The government of Nepal has selected Oberthur Technologies (OT) to provide 2.5 million machine-readable passports (MRP) and 50 enrolment stations across 10 different locations around the world as well as in the Department of Passports in Katmandu.
Nepal decided to extend its long-term partnership with OT following OT’s performance over the last 5 years, supplying 4.5 million MRP.
OT, which has been supporting the Nepalese government since 2010, will provide the next 2.5 million passports from its dedicated center in Katmandu.
The Nepalese government will be able to accelerate the delivery of machine-readable passports to all its citizens whether they live in Nepal or abroad thanks to the 50 enrolment stations provided by OT.
Lok Bahadur Thapa, general director of the Department of Passport, said: “We are delighted that the MRP project has been running smoothly ever since it started at the end of 2010.”
In addition to their presence in Nepal, the LECs will be available in 8 other countries with the highest concentration of Nepalese: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the United Arad Emirates, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, Hong Kong and the United States.
Nepalese citizens living abroad will have access to the enrolment stations so their personal data, including biometrics, can be captured by the LECs. They will be directly sent through a secure connection to the Nepalese Department of Passport and the passport personalization center in Katmandu, managed and maintained by OT. This will significantly shorten the passport application transit time and will allow a much faster passport delivery service.