Tourism

Nepal seeks India’s approval for national ID card as travel document

Aims to simplify air and land travel by adding a third valid identification document

By | Jul 27, 2026 | New Delhi

Nepal seeks India’s approval for national ID card as travel document

If India approves the proposal, the National Identity Card will become the third accepted travel document for Nepali citizens

Nepal has formally asked India to recognise its National Identity Card as a valid travel document for Nepali citizens, a move that could simplify cross-border travel if approved.
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Seeking to simplify cross-border travel, Nepal has formally proposed that India accept its National Identity Card as a valid document for Nepali citizens entering the country.

According to a press statement, Nepal’s Department of Immigration, the proposal has been submitted to the Indian government through diplomatic channels. The request was forwarded by Nepal’s Home Ministry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has taken it up with the Indian side. 

The statement adds that officials are in contact with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and are awaiting a formal response.

Also Read: RSF raises concerns on violence against media in Nepal during riots

If India approves the proposal, the National Identity Card will become the third accepted travel document for Nepali citizens travelling to India by air or land, alongside the existing citizenship certificate and passport.

Currently, Nepali citizens travelling to India by air must carry either a passport or a citizenship certificate. Indian citizens travelling to Nepal by air are required to present either a passport or a voter identity card, says the statement.

Nepalese officials says that they hope India will respond positively to the request, which could offer travellers an additional identification option and simplify movement between the two neighbouring countries.

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