Nepal to track all foreign nationals from 1st January 2026

Kathmandu -  Starting January 1, 2026, every foreign national arriving in Nepal will be tracked through a new system, officials said.

 The Department of Immigration (DoI) has developed the Foreign Nationals Registration and Tracking System (FNRTS), also referred to as the Foreign Citizen Management Information System, to register and monitor the entry, stay, and activities of foreign citizens for security and tourism purposes. The system, which has been developed over the last four years, will now be fully implemented from January 2026.

According to the DoI, the system has been designed in line with international laws and commitments to which Nepal is a party. It aims to regulate immigration, enhance the security of foreign visitors, promote tourism, and create a centralized information system for government records.

The system is expected to enhance tourist safety, facilitate information exchange, and help control potential crimes, thereby strengthening tourism promotion, national security, and good governance. Mr. Tikaram Dhakal, the DoI spokesperson, stated that the system is also a response to Nepal’s international obligations to manage records of foreign nationals entering the country.

The Foreign Nationals Registration and Tracking System will be implemented in phases.

Under the revised plan, the first phase, beginning on January 1, 2026, will apply to star-rated hotels within the Kathmandu Valley. The second phase, starting on March 1, 2026, will expand nationwide to include all star-rated hotels, airline companies, tours and travel companies, and money exchangers.

The third phase will gradually extend the system to all other types of accommodation and service providers, such as guesthouses. To ensure broad compliance, the DoI has requested all public and private institutions providing services to foreign nationals to register with the system, with registration procedures and user manuals available on the DoI’s official website.

Purpose and Function of the System

The DoI stated that the system will maintain detailed records of foreign nationals, helping authorities track their location and visa status, which has been a challenge under the current system. This capability is particularly crucial for emergency rescues involving trekkers and mountaineers and for law enforcement, as many foreign nationals are deported each year for crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and foreign currency misappropriation.

The system is also expected to simplify deportation and investigations by generating alerts when a foreign national’s visa expires and by making it easier to identify overstayers who may attempt to re-enter via Nepal’s open border with India.

The Department has requested all public and private institutions providing services to foreign nationals to register with the system.