The distribution of new passports has been suspended indefinitely following a technical issue in the electronic passport system of Nepal’s Department of Passports. For the past two days, citizens seeking new passports have been unable to access services.
The disruption began on Thursday when malware was detected in the system’s software. To ensure data security, the department shut down its operations, causing inconvenience to individuals who urgently need passports for international travel.
Director General Tirtha Raj Aryal stated that efforts are underway to resolve the issue. “We shut down the system to prevent further risks after detecting malware. Services will resume once all security issues are addressed,” he said.
On Friday, the department issued a circular to all district administration offices, informing them that a technical team is working to fix the problem. Preliminary findings suggest that the issue is unlikely to be resolved before November 24.
The department aims to fully restore services by November 25, but officials remain uncertain about meeting this target.
Meanwhile, the Nepalese Embassy in Abu Dhabi has also issued a notice addressing the situation. The embassy announced that due to ongoing technical problems with the Department of Passports’ server in Kathmandu, their passport renewal services will remain halted from November 20 to November 22, 2024. Individuals with prior appointments for these dates will need to reschedule. Further updates will be shared after the technical issues are resolved.
The embassy expressed its regret for the inconvenience caused and assured the public that efforts are being made to resolve the matter promptly.
Message for Nepalese in the UAE
Nepalese residents in the UAE are urged to stay informed about the latest updates from the Nepalese Embassy in Abu Dhabi regarding passport services. The embassy will share further announcements as the situation progresses. It is recommended to regularly check the embassy’s official website or social media platforms for real-time updates to avoid unnecessary visits or delays.
My name is Malik, and I belong to Pakistan. I went to the Nepal embassy in UAE, Abu Dhabi, about a year ago and today dated: 16-Dec 2024. The staff there was completely uncooperative, and their behavior was extremely poor. Therefore, I request that you treat your staff better. If someone marries out of their nationality, at least try to give them some respect. I have been to all the embassies in Oman, KSA, and Qatar, but I felt the worst when I went to the Nepal UAE Abu Dhabi Embassy.