Nepal

By Diwash Ghimire & Sabitri Dhakal

Looking at the crowds outside the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, one wonders why people from all over the country come here.

Citizens can obtain a new e-passport in three days by paying Rs12,000. Those who have lost their passports will have to pay Rs17,000 to get a replacement. But the government notice is paying a mere lip service.

Although most district administration offices have started passport services, the speedy delivery is not guaranteed. It's no surprise that service seekers from across the country have been descending in droves to the department.

The Department of Passports receives around 2,000 online applications on average each day, adding to staff’s burdens. Consequently, the drama of passport hassles continues. Some members of the public went so far as to invite Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane, the former host of the popular television show Sidha Kura Janata Sanga, on a recent afternoon to witness the situation at the department.

On Sunday, the first day of the year 2023, NepalMinute.com visited the department to see firsthand if the obstacles faced by passport applicants have diminished. We conversed with some of them. Excerpts:

Sunita Shrestha, 36, Kathmandu 

I'm here to get my child a passport. I brought my nine-month-old baby along. I’ve packed diapers, formula milk, food, water,  as well as other necessities because I will be spending the entire day here.

My family is planning to go to Canada. However, I have not yet received my passport more than a week after filing the application. If the government can improve the system, we can fill out the online application ourselves. Here, though, you must rely on others because you cannot fill out the form on your own. The government must provide quality services and timely passport delivery.

Sujata Chaulagain, 20, Kavre

I’m here because I urgently need a passport. I've already taken the PTE Academic exam and am eager to go to Australia as soon as possible. I waited four months in Kavre to file an online application. But it was a futile exercise. So I came here. 

The DoP webpage is only accessible for 3-4 minutes, during which time you cannot submit an application. I've been waiting here since yesterday. The daily quota of 2,000 is insufficient to process the applications. The government needs to increase it and ensure ease of service nationwide.

Rupa Kumari Khatri, 75, Dang 

I need to renew my passport to visit my son and his family in the United States. I’ve been forced to come here because the system doesn’t work in Dang. 

Officials at the department said that my online application had some mistakes. There is no simplified way for elderly people to get a passport. Waiting here with a cane in hand is exhausting. I feel like living in the US for a long haul because of such hassles here. If passports are made available in the district it will ease our troubles.

Indra Chapagain, 34, Syangja  

I am planning to go to the US for a seminar and need to renew my passport. But it’s difficult here. The system doesn’t respond. I have taken a leave from my job to fill out a form for my application. The application process takes longer than a day. I couldn’t fill out the form today. I can’t take repeated time off work to get my passport. 

If the government had arranged for the option to apply for a passport in the home district, it would have simplified matters considerably. That would have made this place less crowded. Only people who need a passport urgently will come here. I don't know if I will get a passport from my district even in three months.

Prabhu Kumar Mahato, 32, Sunsari 

I received an SMS, asking me to collect my passport from the department. I am here to learn the status of my application. I’ve been waiting in line for three hours, but I haven’t had any update as yet.

I applied for the passport from Sunsari paying Rs15,000. I was told that the passport will be ready within three days. I wanted to collect it from Kathmandu to apply for a security guard job in Malaysia.

Radhika Limbu, 35, Taplejung 

I came all the way from Taplejung to get my passport here. It’s already been two weeks since I came here. I tried filling out the form from Taplejung but could not.  

I don’t intend to travel anywhere immediately, but I just want to have my travel document in hand. I filled up an application form on Thursday but I haven’t received any update about my passport.