Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Government hikes visa fee from next week

After a decade, the government has increased, albeit minimal only to make it contextual, the visa fees for foreign tourists effective from the starting of the new fiscal year 2019-20 that is July 17.
According to Department of Immigration (DoI), the government has decided to hike visa fees for tourist, students, non-tourist, business and residential visa types on May 26. “The change in visa fee structure has been less as the country is observing Visit Nepal Year 2020,” the department informed, adding that the fee structure will be revised again in 2021.
The department has hiked visa fee from $5 to $35. While the tourist visa fee for 15 days – multiple entry – has been raised by $5 to $30 from $25, tourist visa fee for 30 days – multiple entry – has been raised to $50 from $40, the department informed, adding that the tourist visa fee for 90 days – multiple entry – has been raised by $35 to $125 from $90.
Likewise, the department has also increased the visa extension fee for foreign tourists. According to the department, the visa extension fee – within valid visa period – has been raised with a minimum of $1 to a maximum of $5. The tourists will have to pay additional $3 per day for visa extension within valid visa period and $5 per day for visa extension after visa expiration has been raised to $3 per day from $2 per day. “Similarly, visa extension fee – with multiple entry – has been increased to additional $25 from $20. The late fee on visa extension – after visa expiration – has also been raised to $5 per day from $3 per day.
Similarly, under the non-tourist type, foreigners with Nepali origin will have to pay $10 per month, up from $5, the department said, adding that foreigners working in offices or projects directly affiliated with the government of Nepal and their dependents will be charged $30 per month, whereas foreigners married to Nepali citizens will have to pay $15 per month. “Previously they had to pay $20 and $10, respectively.”
The department has, however, hiked the residential visa fee to the highest. A 'new visa' with multiple entry facility for residential type has been increased to $500 from $200. “Likewise, $200 will be charged for visa renewal with multiple entry facility, up from $100 per year.”
With the increment in visa fee the department expects the visa fee collection will increase as it has collected Rs 3 billion from visa fees in the last year.
But the tourists from SAARC countries – except Afghanistan – are exempt from the multiple entry tourist visa fee for 30 days. “Tourists from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka will be charged the same amount after a month except India as Indians don't need visa to enter Nepal,” the department added.

No comments: