A passport in Nepal costs much higher than it costs in other South Asian countries — three times more than in India and Sri Lanka, more than double than in Bangladesh and a little less than double in Pakistan.

The South Asian average cost of a passport is $38.16 (Rs 3,332.89) while the government charges $57.28 (Rs 5,000) for passport in Nepal.

The fee for acquiring passport has a telling effect, especially when it comes to migrant workers, as more than 60 per cent of Nepali passport bearers are migrant workers whose remittance contributes hugely to the country’s economy. “That’s what an insensitive government can offer,” says economist Chiranjivi Nepal. “The government is more focused on generating revenue rather than facilitating migrant workers, but they are being ignored,” he says.

Remittance received in Nepal as a share of gross domestic production is 22 per cent, making Nepal sixth in the world with Tajikistan (47 per cent), Liberia (31 per cent), Kyrgyz Republic (29 per cent), Lesotho (27 per cent) and Moldova (23 per cent). The country earned around Rs 395.56 billion through remittance in the fiscal year 2011-12.

Economist Nepal says migration is the most unmanaged sector in the country. “The government’s major focus is on collecting revenue, hence the exorbitant price of passport, which hugely affects migrant workers.”

Workers sending South Asian countries other than Nepal charge around 45 per cent lower than what Nepal charges for passport. India charges the lowest ($18.3) for passport, followed by Sri Lanka ($19.93), Bangladesh ($25.62) and Pakistan ($31.54). Among the 15 countries sending workers to South Korea under Employment Permit System, Nepal is on top for charging the highest fee for passport. “In Vietnam EPS workers pay $5-10 while in Indonesia they pay $17. Myanmar and Uzbekistan distribute passports to EPS workers for free,” says a diplomat close to the matter. “Foreign job cost will significantly come down if the government reduces passport cost or distributes it for free just like in Myanmar and Uzbekistan,” he says.

Current foreign job cost to Gulf countries and Malaysia is around $1,700 (Rs 150,000) and $1,850 (Rs 161,500) respectively.

Outsourcing agencies, on the other hand, are still to channelise their focus on the issue of passport cost. “We are still fighting to expand passport distribution facility in districts. We are yet to deal with passport cost issue,” says Bal Bahadur Tamang, President of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies. “But it will do all good to migrant workers if passport cost can be reduced.” About 11.9 million South Asian migrant workers have been working in Gulf countries and among them 2.7 million are from Nepal.

In other countries

India    $18.3

Sri Lanka         $19.93

Pakistan           $31.54

Bangladesh     $25.62 (Source: Governments of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh)

Published on: 16 April 2013 | The Himalayan Times