Short answer
You don't extend an old passport in Nepal. You apply for a new e-passport and choose "Renewal" on the online form at emrtds.nepalpassport.gov.np. The fee is the same as a first passport: Rs 5,000 for 34 pages at your District Administration Office, or Rs 12,000 for fast track in Kathmandu. Bring the old passport to the appointment so it can be cancelled.
The details
What's different from a first passport
The steps, documents and fees are the same as in How to get an e-passport. Three things change:
- Choose "Renewal" as the application type on the online form and enter your old passport number.
- Bring the old passport and a photocopy. The office cancels it when the new one is issued.
- Your National ID number is checked. District offices now ask for it with every application, including renewals.
When to start
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Travelling within six months | Renew now. Use fast track only if the trip is within a month. |
| Pages full but still valid | Renew whenever you're ready. Visas in the old passport stay where they are. |
| Already expired | Renew the same way. The fee is the same. |
| Old MRP passport still valid | No rush. It works until it expires. |
How long it takes
A regular renewal through a district office takes about a month. Fast track at the Department of Passports in Tripureshwor promises three working days, but delays of up to a week were reported in 2025 when the department's server failed. Don't book a flight or visa appointment that depends on getting the passport within days.
Common problems
My passport expires in 7 months. Should I renew now?
If you plan to travel in the next year, yes. Many countries and airlines refuse passports with less than six months left, and a regular renewal takes about a month. You don't have to wait for the old one to expire before you apply.
My old passport has a valid visa in it.
Ask the counter to cancel the old passport and give it back to you rather than keep it. Several countries, including the United States, let you travel on a valid visa in a cancelled passport as long as you carry it with the new one. Check the rule for your visa's country before you fly.
My name changed after marriage.
The new passport follows your citizenship certificate. If you want your married name on the passport, update your citizenship first, then renew. Some district offices also ask married applicants for the marriage registration certificate and the spouse's citizenship copy.
I live abroad. Do I have to come back to renew?
No. Apply through the Nepali embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Choose that mission as your office in the online form. Fees are set by each mission, for example USD 150 for 34 pages at the embassy in Washington DC.
I still have an old machine-readable passport that hasn't expired.
It stays valid until its expiry date. You can switch to an e-passport any time by applying for renewal, but there's no need to do it early unless a country or visa process asks for it.
Where to go
Find the nearest DAO or Passports
Straight-line distance. Directions open in Google Maps.
Real experiences
Been through this recently? Tell the next person which office you went to and what they asked for. Reports are published as community notes, apart from the official information.
Share your experienceSources
- DAO Kathmandu: passport branch documents and feesdaokathmandu.moha.gov.np
- DAO Baitadi: passport documents for married applicantsdaobaitadi.moha.gov.np
- Embassy of Nepal, Washington DC: e-passport feesus.nepalembassy.gov.np
- Kathmandu Post: fast track fee and timing (May 2025)kathmandupost.com
- US State Department: valid visa in an expired passporttravel.state.gov
Related
- GHow to get an e-passport in Nepalई-पासपोर्ट (राहदानी) कसरी बनाउनेGuide · Government & documents
- AHow do I check if my passport is ready?राहदानी तयार भयो कि भएन कसरी थाहा पाउने?Answer · Government & documents
- GWhat do I do if I lose my Nepali passport abroad?विदेशमा राहदानी हरायो भने के गर्ने?Guide · Government & documents