Sunday 30 November 2014

Machine Readable Passport (MRP) from Nepal - Tips and Guidelines

I have seen many people inquiring about Machine Readable Passport („MRP“) of Nepal. As I made my passport recently in Nepal (From Department of Passport, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kathmandu), I thought to share my experience with you as it may help many people. This will also brings me back to some writing after a long gap.

First of all, you need to understand that if you have hand-written passport issued by Government of Nepal, it will no longer be valid after November 24, 2015 (even if the date of expiry indicated in the passport is beyond this date). That means you have less than a year’s validity of your existing passport. If you are going to apply for any new visa, generally, no country will give you visa unless you have a passport of minimum six month’s validity. Therefore, it is high time that you renew your existing machine non-readable passport to machine readable passport.

This information below is provided based on my experience of making passport from Nepal. If you are approaching to Nepalese Embassies located in different countries, the process and documentation may slightly vary. Here we go to know how to make MRP from Nepal.

STEP 1:
1.    The application forms for MRP should be downloaded from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website. As you have to submit the computer typed form, fill the details in the form in computer itself. Hand written form will not be accepted by MOFA. You can download the form and instructions regarding how to fill it correctly from the following links:
http://www.dopmofa.gov.np/pdf/form2-4mv2-1.pdf (Main Form - Please print three copies of this form. In one of these three copies, do not forget to print “Recommendation of CDO’s office from where you have made your Citizenship Card” on the back side of the firm.)
http://www.dopmofa.gov.np/pdf/Varification%20letter%20annex.pdf (Recommendation of CDO’s office from where you have made your Citizenship Card – Please understand that you must print this form on the backside of one of the main form)

You should not fill anything on this recommendation page which you have printed on the backside of the main form. This will be filled by CDO’s office when you go to submit the form. They will do so by their handwriting after checking the record.

2.    While taking the print, please be careful about print settings. As per MOFA website, the following has been instructed:
विवरण भरेपछि प्रिन्ट गर्दा ध्यान दिनुपर्ने कुरा

o    प्रिन्ट गर्दा paper size A4 हुनुपर्छ
o    page scaling मा "none" option हानेर मात्र प्रिन्ट गर्नुपर्छ
The instructions say that the paper should be A4 on which passport applications are printed and please select “none” option in page scaling of printer setting. Please do as has been instructed. Otherwise, your form will be rejected.

3.    You have to also be careful about photo. The photo should be without spectacles and the forehead should be seen and should not be covered by hair among other technical details. The instructions regarding passport photo can be found here:

You can read more instructions and details from MOFA website, Department of Passport: http://www.dopmofa.gov.np/mrp/

4.    Once the passport application form and photos (they need three copies) are ready, stick the photo on the form. One photo should be pasted with glue on the front page of the form where box for photo has been provided (which clearly says, “Affix the photo with a dab of glue in the box”). Another photo should be pasted on the back side of the form in which you have printed the CDO’s recommendation. There is no specific box in which you need to paste your photo. So, paste it on the right side of the page just above the big box of recommendation. Make sure it will not touch any printed letters.

5.    On the front page, you have to put the thumb impressions of your both hands. Here, you must be extra-cautious. Use only black ink for the thumb impressions and they should not touch any line of the box. So, be careful and make sure your thumb impression does not touch top and bottom lines of the form. Of course, they should not touch left and right side lines of the box.

6.    You have to also put your signature on the forms. It can be signed in any but in one language. Either in Nepali or in English only but with a black ink pen.

If you find hassle in doing above things or if you are not confident of above, take help of passport agents which are located outside every CDO’s office or outside Additional CDO’s office if your area is covered by Additional CDO Office (ILAKA PRASASHAN KARYALAYA). Generally, agents charge Rs. 300-400 along with photos and do a good work.

7.    Once you have above things ready, please go to CDO’s office or Additional CDO’s office if your area is covered by Additional CDO Office (ILAKA PRASASHAN KARYALAYA) in your district from where you have received your Citizenship Card (Nagarikata). You should also attach a photocopy of your Nagarikata and old passport along with the filled form. You must carry your original Citizenship Card (Nagarikata) and original passport (if you have already taken one in the past). If you have lost your passport and making it again, you should go with proper advertisements in newspaper and police report.

Also, you should write an application (can be handwritten or computer print) addressing the CDO’s office or Additional CDO’s office (as the case may be) requesting him to verify the record and issue the recommendation or certify the details printed on back side of the main form.

