MRP distribution to stop from Dec 14

The distribution of Machine Readable Passport (MRP) from the Department Of Passport will be stopped from December 14. And while applying for the service from the head office of the department, it is mandatory to fill online application for e-passport.

The department has stopped giving tokens for MRP and plans to distribute e-passports only to the service recipients from the new building in Tripureshwor from December 14.

According to the spokesperson of the department, Sharad Raj Arun, the service recipients have to go to the office in Tripureshwor to get the bio-track while booking from the online application. Although e-passport distribution has started, the department has not stopped issuing MRP. The department is distributing both types of passports in a few days to move the data of MRP system to the new system and to make the printing work effective.

"According to the forms filled out by the diplomatic missions abroad, the MRP is printed and distributed," said spokesperson. So far, the department has distributed 7.1 million MRPs and about 100,000 MRP books are in stock.

They are also preparing to start distribution of electronic passports from all the three district administration offices of Kathmandu Valley from next year. The district administration offices of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur are also distributing e-passports on a daily basis.

The e-passport holder will have to fill in the national identity card or its verified number. Even if the national identity card is not immediately received from the district administration offices, the identity card number obtained after filling the application has been made mandatory in the passport.

A fee of Rs 5,000 will be charged for making a 34-page passport from the District Administration Office. However, a fee of Rs 10,000 has been fixed for making 66 pages. The passport department has fixed a fee of Rs 12,000 for a 34-page passport and Rs 20,000 for a 66-page passport.

If the passport has to be renewed due to lost, cermet, torn or other reasons, an additional fee of Rs 5,000 will be charged on the prescribed fee. The fees for making passports through missions are different depending on the region and region.

The department will also distribute ordinary, diplomatic, service, special, temporary and Siemens passports. After distributing about 7 million MRPs, the government had started distributing e-passports from last November 17.