Nepal to Offer Free Visas for International Students in Bid to Boost Education Appeal
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Nepal has announced it will offer free student visas to international learners enrolling at its universities, in a bold move aimed at transforming the country into a regional education hub.
Unveiled during the 2025/26 national budget presentation, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel confirmed that the initiative would grant free visas for the full duration of academic programmes. Parents or guardians of students will also be eligible for multiple-entry visas.
The move comes as Nepal looks to overhaul its higher education system and reposition itself not just as a country that sends students abroad, but as one that attracts them.
Although Nepal currently hosts a modest number of international students – largely from Bangladesh, India, and China – officials believe the country has untapped potential in areas like medical education, Himalayan and Buddhist studies, and tourism.
“Nepal is affordable, peaceful, and culturally vibrant. It offers a unique environment for students seeking immersion in topics like climate science and Buddhism,” said Prabha Thapa, international recruitment manager at ApplyBoard Nepal.
Surya Pokhrel, executive director of Educable Consultancy, added that while Nepal’s outbound student numbers remain high, it’s vital the country also becomes attractive to inbound learners. Over 112,000 Nepali students went abroad in 2023/24 alone.
The policy is designed not only to reduce barriers for students from lower-income nations but also to encourage international engagement, research collaboration, and economic contribution through education tourism.
However, challenges persist. With only 3.68% of Nepal’s GDP allocated to education – below the global average – and concerns over outdated curricula, inconsistent university standards, and limited digitalisation, experts caution that implementation must be backed by systemic reform.
“To truly benefit, Nepal must improve student services, housing, recognition of degrees, and ensure consistency in quality,” Thapa added.
Still, the “free visa” initiative signals Nepal’s ambition to become a credible and welcoming study destination across South Asia and beyond.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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