The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday officially launched the Nepal e-Attestation System, an online platform aimed at making consular attestation services fully digital and more accessible.
The system, which will come into full operation from August 17, will allow applicants anywhere in the world to submit applications for consular attestation online, track their application status, pay service fees and book appointments electronically.
Launching the system at a program in Kathmandu, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said the initiative was in line with the government’s commitment to making public services simpler, more transparent and more efficient through digital technology.
“I am extremely pleased that the first decision I made after assuming office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has now materialized,” Khanal said, expressing confidence that the platform would significantly improve the ministry’s overall service delivery.
He said the government has been prioritizing the Digital Nepal and good governance agenda by gradually expanding digital public services, describing the e-Attestation System as a practical implementation of that policy.
The minister said demand for consular services has risen steadily as more Nepalis travel abroad for education, employment, business and migration. He cited government data showing that 112,593 students received No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for foreign studies in fiscal year 2023/24, while around 400,000 Nepalis obtain labor approvals for overseas employment annually.
Khanal said authenticated documents have become increasingly important not only for study and employment abroad but also for family reunification, emergency rescue, and compensation or insurance claims involving Nepali nationals overseas.
He added that the Department of Consular Services has also begun preparing standardized formats for public documents issued by government agencies to ensure greater consistency in language and documentation.
Under the new system, applicants will only need to visit the department after their online applications have been approved.
“Applicants will now have to visit the department only after their applications are approved, making the attestation process faster, simpler and more predictable,” Khanal said. “The need to wait in long queues or make repeated visits because of minor documentation errors will come to an end.”
Previously, applicants traveling from districts outside Kathmandu often had to return to their local governments or other agencies if documents contained minor errors or were incomplete. Authorities said the online system is expected to significantly reduce the time, cost and inconvenience associated with the process.
The launch ceremony was attended by Foreign Secretary Amrit Kumar Rai, Director General of the Department of Consular Services Durpada Sapkota and other senior ministry officials.
