Govt to introduce NRN visa

KOL Report

KATHMANDU, April 26 - Responding to the long-running demand of Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) to provide them with special concessions for carrying out trading and industrial activities in Nepal, the government is all set to introduce a new visa scheme for them.

According to a high-level Home Ministry source, the special visa would be valid for ten years and would be provided to the NRNs willing to stay in Nepal either for academic pursuit, establishing business or carrying out researches.

The ministry has proposed to charge an annual fee of US $ 50 for new visa scheme applicable for the students, researchers and businessmen. However, the annual fee for those willing to spend retired life in Nepal would be US $ 1200, said the source.

Along with new visa proposal the ministry is also presenting a proposal to materialise the previous decision to slash visa-fee and reduce its category, informed the source.

The government last December had announced a reduction of visa fees for single entry from US $ 50 to US $ 30 for the duration of more than two months, while the multiple visa fees was brought down from US $ 110 to US $ 80. According to the revised visa fees, renewal fee for a tourist visa would be US $ 30 a reduction of US $ 20 from the earlier fee of US $ 50. (rk)