Nepal seeks India’s approval for biometric National Identity card as travel document (ANI image)

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.

So far, more than 4.5 million Nepali citizens have received the card, while nearly 20 million applications have been submitted.Nepal plans to replace citizenship certificatesThe request comes as Nepal gradually makes the biometric National Identity card mandatory for banking, land registration, passport issuance and access to public services, with plans to eventually replace citizenship certificates.“In the long run, we will have a single identity card replacing the citizenship certificate. It is verified, authentic and technology-friendly,” Tiwari said.“That is why we have requested India to allow the use of the National Identity Card while travelling by both air and land routes,” he added.India reviews the proposalAccording to senior immigration officials quoted by The Kathmandu Post, an Indian Embassy delegation met officials from Nepal’s Department of Immigration earlier this week to discuss the proposalThe delegation was reportedly “positive” about the initiative and informed Nepalese officials that the request had been forwarded to authorities in New Delhi for consideration.“We have already forwarded the proposal to the Indian side through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Ram Chandra Tiwari, Director General of the Department of Immigration.Officials from Nepal’s Home Ministry also said that discussions have included creating formal mechanisms to record cross-border travel data and better manage movement between the two neighbouring countries.