Indian tourists to Nepal in private vehicles will be required to fill and submit temporary vehicle entry declaration forms online before crossing the border.
Over the past week, however, the existing regulations have been implemented with greater seriousness, to make compliance more difficult for Indian motorists travelling to enter Nepal.
As per the revised process, the vehicle owner will have to fill the declaration of temporary import in Nepal Customs web portal online prior to commencing the journey. Applicants need to give information regarding the proposed border points of entry and exit, period of stay in Nepal, information and details about the drivers, Vehicle details like its engine number, chassis number, registration number.
On successful submission of the application, travellers will be issued with a QR code/reference number which needs to be submitted at the designated customs office (Bhansar) on receipt. Entry formalities cannot be finalized until goods have been paid for, and customs duties is paid.
Nepalese Government officials have stressed penalties will be imposed if the new procedure is not followed. Vehicles are also likely to be impounded and sold into auction if fines are not paid on time.
Now, when returning to India, officials have also made it compulsory for the travellers to go through the procedure of exiting from the vehicles at the customs office. If a vehicle is not recorded on the vehicle exit screen, then it is still active in the system and will incur a penalty for every day it remains there which could be recovered at another visit to Nepal.
The greater vigilance, however, would serve to enhance monitoring at the vulnerable India-Nepal open border and to curb cross border formalities including theft of vehicles, their illegal sale and move to Nepal, customs enforcement compliance and control, according to Nepalese officials.