KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal has decided to establish dedicated service desks at international airports for people of Nepali origin, following a formal request by the Association of Nepali Origin (ANO).

The decision was made by the Ministry of Home Affairs after reviewing ANO’s proposal, which called for a more welcoming and streamlined experience for individuals of Nepali descent arriving in or departing from Nepal. The desks will be set up in both arrival and departure sections of international airports.

ANO expressed its gratitude to Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal and the Ministry of Home Affairs for approving the request. The organization said the move would help strengthen emotional and cultural ties between Nepal and its global diaspora.

The proposal was initially submitted on March 15, 2025. Subsequently, the Home Minister held consultations with senior officials of the ministry, the Department of Immigration, and ANO representatives before taking a ministerial-level decision on March 22.

A delegation led by ANO International Committee President Dilli Adhikari, along with Vice President and advocate Sushil Kumar Pant, General Secretary Chudamani Bhattarai, and Nepal Chapter President Krishna Prasad Sapkota, had urged the government to introduce measures that foster a sense of belonging for the diaspora from the moment they arrive in Nepal.

ANO stated that the new arrangement would ensure that people of Nepali origin-regardless of their current nationality-feel respected and warmly received in their ancestral homeland.

The organization also noted that the decision would eliminate the need for such travelers to queue in lines designated for foreign nationals at international airports.

ANO believes that the implementation of this decision will play a significant role in reconnecting the Nepali diaspora with their roots and reinforcing a shared sense of identity and belonging.