Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The government has resumed issuance of labor permits for all destinations except Iraq.
According to the Department of Foreign Employment, it has resumed issuing all types of labor permits, including individual, institutional, and work permit legalization, as per a ministerial decision on April 20.
The government suspended issuance of labor permits for 12 countries—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Israel— on March 1 as conflict escalated in West Asia. It resumed issuing renewal permits for seven nations—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, and Turkey—on March 18.
Foreign employment is crucial for Nepal as remittances form one of the major pillars of the Nepali economy. Total remittances inflows reached Rs 1,723.27 billion in 2024/25. It has already reached Rs 1,449.65 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year.
A total of 587,340 Nepalis obtained labour permits, both new and renewed, for overseas jobs over the first nine months of 2025/26.
