Nepal saw a significant 28% surge in citizens returning by air this February, as thousands of migrant workers and students fly home ahead of the federal elections scheduled for March 5.
According to the Department of Immigration, 148,623 Nepalis entered the country by air last month, marking a 28% increase compared to the 115,584 arrivals in February 2025. This growth is substantially higher than the 3% increase seen between 2024 and 2025, suggesting a heightened interest among the diaspora to participate in the upcoming political transition despite the high cost of travel.
The spike in arrivals highlights a deep-seated desire for political participation among the millions of Nepalis living overseas. However, the vast majority of the diaspora remains disenfranchised.
Although the Election Commission estimates there are 4 million eligible voters living outside of India—including 2.5 million in foreign employment—the government failed to implement a mechanism for external or postal voting. This lack of access persists despite historical precedents, such as the 1967 National Panchayat elections and the 1980 referendum, where voting was facilitated through Nepali diplomatic missions abroad.
The scale of the “missing vote” is immense, with the Election Commission reporting a total of 18,903,689 registered voters for this cycle, though it lacks exact data on how many of those are currently overseas.
The diaspora is spread globally, with over 1.7 million workers in the Gulf and Middle East alone, including 700,000 in the UAE and nearly 400,000 in Saudi Arabia. Large populations also reside in India, the United States, Australia, and Japan.
While political parties have spent the campaign season appealing for these citizens to return home to vote, many are unable to leave their jobs or afford the journey, leaving their voices unheard.
Despite the election-driven homecomings, the exodus of Nepalis seeking opportunities abroad has not slowed.
Immigration data shows that 149,895 Nepalis departed the country in February, a 20% increase from the previous year. Specifically, those leaving for foreign employment jumped by 33% to over 80,000 individuals in a single month.
Between October and February, departures outpaced arrivals by more than 39,000 people. As candidates traverse the country promising domestic job creation and urging the youth to stay, the crowded departure gates at Tribhuvan International Airport underscore the persistent economic reality that continues to drive the nation’s workforce away.
Dipendra 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.
