UAE-based Indians Face Travel Disruptions in Nepal, Losing 120K INR

1 dzień temu

NEW DELHI- UAE-based Indian residents encountered travel disruptions and significant financial losses during recent trips to Nepal after authorities began strictly enforcing NOC, a previously overlooked regulation.

The rule mandates Indian nationals returning to Gulf countries obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian embassy in Kathmandu before departure.

UAE’s Indians Face Travel Disruptions in Nepal

Dubai-based Manu Palerichal, CEO of CLA Emirates, experienced this enforcement firsthand during his Eid vacation when immigration officers informed him about the NOC requirement upon landing in Kathmandu.

The regulation caught travellers off guard, as no prior notification had prepared them for this sudden implementation.

Palerichal’s family had already travelled to Pokhara, located nearly 200 kilometres from the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, complicating their ability to secure the required document.

He eventually returned to Kathmandu and obtained the NOC, though not without facing uncertainty and incurring additional travel expenses.

Thabseer Ahmed, another UAE resident, suffered losses exceeding Dh1,400 due to the enforcement.

Ahmed discovered the NOC requirement only at Nepal’s airport while preparing to return from his holiday. His return flight departed at 3 a.m. on Sunday, preventing him from accessing embassy assistance in time, resulting in a missed flight. Ahmed attempted alternative routing through New Delhi but ultimately needed to purchase a new ticket to Dubai upon arrival.

The enforcement affected travellers from other GCC countries, including Kuwait and Qatar, who also incurred costs for rebooking tickets due to last-minute itinerary changes. Travel agents confirmed the regulation existed previously, but received strict enforcement only recently.

NOC Application

Safeer Mohammed, general manager of Smart Travels, explained that authorities discovered people exploiting the system for human trafficking and tax evasion purposes.

Travel agencies now advise clients to obtain NOCs well in advance to prevent disruptions.

The NOC application process requires travellers to submit passport-sized photographs, copies of passports and UAE residence visas, Emirates ID, immigration stamps, flight tickets, and completed application forms. The embassy charges 3,100 Nepali rupees per person for processing.

Nepal’s Strong Advisory

Rising Detentions

In May, the Government of Nepal issued a stern advisory cautioning citizens against using fraudulent documents to travel to Gulf nations through Indian airports.

The Nepali Embassy in India revealed that Indian authorities detected significant increases in cases involving Nepali citizens transiting through Indian airports without proper employment clearances, with many individuals caught using counterfeit documents that resulted in detention, interrogation, and travel bans.

Mandatory Documentation

The embassy’s advisory mandates job seekers heading to foreign countries, particularly the Gulf regions, to secure labour permits and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Nepal’s Department of Foreign Employment or directly from the embassy in New Delhi before departure.

While the embassy relaxed NOC requirements last year for Nepali migrant workers holding valid work permits flying via Indian airports, this exemption excludes travellers heading to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Libya, and Lebanon, who must still obtain NOCs unless meeting specific criteria.

The advisory coincides with Nepal’s economic distress and unemployment crisis, which drove over 300,000 Nepalis to migrate abroad in the past year, primarily to Gulf nations and Malaysia, seeking employment opportunities, while the government emphasises protecting citizens’ safety and legal rights through official processes.

Industry Recommendations

Travel industry professionals emphasise Nepal’s popularity among Indian Gulf expatriates for short vacation breaks due to its proximity. Palerichal stressed that travel agents must clearly communicate the NOC requirement to prevent unnecessary complications for future travellers.

Mohammed advised Indian nationals in the UAE planning trips through Nepal to verify the latest travel advisories before departure. He emphasised that anyone returning to the UAE via Nepal must possess the NOC before boarding their flight to avoid similar disruptions experienced by recent travellers.

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News

UAE Unveils 5 New Golden Visa Categories to Attract Global Talent

The post UAE-based Indians Face Travel Disruptions in Nepal, Losing 120K INR appeared first on Aviation A2Z.

Idź do oryginalnego materiału