutch, Saudi Arabian, Polish, Iranian, New Zealander, Malaysian, Peruvian and Danish.

Similarly, the MoHA expelled 15 foreigners from mid-July through to mid-January of this year. The government had sent home 326 foreign citizens in 2015.

According to the MoHA, many of the foreigners were sent home for violating immigration laws, overstaying, living in Nepal without visa and working without permit. Likewise, the government issued work permit to 652 foreign citizens in Nepal on the recommendation of various ministries during the first six months of this fiscal, read the figure.

Any foreign national residing temporarily in Nepal is not allowed to engage in activities other than the purpose for which the visa was obtained. An official at the DoI informed that the office had deported more than 1,300 foreigners over a period of five years.

According to the Immigration Rules-1994, the government may deport any foreign citizen in case he/she overstays without extending his/her tourist visa in excess of the period of 150 days. The offender is also liable to a fine of US 5 dollars per day after the visa expires.

The tendency of overstaying visa has increased in Nepal. Meanwhile, the DoI has been developing a special software to maintain records of all foreigners arriving in Nepal. The software linked to all hotels in Kathmandu Valley will help the immigration officials keep tab on activities of foreigners staying in Nepal, said the official. Concerned hotels are required to scan the passports of their guests and upload them into the system.

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