8.    In CDO’s office or in Additional CDO’s office, they will check the record of your Nagarikata and issue the certification/verification/recommendation. The government employees fill the back side of the main form themselves and the Section Officer (Third Class Gazetted Officer) puts his signature on your photo and on the form and you will be given the copy with the stamping of the seal of the CDO’s office or in Additional CDO’s office.

Once this is done, you can decide whether you want to pay only Rs. 5,000/- and wait for minimum 2 months. If you want to do so, you can submit the stamped form there itself in the same CDO’s office or in Additional CDO’s office.

If you need your passport urgently, you have to go to Department of Passport, (DOP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Narayanhiti Durbar, Kathmandu. In this case, you have to pay Rs. 10,000/- but will get a passport within a week.

9.    If you go to DOP in Kathmandu, you should carry along with you the form which has been certified by CDO’s office or Additional CDO’s office, one additional form (this one is the most important as it will be scanned by DOP), your original Nagarikata and your original Passport if you have already taken one along with Nepali Rupees Ten Thousand (NR 10,000/-) in Cash.

10.  You are advised to go early in the morning and get in the Queue (Line) so that your turn will come early during the day. As on average 2500 people per day will be applying for MRP and the number is going to increase day by day, going very early will help. You are advised to reach there and be in queue not later than 8 am. I reached there at 8.30am and I could submit my form only at 3.45 pm in the afternoon.

11.  There will be token system to manage the line. Nothing to worry as it is a mechanism to control lines and people. There will be check of photos and forms and if anything is found incorrect and insufficient, you will be asked to bring another form/photo as the case may be. As this screening will be after getting token numbers, in case you are told to change any form or photo, do not panic. Go outside. Take the print of another form or get another photo clicked. There are many agents on Jamal – Kesar Mahal Road and they do a sound job. DO NOT THROW THE OLD FORMS BROUGHT FROM CDO’s OFFICE AS THEY MUST BE SUBMITTED even if they are found faulty. Especially, the recommendation letter (certified/verified letter) must be submitted to DOP even if they are not as per standards.

12.  Thereafter, once your turn comes submit the form and pay the amount in the counter next to form collection counter. You will get a slip from Global IME Bank. This slip is a proof that you have submitted the passport form. You must present this while collecting your passport after a week.

13.  You come back after a week to collect passport and present the slip of Global IME Bank to the passport collection counter. You must bring your Nagarikata and old Passport while coming to collect the MRP. You must be present yourself for collection. The passport office puts a “Cancelled without Prejudice” stamp on your old passport and gives you your MRP. That’s it.

If you think that I missed something or if you want to add anything, please do. You can contact me for any clarifications via twitter @npPoet or via comment section of my blog http://nepalikabitagajal.blogspot.in/ 

31 comments:

Unknown said...

My passport pages have run out and I was told I have to process a new passport again and there is no option of adding pages to the existing passport. The new passport may not have the same passport number. What happens if there are valid visas on the old passport. Hearsay is that some nepalese going to the middle east were given a tough at the immigration exit point in nepal as the visa was on the old passport that had a CANCCELLED stamp.

Chief Editor said...

Dear Tika, There will not be any problem with existing unexpired visa on old passport though "CANCELLED" Stamp is there. Do not worry. You will be able to clear the immigration with VISA on OLD Passport. Carry both the old and new Passports along with you.

Govind said...

Hi, I heard that immigration will not allow me to leave Airport from Nepal if I do not have MRP by July 2015, how far it is true as I had read that they will not allow only after September 2015, pls advice

Binod said...

Hi,
This concern is regarding the filing of Optional Practical Training (OPT) for students in the US. Since I have both machine readable and old passport and the numbers are different, which passport information should I use? The VISA is in the old passport but we all know the passport is invalid to travel after November. If you have any lead on this please help.
Thanks
Binod

Chief Editor said...

1. Dear Govinda, I am not aware of any such new Developments. If there are any such developments, I am sure it will be published and widely circulated in the media and official websites. I can only suggest you to have a look at Websites of Department of Immigration and Department of Passport regularly to get the new updates on time.

2. Dear Binod, I have absolutely no idea on this. May be nearest US Embassy will provide you some information on the issue of how OPT should be filled.

BiapDown said...

i have lost my Mrp passport.should i again have to go back to my district cdo office to bring form and cdo authority to make again new MRP or i can get new MRP with the help of news paper and police report urgently by paying RS 15000.00 please help.thank you

Unknown said...

