About Economic Wing
General
General
India and Nepal have been extending co-operation to each other in the areas of Customs, narcotic drugs, money laundering, wildlife and other cross-border issues.The Economic Wing co-ordinates the engagements between Customs authorities, narcotics control authorities and agencies engaged in Anti-Money Laundering activities in India and Nepal.
Customs Co-operation:
A Director General Level meeting between the Customs administrations of the two countries takes place every year in India and Nepal alternately. The objective of this meeting is to understand and resolve the difficulties in implementing the procedures relating to import and export of goods between the two countries, including transit through Indian territory of goods imported/exported by Nepal from/to third countries. Thus, this meeting plays a vital role in strengthening the bilateral and transit trade relations. Recently, the 21st Director General Level Talks between the two Customs Administrations were held in Kathmandu on 10-11th April, 2025.
Narcotic Drugs:
An MoU on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals was signed on 24.08.2017. 1st Bilateral Talks between Narcotics Control Authorities of the two countries was held on 9-10 April, 2024, for operationalizing the MOU to strengthen the bilateral cooperation on various aspects of this problem. Second Bilateral Talks were held in Kathmandu on 28-29 April, 2025. Narcotics Control Authorities of both countries have been coordinating and cooperating with each other to control illegal transactions in narcotics drugs, psychotropic substances, precursors and the treatment and social rehabilitation of addicts subject to domestic laws of the two nations.
Anti Money Laundering & Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT):
Opening a new chapter in cooperation on Anti-Money Laundering & Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) between India and Nepal, the first annual bilateral meeting was held on 07-08 May, 2024 in New Delhi.
Capacity Building Initiatives for Nepalese Officers/Authorities:
The Economic Wing has been facilitating capacity building initiatives for Nepalese officers. In the past, the Wing facilitated training of 32 officials of Government of Nepal belonging to DMLI, FIU, DRI, NCB, Special Attorney, Special Court and CIAA etc. from 10.07.2023 to 14.07.2023 under ITEC program on ‘Anti Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)’ at National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACIN), India. The objective of the training was ‘No money for Terror’ initiative of the Government of India and focusing on enhancing the capabilities of agencies in Nepal in AML/CFT initiatives. Further, Mission, under ITEC programme, has facilitated training to 25 officials from Nepal Police/APF on AML/CFT matters at NACIN, Palasamudram, India in March, 2025.
Co-operation in wildlife related matters
On the wildlife front, Mission takes initiative in matters relating to protection of endangered species. In the recent past, efforts have been made to curb the smuggling of Red Sanders Wood from India to other countries via Nepal and for repatriation of Red Sanders Wood which were confiscated/seized in Nepal while attempting to smuggle from India to other countries through Nepal. Red Sanders Wood is endemic to Seshachalam Ranges in India and is a species figuring in Appendix-II of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). The Export of this endangered species is prohibited. As per the spirit of the provision of CITES, as a result of close coordination with the Forest and Wild Life authorities of Govt. of Nepal, such Red Sanders Wood is repatriated to the Govt. of India by the Govt. of Nepal.
Public Facilitation
On the public facilitation front, Economic Wing extends services in the following areas:
(a) Vehicle Permit: A large number of Nepalese vehicles (vehicles registered in Nepal) visit India for various purposes. Taking into account the cordial relationship between the two countries, vehicular movement across the border is allowed on the basis of a permit issued by the Indian Mission in Nepal. Such a permit is issued against an application in the prescribed proforma (available at Website-Download Section of Economic Wing) by the owner of the vehicle or duly authorized by him. The owner of the vehicle is required to execute a Bank Guarantee covering the period of the permit. The validity of Bank Guarantee should be 30 days extra over the period of permit sought. Copies of the registration book and insurance policy of the vehicle concerned are also required to be submitted along with the application. A consular fee is charged towards such permits and maximum validity period of the permit is six months in case of oil tankers, while in case of cars, jeeps, two-wheelers etc. the maximum period of permit validity is three months. Revised fees for vehicle permits/NOCs w.e.f. 01.04.2025 are as follows:
