Nepal has asked India to recognize its National Identity Card as a valid travel document for Nepali citizens, a senior immigration official said Sunday.
The Department of Immigration forwarded the proposal to the Indian government through diplomatic channels, spokesperson Tika Ram Dhakal said, according to the Press Trust of India.
If India accepts it, Nepali citizens could use the NID for travel by both air and land. It would serve as an additional recognized document alongside the passport and citizenship certificate they already use.
“We have already sent the proposal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the Home Ministry, and the Foreign Ministry has forwarded it to the concerned authorities of India,” — Tika Ram Dhakal, Department of Immigration spokesperson
Indian Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines already accept certain other documents from Nepali citizens in some cases, including a voter ID issued by Nepal’s Election Commission and a limited-validity photo ID issued by a Nepali mission in India.
Nepali officials have described replacing the citizenship certificate with the NID as a long-term goal, though the certificate remains valid and no deadline has been announced.
India and Nepal maintain an open border and visa-free travel under the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which provides reciprocal privileges including movement, residence, trade and commerce. Travelers may still be required to carry recognized identity documents.
India had not responded to the request as of Sunday.
This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.
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