Nepal continued its strict enforcement of immigration laws in 2025, deporting 501 foreign nationals and denying entry to 116 others, according to the Department of Immigration’s annual data.
The 116 foreigners barred from entering Nepal represented citizens from 36 different countries, with the highest numbers from India and China. The department cited reasons such as expired or invalid visas, previous suspicious activities, criminal records, threats to national security, or repeated immigration violations.
Officials emphasized that these actions were taken not only for security reasons but also to protect Nepal’s image internationally. The department noted a growing trend of foreigners misusing tourist visas for business, religious proselytizing, and other unauthorized activities, prompting tighter scrutiny.
Among those deported, 437 had overstayed their tourist visas by more than 150 days, while 64 were involved in criminal offenses including drug trafficking, human trafficking, organized crime, foreign currency violations, and public misconduct. Authorities confirmed that these individuals were deported only after serving their sentences in Nepal.
Under Nepal’s Immigration Act, foreign nationals who overstay for more than 150 days face fines, deportation, and a ban on re-entry.
One of the most notable cases of 2025 involved American citizen Daniel Steven Carney, who had lived in Nepal for seven years on a business visa. Carney and his family of eight were deported in September after authorities found evidence that he had been publishing Christian literature and engaging in unauthorized religious activities in Lalitpur. Investigations also revealed his involvement with a children’s home allegedly promoting Christianity under the guise of education.
The department further disclosed that Carney had been deported from India in 2017. For violating Nepal’s immigration laws, he was fined NPR 50,000 (USD 350) and banned from re-entering Nepal for 11 years. His wife and six children, holding dependent visas, left the country with him.
Earlier, in February 2024, 17 American citizens accused of religious proselytizing under tourist visas had departed Nepal voluntarily during an ongoing investigation. They had been detained in Sunsari district for promoting Christianity while claiming to be involved in voluntary community construction work.
In comparison, 504 foreigners were deported from Nepal in 2024, including 147 Chinese, 54 Americans, 54 Bangladeshis, 35 Pakistanis, 25 British, and others. In the first eight months of 2025 alone, 169 foreigners — including nine Americans — were deported, signaling the government’s continued vigilance on visa misuse and illegal activities by foreign nationals.
D. Dhungana
View More PostsDipendra Dhungana is a journalist based in Kathmandu with over a decade of experience in photojournalism. His work has been featured in numerous national and international outlets, showcasing the stories and resilience of the Nepali people. He is also a contributing journalist for NepYork.