|
S.No. |
Private Vehicles-4 Wheelers |
Fee Amount (In NR) |
|
1 |
Single Entry |
Rs. 3100/- |
|
Double Entry |
Rs. 5910/- |
|
|
Multiple Entries for 3 Months |
Rs. 8720/- |
|
|
2 |
For Oil Tankers |
|
|
Multiple Entry for 3 Months |
Rs. 8720/- |
|
|
Double Entry |
Rs. 5910/- |
|
|
Multiple Entry for 6 Months |
Rs. 17150/- |
|
|
3 |
For Two Wheelers |
|
|
Single Entry |
Rs. 3100/- |
|
|
Multiple Entry for 3 Months |
Rs. 3100/- |
|
|
4 |
Buses/Trucks |
|
|
Single Entry |
Rs. 3100/- |
|
|
5 |
NOCs Chemical/Explosives |
|
|
Fresh NOCs |
Rs. 3100/- |
|
|
Extension of NOCs |
Rs. 3100/- |
Bank Guarantee (BG) Amount for different types of vehicles
|
S.No. |
Types of vehicle |
Amount (NRs) |
|
1. |
Bus/Truck/Tanker |
50,000/- |
|
2. |
Maruti 800 Car/Van/Alto |
1,00,000/- |
|
3. |
Indica/Maruti Zen/Swift/Wagon R/Tata Sumo/Mahindra Jeep/Sentra/Hyundai Santro/I 10/Ambassador |
2,00,000/- |
|
4. |
Maruti Esteem/Tata Seirra/Indigo/Bolero/ I 20 Etc. |
3,00,000/- |
|
5. |
Tata Safari/Scorpio/Qualis/Dzire/Tavera etc. |
4,00,000/- |
|
6. |
Bike (Indian manufacturing) |
10,000/- |
|
7. |
Bike (Third Country manufacturing) |
1,00,000/- |
|
8. |
Foreign Vehicles (depending upon the models) |
4 to 8 lakhs |
|
1999 or previous models |
4,00,000/- |
|
|
2000-2003 |
5,00,000/- |
|
|
2004-2007 |
6,00,000/- |
|
|
2008-2009 |
7,00,000/- |
|
|
2010 onwards |
8,00,000/- |
The Bank Guarantee (BG) should be in favour of Embassy of India, Kathmandu. Amount of BG varies depending the type of vehicle. The validity of Bank Guarantee should be 30 days extra over the period of permit sought.
Documents required for vehicle permits:
- (i) Duly filled in vehicle permit application (to be downloaded from Website → Economic Wing → Download section)
- (ii) Bank Guarantee in original (30 days extra validity over the period of permit sought)
- (iii) Copies of insurance for the vehicle
- (iv) Copies of blue book (registration of the vehicle)
- (v) Citizenship copy/passport copy of the owner of the vehicle
- (vi) In case owner of the vehicle is unable to come, authorization by the owner for the person visiting (indicating valid ID) for vehicle permit procedure
(b)Transfer of Residence: Indian nationals returning to India with their used/old household goods after staying abroad at least for a period of two years are entitled for concession in Customs duty under the Baggage Rules. While some of the items attract only concessional rate of duty, most of the items can be imported without payment of any Customs duty. Since there is no passport/visa regime in existence between India and Nepal and thereby it is difficult to find out the exact duration of stay of an Indian national in Nepal, Indian Customs accord transfer of residence facility to Indian nationals returning from Nepal on the basis of the recommendation by the Indian Embassy, Kathmandu. Letters are issued by the Economic Wing to the concerned Airport or Land Customs Station in India recommending benefit under the Baggage Rules (Transfer of Residence Rules) for Indian nationals who have stayed in Nepal for at least two years and returning to India for good, on surrender of their original registration certificates as Indian nationals issued by the Embassy of India against an application in the prescribed proforma. No Fee is charged towards this service.
(c ) NOC for import of Chemicals/explosives from India: Based on the recommendation of the Govt. of Nepal and End-User Certificate (EUC) from the Company, No Objection Certificates are issued for importation of chemicals/explosives into Nepal from India. A consular fee of NRs. 3100/- is charged for this service.
(d ) Temporary import of film negatives into India:To facilitate temporary importation of cine/film negatives into India for processing and developing purposes, letters are issued to the concerned Customs office in India. Such letters are issued on the basis of the recommendation by the Govt. of Nepal. A consular fee of NRs. 3100/- is charged for this service.
Enquiry
Applications for Vehicle Permits, Transfer of Residence, NOC for import of chemicals, import of film negatives etc. are accepted in the Economic Wing from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Permits/NOCs are issued on the next working day between 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
For further enquiry, the officer may be contacted on Telephone No. 4410900 / 4414990 / 4411699 (Extn. 4175 / 4216) between 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on working days.