Nepal to track all foreign visitors via mandatory digital platform

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - Nepal, for the first time, plans to track all foreign visitors who cross into the Himalayan nation via a digital platform.

The NepaliPort Traveller/Foreign National Tracking Module, which integrates QR code scanning, mobile app authentication, and real-time tracking, will be mandatory for all foreign arrivals starting Sept. 17, according to the Kathmandu Post.

The new measures were announced on Tuesday by the Department of Immigration in the "user manual for foreign national registration and tracking system."

The user manual said that the platform aims to enhance immigration monitoring, improve tourism data analytics, and enhance communication between service providers (e.g., hotels, travel agencies, transport operators) and foreign travelers.

“To enhance the international reputation and national dignity of the country, and to promote tourism and foreign investment, all movements and activities within the country must remain under the purview of the state,” the Immigration Department said.

The new policy will first be rolled out in the capital Kathmandu’s five-star hotels before gradually expanding nationwide.

Tourists are expected to install the app as soon as they enter the country and register with their passport and visa details. They must update their status, location, address, and other details each time they change.

The app also sends alerts when the tourist's visa is about to expire, along with instructions on how to extend it.