How to Get NOC in Nepal: Online Process, Fees, Tips

Article 19 Dec 2025 2237 By: Collegenp

What is NoC and why is it mandatory?

For every student going abroad from Nepal for higher education, the “Foreign Study Permit Letter” (No Objection Certificate - NoC) is a mandatory legal document. Under the Education Act and the Foreign Study Permit-related directive, NoC is the approval issued by the Government of Nepal confirming that the selected university, course, and country are appropriate for the citizen to study abroad.

This article is not only informational. It is based on the latest directive of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of the Government of Nepal, practical on-ground experience, and solutions to real problems that students commonly face.

It has two main purposes:

Foreign currency exchange facility: As per Nepal Rastra Bank rules, without NoC, no bank is allowed to send foreign currency for a student’s tuition fees or living costs.
Administrative recognition: This letter establishes that the student is going abroad for official study purposes and sets a basis for recognizing the student’s academic qualification when they return to Nepal in the future.

In the past, students had to stand in long lines for hours at the office located in Keshar Mahal. Now, the Government of Nepal has made the process fully digital and online.

However, as technology has been introduced, small errors in the process have led to many applications being rejected. In this article, we focus on those small but meaningful areas.

Preparation and required documents (Prerequisites)

Before filling out the online NoC form, preparing documents is the most important step. Many students’ applications are rejected on the grounds of “Documents not clear” or “Insufficient.”

Required documents and technical standards:

Citizenship: A scanned copy where both the front and back sides are clearly visible. (JPEG/JPG/PDF format, under 2 MB)
Passport: The main page with the passport photo.
Offer Letter / Letter of Acceptance: The original offer letter provided by the relevant foreign institution. The student’s name, course name, duration, and fees must be clearly stated.
Academic Transcripts:
- If you are going to study at the Bachelor’s level, transcripts of Class 10 (SEE/SLC) and Class 12 (Plus Two)
- If it is for Master’s level, the Bachelor’s level transcript
- Note: A provisional certificate alone may not always work; the transcript is considered mandatory.
Equivalence Certificate: If you completed education from a board outside Nepal (for example: India’s CBSE, or the UK’s A-Levels), it is mandatory to obtain an equivalence letter from Tribhuvan University or the Curriculum Development Centre.
Council Registration: Those going to study technical subjects such as Medical, Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy, etc. must obtain an “Eligibility Certificate” or prior approval from the relevant councils in Nepal (NMC, NEC, NNC, etc.).

Online application process - Step-by-step guide

The Ministry of Education of the Government of Nepal provides this service through the noc.moest.gov.np portal.

Step 1: User Registration

First, you must create an account on the portal. Use your mobile number and email address. You will receive an OTP (One Time Password) on your mobile; after entering it, your account becomes active.

Step 2: Enter personal details

Carefully fill in your name, father’s and mother’s name, address, and passport number. Remember, even a small typing error here can create problems later when sending money through a bank.

Step 3: Academic details and destination selection

Select which country you are going to, and which level and stream you will study there. If your college or university name is not on the list, you must use the “Request to Add” option, which can take a few days.

Step 4: Upload documents

Upload the documents mentioned above in the required size. Instead of photos taken from a mobile, selecting a clean scanned image produced using a scanner is a better choice.

Step 5: Submission

After checking all details, submit the application. You will receive an “Application ID.”

Fees and verification (The Financial & Verification Process)

After you submit the application, ministry staff check your documents digitally.

Payment

The NoC fee is NPR 2,000 (two thousand) per subject/per NoC. This amount can be paid through ConnectIPS or other online wallets (Khalti, eSewa). In some cases, a voucher of Nepal Investment Mega Bank can also be used.

Verification

After successful payment, your application moves to “Verified” status. If any document does not match, it shows “Rejected with comments.” In that case, you must correct it as per the comment and resubmit.

How to receive and print NoC

Earlier, people had to go to Sanothimi, Bhaktapur to obtain NoC, but now the system is fully digital.

Once your application is approved, your login portal will show the “Download NoC” option.

It includes a QR Code, which a bank or immigration office can scan to check authenticity.

Print it in color and keep it safe.

Special cases and the role of councils (Expert Insight)

As an expert, the biggest confusion I have seen is about “professional councils.”

Medical Education: If you are going abroad to study MBBS, BDS, or MD, you must obtain a qualification letter from the Medical Education Commission (MEC). Without the commission’s approval, the Ministry of Education does not issue NoC.

Engineering: Under the new rules of the Nepal Engineering Council, consultation may be required for some specific subjects.

Nursing: Nursing council registration and minimum qualification standards are checked strictly.

Common problems and practical solutions (Problem Solving)

In this section, I present five major problems that students often face and their solutions:

If the name or date of birth differs: If the spelling of the name differs between your citizenship and academic certificates, apply only after obtaining a recommendation letter from the concerned District Administration Office stating that it is the same person.
If the university is not found: If your university is not listed in the online portal, click “Request to Add Institution” with the official website link and details of the university. The ministry generally adds it within 24 to 48 hours.
Foreign currency exchange limit: NoC only supports the tuition fee purpose. If you change your college in between, you must cancel the old NoC and obtain a new one; otherwise, the bank will not send money to the new college.
Language test (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL): For many countries, you must also upload the language test scorecard. Make sure its validity has not expired.
If an old NoC is lost or needs correction: The portal has an “Amendment” or “Re-issue” option. This may require additional fees.