Hi,
I would like to know if the passport number will be the same if I change/upgrade my current passport to MRP. Could you please let me know? Your help is greatly appreciated!

Unknown said...

Unknown said...

Unknown said...

Dear Nepali Poet, my name is Aro. I'm from Malaysia. I'm handling the Nepal expatriates who are working in one of a company in Malaysia. I also get to know that the passport need to be done in MRP form before 24/11/2015. Few of the Nepalese have passport in-written form(valid for 6 months and above) & I have few questions.

1) Mr. Tula Bahadur Magar's working permit will end in July 2016. His written passport will expire on 23 August 2017. He doesn't want to do his passport in MRP form. Now, Mr. Tula wants to go to Nepal in July 2016 before his work permit expire. Our Malaysian Immigration will allow Mr. Tula to go back to Nepal. Is there any restrictions given by Nepal immigration once Mr. Tula arrived at Kathmandu Airport?

Chief Editor said...

Mr. Aro, Your question is very interesting. I do not know the answer of it. I shall try to help you. Let me find out the answer from the authorities. Give me few days. I have one thought in my mind. Let me share it with you before I find definite answer to your question.

As per the directive of ICAO and Government of Nepal, all the hand written (non-MRP) Passports will expire automatically on 24/11/2015 even though the passports may have validity date after 24/11/2015. So, if Mr. Tula Bahadur Magar does not make MRP Passport, his passport becomes invalid from 24/11/2015. So, once he does not hold a valid passport, any Visa or work permit on that passport becomes invalid. So, at the time of leaving Malaysia in July, 2016, the Malaysian immigration MAY NOT allow him to leave the country and may charge/detain him for staying illegally. Have you thought of this angle?

Please suggest/advice Mr. Magar the difficulty he may face in the future due to his stupidity/stubbornness and convince him of the need of getting MRP.

For your and his info, he need not come to Nepal to make MRP. He can apply from local embassy of Nepal (Nepalese Embassy in Malaysia). Please tell him to get in touch with Nepalese Embassy there as the time is running out. I hope it helps you.

Chief Editor said...

Dear BiapDown, If you lost your MRP Passport, the entire cycle of procedure starts from the place where you lost your passport. First, you need to file a police complaint and get a letter from police that your passport is not found. Thereafter, publish an advertisements in Nepali Newspaper and go to CDO Office to get verification. Thereafter, you should come to Department of Passport, NarayanHiti, Kathmandu.

Dear Alu Sha, if you make MRP Passport, then, your old Passport (Handwritten Passport) will be cancelled and will be invalid. The new Passport will have new and different number than your old passport.

Unknown said...

Hi Nepali Poet,

I am currently living in Kathmandu but my citizenship was issued from Sunsari. My current passport is hand-written and I need to update it to MRP. I heard that I must go to my own district from where I made my citizenship. Is it true? What are the processes if it is true and I need to get my MRP in expedite way? Do I need to go to my district twice (once during apply and once to collect)?

Unknown said...

Dear admin i have to make my pp mrp do i need shifaris from jilla ?????

Unknown said...

Dear admin i have to make my pp mrp do i need shifaris from jilla ?????

Chief Editor said...

हो बानिया जी. तपाइले आफ्नो जिल्ला गएर जहा बाट नागरिकता लिनुभएको छ, त्यहाको सिडिओ अफिसबाट सिफारिस लिनुपर्दछ. जिल्लाबाटै पासपोर्ट लिने भए त्यो कागज लाइ त्यहि बुझाउने अनि ६० दिन पर्खने. हतारमा हुनुहुञ्छ भने काठमान्डू मा आएर दोब्बर (१०००० नेपाली रुपैया) पे गर्नुभो भने सात दिनमा नया मेसिन रिडेबल पासपोर्ट पाउनुहुनेछ

Chief Editor said...

हेलो रोशन चित्रकार जी, तपाइको नागरिकता जुन जिल्लाको हो, त्यहि गएर सिडिओ को सिफारिस लिनुपर्छ. तपाइले आफ्नो जिल्ला गएर जहा बाट नागरिकता लिनुभएको छ, त्यहाको सिडिओ अफिसबाट सिफारिस लिनुपर्दछ. जिल्लाबाटै पासपोर्ट लिने भए त्यो कागज लाइ त्यहि बुझाउने अनि ६० दिन पर्खने. हतारमा हुनुहुञ्छ भने काठमान्डू मा आएर दोब्बर (१०००० नेपाली रुपैया) पे गर्नुभो भने सात दिनमा नया मेसिन रिडेबल पासपोर्ट पाउनुहुनेछ

ari said...

