The answer is “No” .This is because according to India-Nepal Friendship treaty of 1950, Indian Citizens doesn’t require any passport for travelling to Nepal but they require some form of identification (An ID Card, Passport or Voters ID Card) declaring that you are an Indian Citizen! Incase if you are travelling by Air to Nepal then carry any one of these for identification (Any 1 is fine)
- Voters ID Card
- Passport itself
- Photo Identity Card (For Government Employees)
Incase if you are travelling by “Road”, then you don’t need any of these. To be sure, be check with travel operators or Airlines before boarding a flight or going by Road
Documents for Indian Nationals Travelling to Nepal:
Indian Nationals can use any of the documents below when travelling to Nepal by Air or on by Road
- Valid National Passport: This is the most straightforward option. A standard, valid Indian passport is an acceptable travel document.
- Photo Identity Card: A photo ID card issued by the Government of India, State Government, or a Union Territory (UT) Administration to their employees. The Election Commission of India-issued Voter ID card is also a valid form of identification.
- Emergency Certificate (EC): An EC issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu is an acceptable document for a single journey back to India.
- Identity Certificate (IC): An IC issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu is also a valid travel document.
Special Provisions for Certain Age Groups
The rules are even more flexible for young and senior travelers.
- Below 15 and Above 65 Years: If you are under 15 or over 65 years of age, you are exempted from carrying the documents listed above. However, you must carry a document with a photograph to confirm your age and identity, such as a school ID or a government-issued photo card.
- Children (15-18 Years): Children between the ages of 15 and 18 can travel on an Identity Certificate issued by their school’s principal. The certificate must be in the prescribed format.
If you are traveling as a family unit (husband, wife, minor children, and parents), not every member needs to have one of the primary identification documents.
- As long as one adult member of the family has one of the approved documents (Passport, Photo ID, etc.), the other family members can use alternative proof of identity.
- The other family members must carry a document with a photograph to confirm their identity and their relationship to the main traveler. Examples include a CGHS card, Ration card, driving license, or a school/college ID card.
Some other things to consider when Travelling to Nepal:
- Downloaded or Printed Documents: : Downloaded or online print Voter ID card containing details is not acceptable as travel document by Nepal. Other documents (Aadhaar, Pan Card, Driving License, Indian Embassy Registration, etc) are also not accepted for travel to Nepal.
- Certificate of Registration: A Certificate of Registration issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu to Indian nationals is not a valid travel document for moving between the two countries.
Aadhaar not accepted as Travel Document:
To avoid any issues at immigration, be aware of what is NOT accepted as a travel document.
- Aadhaar (UID) Card: Aadhaar card is not an acceptable travel document for travel to Nepal or Bhutan. This is a common point of confusion, so make sure you do not rely on it.
First Published on January 5th, 2018