Guidelines to be followed by Nepali and foreign nationals travelling to Nepal, 2021

The Government of Nepal has issued these Guidelines on the basis of its earlier decisions regarding arrangements for the movement of Nepali and foreign nationals without adversely affecting the control and preventive measures of the new variant of COVID-19.

1. Provisions relating to quarantine for incoming passengers

1) Airlines passengers travelling with a COVID-19 negative report with photo and barcode issued within 72 hours will be permitted to enter Nepal upon presenting the proof of hotel booking of 10 days. This requirement will not be applicable for those having situation as mentioned in Section 2. The airlines passenger should stay in the mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.

2) After the 10-day hotel quarantine, PCR test will be done for the persons showing indication and symptom of corona virus. Those testing positive should stay for another 10 days long isolation center, hospital or hotel as designated by the COVID Crisis Management Centre (CCMC).

3) After staying in hotel quarantine for 10 days, the passengers will have to take mandatory COVID-19 test, irrespective of indication or symptom of corona virus. Only those who test negative will be permitted to travel to their destination.

4) The CCMC will undertake the tasks of transfer of airlines passengers from the airport to hotels, monitoring of hotel quarantine of 10 days, treatment of passengers during hotel quarantine period, facilitating passengers to their destinations upon completion of 10-day hotel quarantine, and recommending for action, as per the COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance, 2021, against hotels and passengers in case of non-compliance of health standards.

5) The Nepal Tourism Board, in coordination with the Department of Tourism, will prepare the list of hotels for the purpose of quarantine.
6) In view of high possibility of spreading COVID-19 the densely populated areas Sundhara, Thamel, Gongabu and Kalanki, Hotels located there will not be included in the list.

2. Special arrangements for passengers with special needs

1) Passengers visiting Nepal for the purpose of last rites of deceased relatives will be permitted to go to home/destination on the condition of staying in 10-day home quarantine, on the recommendation of the concerned local level. They should take a PCR test on the 11th day at their own.

2) In the case of perennial patient, physically disabled and accompanying attendant of the patient, permission will be granted upon submission of supporting documents and recommendation of the local level to go to home/destination on the condition of staying in 10-day home quarantine. They should take a PCR tests on the 4th and 11th days at their own expense. The concerned local levels will monitor it.

3) In the case of senior citizen above 75 years, children under 5 years and accompanying parents of the children, permission will be granted upon recommendation of the local level to go to home/destination on the condition of staying in 10-day home quarantine. They should take a PCR tests on the 4th and 11th days at their own expense. The concerned local levels will monitor it.

4) Officials of the diplomatic missions, staff and their family members can go to home/destination, upon recommendation of the concerned missions, on the condition of staying in 10-day home quarantine. They should take a PCR tests on the 4th and 11th days at their own expense. The concerned missions will monitor it.

5) In the case of health professionals working abroad and Nepali students who are studying or have completed their medical courses abroad and who wish to visit Nepal for serving in fight against COVID-19, permission will be granted upon recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Population to go to destination on the condition of staying in 10-day quarantine. They should take a PCR tests on the 4th and 11th days at their own expense. The Ministry of Health and Population will monitor it.

6) Employees returning home from abroad after completion of official duty can go to home/destination, upon recommendation of the concerned offices, on the condition of staying in 10-day home quarantine. They should take a PCR tests on the 4th and 11th days at their own expense. The concerned offices will monitor it.

7) Officials and staff of security agencies can go to home/destination, upon recommendation of the concerned security agency, on the condition of staying in 10-day home quarantine. They should take a PCR tests on the 4th and 11th days at their own expense. The concerned security agency will monitor it.

8) Those returning from foreign employment from the Gulf countries and Malaysia will be permitted to go to home/destination after staying in mandatory 5-day hotel quarantine and with PCR negative, on the condition that they stay for additional 10 days in home quarantine.

9) For the patients in ICU/ventilators having no one to take care, the members of the same household will be granted permission to go to home/hospital/destination upon submission of supporting documents from hospital and recommendation of the concerned local level.

3. Regarding management of passengers

1) The Health Ministry team shall check the health related documents of the passengers arriving at the airport.

2) Local administration shall facilitate departure for home/destination of those intending to go home/to the destination for home quarantine or after completing hotel quarantine.

4. Responsibility of management of hotel quarantine period

1) Passengers arriving in Nepal via flights approved by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation can also book for hotel quarantine in three, four or five star hotels registered in the Department of Tourism.

2) All hotels designated as hotel quarantine are required to comply with the health guidelines issued by the Government of Nepal and any non-compliance shall be punishable under COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance, 2021.

3) The hotel concerned shall ensure that those in hotel quarantine stay in the hotel for the required period.

4) In case any passenger does not comply with health guidelines and discipline during hotel quarantine, the hotel shall inform the local police
administration immediately and actions shall be taken against such passengers as per the COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance, 2021.

5) After the quarantine period is over, on the basis of PCR test report, the hotel shall get hotel release form (quarantine release form) filled by the passenger, inform CCMC and only then allow the passenger’s departure to destination.

5. Regarding the monitoring of the individuals sent for home quarantine

1) The individuals being sent for home quarantine for various reasons shall mandatorily fill up the self declaration form of specified format stating that s/he shall fully comply with health guidelines. CCMC shall be responsible for managerial works related to the form.

2) In case of any instance of non compliance of the guidelines, action shall be taken as per the COVID 19 Crisis Management Ordinance 2078.

3) Monitoring of those sent for home quarantine shall be done by the concerned Ward office. Periodic updates of that shall be provided to the District COVID Crisis Centre (DCCMC).

4)Incase of Nepalis/foreignersarrivingfromabroad,CCMC shall develop an app and arrange for their entry for monitoring.

6. Miscellaneous

1) Action will be taken as per the COVID Crisis Management Ordinance, 2021 against those who do not comply with these guidelines.

2) In case of any confusion in the implementation of these guidelines, the decision of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation shall be final.