Nepal seeks India's approval for biometric national identity card as travel document
Nepal has requested that India recognize its biometric National Identity card as a valid travel document for cross-border movement. The proposal aims to streamline travel and eventually replace traditional citizenship certificates with a more secure, technology-friendly identification system.
Why it matters
This initiative represents a significant step in digitizing cross-border travel protocols and strengthening bilateral administrative cooperation between India and Nepal.
Nepal has formally requested India's approval to recognise its biometric National Identity (NID) card as an official travel document for cross-border journeys, alongside passports and citizenship certificates.At present, Nepali citizens travelling to India, particularly by air, must carry either a valid passport or an original citizenship certificate. Indian citizens entering Nepal are required to present either a passport or an original voter identity card with a photograph.However, Nepal's National Identity card contains biometric information, including fingerprints, facial images and iris scans. The programme was launched as a pilot in Panchthar district and among government employees in 2009.
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