Skip to content
Glocal Workforce Nepal
Labour Permit (Shram Anumati) — Nepal's Most Important Migration Document
Government Approval

Labour Permit (Shram Anumati) — Nepal's Most Important Migration Document

The labour permit (श्रम अनुमति) is the Nepal government's legal authorisation for you to work abroad. Without it, your travel is illegal, your insurance is void, and you have no official protection. This guide tells you everything — who needs it, how to get it, fees, renewal and what to do if you lose it.

1722/081/082
Govt. Licensed
25+
Years Experience
70,000+
Workers Placed
270+
Global Clients
Certified
Ethical Recruitment

The Shram Anumati(labour permit) is simultaneously a legal document, an insurance activation, and a protection mechanism. It is not a formality — it is the legal instrument that connects you to Nepal's entire migrant-worker protection framework. This guide covers everything a Nepali worker needs to know about it.

Who needs a labour permit?

Under the Foreign Employment Act 2007, every Nepali citizen who takes paid employment abroad must obtain a DOFE labour permit. There are no exceptions for age, skill level, destination or employer type, with one narrow exception:

Labour permit required
  • All Gulf country placements (UAE, Qatar, Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman)
  • All European placements (Poland, Romania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Portugal, Malta, Germany, etc.)
  • Malaysia, Singapore, Maldives, Israel, Japan (SSW), Korea (EPS)
  • Any country with a bilateral labour agreement with Nepal
  • Any paid employment abroad regardless of skill level
Narrow exceptions (check with DOFE)
  • Persons going abroad for full-time study (student visa — not for work)
  • Government employees on official government business
  • UN/diplomatic personnel on official assignments
  • Indian citizens under the Nepal-India Treaty of Peace and Friendship (does not apply to Nepalis going to India for work — Nepal-India border is open but this does not exempt them from the Foreign Employment Act for third-country placements)

What the labour permit actually does for you

  • Legal authorisation:Confirms Nepal's government has verified your employer and job offer through the DOFE pre-approval process.
  • Insurance activation:Paying the welfare fund contribution and receiving the labour permit activates your FEPB insurance — NPR 7–10 lakh death benefit, NPR 7 lakh disability, emergency repatriation and children's education scholarship.
  • Embassy priority: Nepali embassies prioritise welfare interventions for workers holding valid labour permits. Without one, embassy assistance is still provided in humanitarian emergencies but legal recourse is much harder.
  • Right to file complaints: Only permit-holders can formally file complaints with DOFE, the Foreign Employment Tribunal and the FEPB against employers who violate the contract.
  • Migration record:Every labour permit is recorded in DOFE's database permanently — your migration history forms the basis for future permits and is evidence of work experience for re-migration applications.
  • Remittance banking access:Nepal's migrant-worker bank accounts (Bidesesh Rojgar Bachat Khata etc.) and preferential remittance rates are available to permit-holders.

The labour permit application process — step by step

The labour permit is issued as part of the broader DOFE process. The specific steps for the permit itself:

  1. Your agency files DOFE Form 1 online. Documents required: your passport bio-page copy, citizenship certificate copy, recent passport photo, signed employment contract, employer demand letter, and your CV. The agency submits these on the DOFE portal on your behalf. DOFE reviews and issues a pre-approval reference within 5–10 working days.
  2. Pay the FEPB Welfare Fund contribution at a DOFE-designated bank. Currently: NPR 1,500 (Gulf/Malaysia), NPR 2,500 (Europe/Korea/Japan). Keep the original bank voucher — it is checked at TIA immigration.
  3. Complete biometric enrolment at DOFE district office (first-time migrants only). Takes approximately 30 minutes. Bring your original passport and citizenship.
  4. Complete destination-specific medical examination. Gulf: GAMCA-approved clinic. Korea: EPS-approved clinic. Europe: embassy-approved clinic. Submit the medical clearance result to your agency.
  5. Complete the 2-day Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) at a DOFE-approved centre. Submit your PDO certificate copy to your agency.
  6. DOFE issues the labour permit. Within 2–5 working days after all documents are verified. Usually a tamper-evident sticker affixed in your passport — check that your name, passport number, destination country and contract dates are correctly printed.

Fees — complete breakdown

ItemAmount (NPR)
DOFE labour permit fee700–1,500
FEPB Welfare Fund (Gulf/Malaysia)1,500
FEPB Welfare Fund (Europe/Korea/Japan)2,500
Biometric enrolment fee200
PDO orientation fee500–1,500
Agency service charge cap (Gulf)10,000
GAMCA medical (Gulf)4,000–8,000

All fees are subject to periodic revision by DOFE and FEPB. Verify current rates at dofe.gov.np or with your agency. Every payment must be receipted.

