Work Permits for Foreign Nationals in Nepal

A foreign national working in Nepal needs two things that are often confused: a work permit from the Department of Labour, and a working visa from the Department of Immigration. One does not substitute for the other, and the sequence matters.

The employer starts the process

The application begins with the employer, who must show that the role could not reasonably be filled by a Nepali citizen. That means advertising the position, documenting the search, and obtaining a recommendation before the Department of Labour issues the permit. Companies in joint ventures or under foreign investment approvals have a somewhat smoother path, but the documentation standard is the same.

Then the visa

With the labour permit issued, the employee applies for a working visa, typically granted for the duration of the permit and renewable alongside it. Working on a tourist or business visa is a compliance breach for both the individual and the employer, and it surfaces at the worst possible time: during renewals, audits, or disputes.

For the employer, the file does not close at issuance. Permits and visas expire on different schedules, and a lapse in either puts the employee out of status. We keep a single renewal calendar per foreign hire; it is unglamorous and it works.