Dear Admin,
I have my citizenship issued from Doti district but i live in Kathmandu, i had my handwritten passport issued from kathmandu 4 yrs ago and as i am a student it is not possible for me to go Doti twice for form submission and collection.. So is there any way from which i can issue my passport from ktm itself.. Pls kindly enlighten me with the solution

Chief Editor said...

Hi Ari, you must go to your Native District "Doti" at least once to get "Recommendation Letter" from CDO Office from where you have made your Citizenship Card. Once you get this recommendation letter from the CDO Office from where you have made your Citizenship Card, you can make your Passport from Kathmandu by paying Rs. 10,000/-.

Unknown said...

Hi Sir,

Thanks for your reply. One quick question. Will my existing passport number (handwritten) change when I replace it with MRP?

Thanks

Kathmandu link said...

Dear Sir,

I have already taken recommendation letter from CDO office but the problem is that due to some reason I didn't made my passport from last year.I have still that recommendation letter from CDO office but that is old taken in 10/19/2014,is it still work for the passport?

Regards,

Manish

Pari said...

hi I'm also facing same problem Can u plz let me know that can we go bck to Nepal with old passport n travel document during December , well if we made travel document does it work to go Nepal n made mrp over their n get bck again or nt ???

Unknown said...

Hi, I am a frequent traveler. Current MRP passport has very few pages and I am running out of pages. Previous Handwritten passport has 60pages but now its reduced to 36 pages.
Is there provision to get extra pages passport. Normally in other countries people can either add pages or apply for big passport at extra cost with lots of pages.

Unknown said...

Hi
I have a query that I had a old passport and it was issued in nepal the previous old one but when I check on the back it's written issued by qatar .Does it really make change.Can embessy check that because number and verify the passport number because have not written my qatar history in application.

arjun said...

I dont have still MRP deu to some reason. I m planning to go Nepal with handwritten passpirt n renew there. Is it possible to travel Nepal with old passport. Hope u Reply me soon
Thanks Admin

arjun said...

I dont have still MRP deu to some reason. I m planning to go Nepal with handwritten passpirt n renew there. Is it possible to travel Nepal with old passport. Hope u Reply me soon
Thanks Admin

Chief Editor said...

Roshan Tamrakar asked me, "Hi Sir, Thanks for your reply. One quick question. Will my existing passport number (handwritten) change when I replace it with MRP?"

Our Team's response: Yes, the Passport Number changes. The new MRP Passport will have entirely a new Passport Number.

Chief Editor said...

Gyandira panday has the following question: "Hi, I have a query that I had a old passport and it was issued in nepal the previous old one but when I check on the back it's written issued by qatar .Does it really make change.Can embassy check that because number and verify the passport number because have not written my qatar history in application."

Our Team's response: Hi Gyandira, We fail to understand your question. Please contact the nearest CDO Office, or nearest Embassy of Nepal if you are in foreign country or Department of Passport, NarayanHiti Palace, in Kathmandu, Nepal.

You should ask this information from Department of Passport, Kathmandu as rules relating to MRP may have been changed.

Arjun has the following question: "I don't have still MRP due to some reason. I am planning to go Nepal with handwritten passport and renew there. Is it possible to travel Nepal with old passport. Hope u Reply me soon."

Our Team's response: Hi Arjun, Please contact the nearest CDO Office, or nearest Embassy of Nepal if you are in foreign country or Department of Passport, NarayanHiti Palace, in Kathmandu, Nepal.

You should ask this information from Department of Passport, Kathmandu as rules relating to MRP may have been changed.

However, we are of the opinion that Normally, they should allow you to return to Nepal on your old passport.

Unknown said...

त्यो त बुझियो सर तर जिल्ला बाट सिफारिस ल्याएको कति दिन भित्र पेश गर्न सकिने ब्यबस्था छ ?

Unknown said...

सर, जिल्ला बाट सिफारिस ल्याएको कति दिन भित्र पेश गरिसक्नुपर्ने ब्यबस्था छ ।म एकदमै टेन्सन मा छु यो कुराले

Unknown said...

सर, जिल्ला बाट सिफारिस ल्याएको कति दिन भित्र पेश गरिसक्नुपर्ने ब्यबस्था छ ।म एकदमै टेन्सन मा छु यो कुराले