Renewing your labour permit from abroad

When your employment contract is extended, or when you move to a new employer in the same country, you need a new/renewed labour permit. You do not need to return to Nepal for this:

  1. Log into the DOFE online portal at dofe.gov.np with your registered account.
  2. Select "Renewal / New Permit from Abroad."
  3. Upload: new or extended employment contract; current passport bio-page scan; current destination residency document (Emirates ID, Iqama, QID, etc.).
  4. Pay renewal fee online via eSewa, Nepali bank app, or connected Nepali bank card.
  5. DOFE processes within 5–10 working days. Download the digital permit or receive it by post.

What happens if you lose your labour permit

The permit sticker is in your passport — if you lose your passport, you effectively lose the permit sticker too. In either case:

  1. Report the loss to the nearest Nepali embassy immediately. Request an Emergency Travel Document (ETD).
  2. A family member in Nepal can obtain a duplicate labour permit from DOFE Kathmandu (New Baneshwor) with a notarised application, your passport number, labour permit number, and proof of relationship.
  3. DOFE maintains permanent digital records — your permit number can be retrieved by DOFE staff if you remember any part of it.
  4. If you need to travel urgently, the embassy can issue a 'No Objection' note confirming your migration status until the duplicate is processed.

What the labour permit does NOT authorise

  • Residency in the destination country— that is the work visa, issued by the destination country's embassy or immigration. The labour permit and the work visa are two separate documents, both required.
  • Working for a different employer — the permit is tied to the specific employer and vacancy listed. Changing employers requires a new permit (and in many Gulf countries, destination-country employer-transfer permission).
  • Working in a different country — the permit is destination-specific. Dubai labour permit does not authorise working in Qatar.
  • Automatic renewal — the permit expires when the employment contract expires. Renewal must be actively applied for; expired permits leave you in an illegal status.

For the full context in which the labour permit is issued, see our DOFE Process guide. For the insurance coverage it activates, see the Insurance Coverage guide.

Common Questions

Labour permit FAQs

What exactly is Shram Anumati?+

Shram Anumati (श्रम अनुमति / श्रम स्वीकृति) is the Nepal government's official permission for a Nepali citizen to take foreign employment. It is issued by the Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE) under the Foreign Employment Act 2007. The permit is typically a tamper-evident sticker affixed to your passport, though digital/soft-copy versions are also issued. It confirms that: your employer has a verified, DOFE-pre-approved vacancy; your identity has been biometrically enrolled; you have paid the welfare fund contribution; you have completed the mandatory medical examination; and you have attended the Pre-Departure Orientation.

How long is the labour permit valid?+

The permit is valid for the duration stated in your employment contract: typically 2 years for Gulf placements; 3 years for Korea EPS; up to 5 years for Japan SSW. Extensions are issued when your contract is extended with the same employer. A new permit is required when changing employers or countries.

How much does a labour permit cost?+

DOFE charges a nominal labour-permit processing fee: currently NPR 700–1,500 depending on destination and contract duration. Separately, the FEPB Welfare Fund contribution is NPR 1,500 for Gulf/Malaysia and NPR 2,500 for Europe/Korea/Japan. The biometric enrolment fee is NPR 200. These are government fees paid directly to DOFE or the designated bank — not to the agency. The total government fee component is typically under NPR 5,000.

Can I get a labour permit from abroad if I want to change jobs?+

Yes. Workers already abroad can apply for a new labour permit via the DOFE online portal (dofe.gov.np). The biometric step is skipped for workers with existing DOFE biometric records. You upload: your new employment contract, your current passport bio page, your current employer-issued residency document, and pay fees online. The new permit is issued digitally and can be downloaded or mailed to your destination.

What happens if I work abroad without a labour permit?+

It is illegal under the Foreign Employment Act 2007. Specific consequences: you are stopped at TIA immigration on departure; if you somehow departed, deportation and a multi-year entry ban follow upon discovery; you have no FEPB insurance coverage (any accident, disability or death claim will be rejected); you have no right to file a DOFE complaint against your employer; your family has no government support if something happens to you. There is no legitimate reason to travel to work without a labour permit.

What is the difference between a labour permit and a work visa?+

A labour permit (Shram Anumati) is issued by Nepal's DOFE and confirms Nepal's government approval for you to take foreign employment. A work visa is issued by the destination country's embassy or immigration authority and grants you legal permission to enter that country to work. Both are required — they are complementary, not alternatives. You need the labour permit before applying for the work visa, and you need both in your passport before boarding your flight.

What happens to my labour permit if my contract is terminated early?+

Your labour permit remains in your passport but is no longer valid for the original employer. You have two options: return to Nepal and apply for a new permit for a new employer; or apply for a new permit from abroad if you have a new employer lined up (via DOFE online portal). If your contract was terminated unfairly by the employer, you can file a complaint with DOFE and the foreign employment tribunal even after the permit expires — keep copies of everything.

Chat with usLabour Permit Nepal — Foreign Employment Approval Guide | Glocal Workforce Nepal