Policy analysis and the way ahead (Academic Perspective)

The Government of Nepal has recently made some revisions to the “Foreign Study Permit Letter Directive for Higher Education.” Its main purpose is to prevent Nepali students from being deceived by low-quality institutions.

As an expert, my suggestions are:

Course selection: Before taking NoC, study whether that course is eligible for equivalence recognition from Tribhuvan University or other bodies in Nepal.

Do not rely only on consultancies: In some cases, a consultancy may select the wrong subject or level, which later causes the NoC to be rejected. Check the details yourself on the portal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on NoC

Nepal’s Foreign Study Permit Letter (NoC) process has now shifted toward a digital system. However, due to technology and policy changes, many confusions still exist among students and guardians.

1. My online application was rejected and the comment says “Documents Not Clear.” What should I do now?

This is a common issue. It can happen if you uploaded photos taken from a mobile phone. Scan the documents again using a flatbed scanner at 300 DPI (not with a mobile camera). Make sure the citizenship text and photo are clearly visible. Keep the file size under 2 MB and re-upload in PDF or JPEG format. You do not need to submit a new application; you can edit the same old application and correct the documents.

2. I paid online (NPR 2,000) but my status still shows “Payment Pending.” Is my money lost?

Solution: No, your money is safe. Sometimes this happens due to a delay in data sync between ConnectIPS or the bank server and the NoC portal. Wait at least 24 hours. If it still does not become “Verified” after 24 hours, email noc@moest.gov.np with your Transaction ID and Application ID, or call the ministry’s technical section. Do not immediately pay again.

3. The foreign university I want to study at is not listed in the ministry’s drop-down menu. How can I add it?

The ministry has provided a feature to add universities that are not listed. While filling the application form, go to the “Request to Add Institution” option. Enter the full university name, official website URL, and country name. Ministry staff will verify the institution’s official status and usually add it to the list within 24 to 48 hours. Only after that can you complete the application.

4. I have received an offer letter, but my final academic transcript has not arrived yet. Can I get NoC?

You cannot. To obtain NoC, the official transcript proving completion of the previous level is mandatory. If your final result is published but you have not received the transcript yet, a provisional certificate may work in some cases. However, NoC is not issued based on partial results of Class 12 or Bachelor’s level, or on an internet copy. Therefore, starting the application process only after obtaining the transcript is the better approach.

5. I want to go to Japan/Korea only to learn a language (language course). Will I get NoC?

Under the latest directive of the Government of Nepal, issuance of NoC for only “language training” has been tightened. NoC is possible only if your language course is linked to a university degree program (such as a vocational or academic path) and the offer letter clearly states this. It is difficult to obtain NoC for only a 6-month or 1-year language tuition program. Request the college to mention, in the offer letter, which main course you will study after the language course.

6. After taking NoC, I changed my college or subject. Will the old NoC still work?

It will not. The NoC clearly specifies the college name, subject, and level. As per Nepal Rastra Bank rules, a bank cannot send money to any institution other than the one stated on the NoC. Therefore, if your college or subject changes, you must cancel the old NoC and apply again for a new NoC with the new college’s offer letter.

7. I am going abroad to study MBBS or Engineering. What do I need before applying for NoC?

For technical subjects, the role of the relevant council is important. For medical education, obtaining an Eligibility Certificate from the Medical Education Commission (MEC) is mandatory. For engineering or nursing as well, prior approval or registration from the relevant council is required. Without these documents, the NoC portal will not accept your application.

8. My name on my citizenship and my passport has a minor spelling difference. What should I do for NoC?

This is a serious legal issue and may later cause issues at the bank and immigration. First, obtain a recommendation letter from the District Administration Office confirming the name/surname difference. While applying for NoC, enter the details exactly as in your passport and upload that recommendation letter in the “Additional Documents” section. If possible, correcting either the passport or the citizenship so that both have identical details is the best solution.

9. Do I have to go to Kathmandu (Sanothimi, Bhaktapur) myself to obtain NoC?

Under the current fully online system, physical presence is not mandatory. If all your documents match the originals and online verification succeeds, you can download and print the NoC from home. You need to visit only if the ministry calls you for physical verification due to doubts about your documents. Otherwise, the time of standing in line in Sanothimi is over.

10. Can I obtain NoC at the same time for two different countries or colleges?

Technically, yes, but practically it is complicated. You can submit two separate applications and pay the fee twice (NPR 2,000 + NPR 2,000) to obtain two NoCs. However, after a bank sends money using one NoC, the other NoC becomes effectively inactive, because the legal assumption is that a student pursues only one course at a time. Therefore, it is financially and administratively better to apply for NoC only after your college and country are finalized.

Final guidance for students

In the process of studying abroad, NoC is not only a piece of paper. It provides legal protection. Be patient while using technology. Check every detail twice. In particular, enter the “Course Duration” and “Tuition Fee” mentioned in your offer letter correctly in the portal.

May your academic goals go well. If any technical difficulty arises during the process, do not hesitate to contact the official email or hotline of the Foreign Study Permit Section of the Ministry of Education.