Nepal Requests India Recognize Biometric ID for Cross-Border Travel

The Government of Nepal has formally requested that the Government of India recognize its biometric National Identity (NID) card as an official travel document for citizens crossing the border via land and air. Routed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the proposal seeks to establish the NID card as a third valid identification option alongside passports and citizenship certificates.

Nepal is currently phasing out traditional citizenship certificates in favor of the NID card, which utilizes fingerprint scans, facial imagery, and iris patterns to enhance security. According to the Department of Immigration, the transition aims to create a single, technology-friendly identity card for all public services. A delegation from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu recently held talks with Nepali officials and reportedly responded positively to the initiative, escalating the request to decision-makers in New Delhi for review.

In a related move to ease cross-border movement, the Nepal Rastra Bank ended a decade-long restriction on high-denomination Indian currency. The bank now permits Indian and Nepali nationals to carry redesigned ₹200 and ₹500 banknotes, provided they were issued on or after November 9, 2016. This change reverses constraints imposed following India's 2016 demonetization, though a cumulative limit of ₹25,000 per person remains in effect.