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Document Checklist

Documents Required for Foreign Employment — Complete 2026 Checklist

Every document a Nepali worker needs to prepare — from passport and citizenship to GAMCA medical, police clearance and destination-specific extras. Document preparation is where most deployment delays happen; this guide eliminates that risk.

The difference between a 30-day and a 90-day deployment timeline almost always comes down to document readiness. Workers who arrive at their agency with a complete, correctly attested document file move through the DOFE process fast. Workers who are missing even one certificate — often the police clearance or the MoFA-attested academic certificate — cause cascading delays. Use this master checklist to prepare everything in parallel, ahead of time.

Universal documents — required for every destination

These documents are checked at multiple stages: DOFE Form 1 submission, GAMCA medical, PDO registration, visa application and airport immigration. Ensure you have originals plus at least 6 clear photocopies of each.

  • Valid Nepali passport — minimum 18 months remaining validity; 24+ months strongly recommended to avoid renewal during your contract. Must be machine-readable (biometric passport). Bring original + 6 photocopies.
  • Citizenship certificate (Nagarikta Pramaan Patra) — original and photocopies. Also bring a clear copy to keep at your destination in case of emergency.
  • Recent passport-size photographs — white background, formal dress, no sunglasses. At least 8–10 prints in the correct size (35×45 mm for most purposes; some Gulf consulates specify 4×6 cm). Also have a soft copy at 300 DPI.
  • Highest academic certificate (SLC/SEE or equivalent) — original. If you have higher qualifications (Plus 2, Bachelor's, Master's), bring those as well. For European destinations, copies usually must be translated.
  • Recent curriculum vitae (CV) in English — 1–2 pages, with full employment history, verifiable references from previous employers and accurate contact details.
  • Police clearance certificate (PCC) — issued within the last 3 months from your District Police Office or via nepalpolice.gov.np. Validity: 3 months. Cost: NPR 500–1,000.
  • Destination-specific medical fitness certificate — GAMCA for Gulf; country-approved clinic for non-Gulf (see below for details). Validity: 90 days.
  • DOFE labour permit (Shram Anumati) — the sticker in your passport issued by DOFE after biometric enrolment, medical clearance and PDO completion. This is the single most important document.
  • FEPB Welfare Fund contribution receipt — the bank payment receipt for your welfare fund contribution. Checked at the airport immigration counter.
  • PDO certificate — issued after completing the 2-day Pre-Departure Orientation. Mandatory for all destinations; checked at TIA immigration before boarding.
  • Signed employment contract — original copy, in a language you understand. Carry it in your hand luggage — never in checked baggage.

Skilled trades — additional documents

Workers applying for technical positions (welder, electrician, plumber, HVAC technician, mechanic, mason, carpenter, nurse, driver) typically need additional credential documents:

  • CTEVT skill certificate — issued by the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training. Level I, II or III as required by the destination employer. Original + copies.
  • Trade test certificate — practical competency certificate issued by the destination employer's evaluation centre or a DOFE-approved skills testing centre in Nepal.
  • Experience letters — from previous employers, on official letterhead with name and contact of the signing manager. Gulf employers frequently ask for 2–5 years verifiable experience letters for skilled roles.
  • Professional council registration — Nepal Medical Council (NMC) registration for nurses; Nepal Engineering Council (NEC) for engineers; Department of Transport Management (DoTM) driving licence for drivers. Heavy-vehicle driving licence is specifically required for heavy-driver positions.

Gulf-specific documents (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait)

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have the most standardised requirements. These are in addition to the universal list above:

  • GAMCA medical fitness certificate — from a GAMCA (Gulf Approved Medical Centres Association) approved clinic in Nepal. Standard tests: complete blood count (CBC), blood group, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B (HBsAg), Hepatitis C (HCV), syphilis (VDRL), malaria (for certain origins), chest X-ray, physical examination and vision. Validity: 90 days from date of examination.
  • Biometric/fingerprint enrolment — at the destination-country consulate or VFS Global centre in Kathmandu. UAE: VFS Global, Lalitpur. Qatar: Qatar Visa Centre. Saudi Arabia: Enjazit centre. Usually scheduled after visa pre-approval.
  • MoFA attestation of academic/professional certificates — Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singhadurbar attests your certificates before they go to the destination embassy. Processing: 3–7 working days.
  • Destination-embassy attestation — the UAE, Qatar or Saudi embassy in Kathmandu attests the MoFA-attested certificates. Processing: 5–10 working days; fees vary.
  • Employer demand letter (attested) — the formal job offer from your foreign employer, attested by the destination country's Ministry of Labour and the Nepali embassy there.

Europe-specific documents (Romania, Croatia, Serbia)

Requirements differ by country, employer and permit type. Your agency and the embassy will confirm the exact list. Commonly asked for:

  • Biometric photographs — usually 35×45 mm, plain light background, taken within the last 6 months.
  • Sworn/notarised translations of certificates — into the destination country's official language by an accredited translator. Often needed for academic certificates, professional certificates, experience letters, birth certificate and police clearance.
  • Medical certificate — from a clinic approved by the embassy or employer. Some embassies also ask for a TB clearance.
  • Proof of accommodation — employer accommodation confirmation letter, or rental agreement if self-arranging.
  • Employment contract — often needed in English and in the local language.
  • Apostille or legalisation — some documents may need extra legalisation. Ask the embassy which route applies.

Document attestation process — step by step

For most destinations, your academic and professional documents follow this attestation chain:

  1. Get original or certified copy from the issuing institution (school, university, council).
  2. Notarise at a local notary public (in Kathmandu: Bag Bazaar, Putalisadak — fee NPR 500–1,000 per document).
  3. MoFA attestation — submit at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singhadurbar. Processing 3–7 working days. Fee: NPR 500–1,500 per document.
  4. Destination-embassy attestation — submit at the respective embassy in Kathmandu (UAE Embassy Baluwatar, Qatar Embassy Maharajgunj, etc.). Fee and timeline varies by embassy.
  5. Translation (if required) — for European destinations, translation and notarisation is typically done before or after MoFA, in parallel with embassy attestation.

Storing your documents safely

Before flying, do all of the following:

  • Scan every document to PDF at 300 DPI or higher.
  • Upload to a secure email account that only you (and one trusted family member) can access.
  • Keep one complete photocopy set in a separate bag from your originals.
  • Leave a full photocopy set with a trusted family member in Nepal.
  • Carry originals in your hand luggage only — never in checked baggage.

For a personalised checklist based on your specific destination and job role, use our Document Checklist tool, which generates a print-ready PDF.

Common questions

Document preparation FAQs

How many passport copies should I bring?

Carry your original passport plus at least 6 clear photocopies — one for the medical centre, one for the embassy visa submission, one for your agency file, one for DOFE biometric, one for PDO registration, and one as your own backup at the destination. Also scan the bio page and email it to yourself and a trusted family member so it exists digitally.

Do my certificates need to be translated for Europe?

Usually yes. European destinations such as Romania, Croatia and Serbia commonly require sworn or notarised translations of academic, professional and experience certificates into the local language, done by an accredited translator. Ask your agency or the embassy for the exact requirement before you spend money on translation.

What is a police clearance certificate and where do I get it?

The Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is issued by Nepal Police and certifies that you have no criminal record in Nepal. You can apply at your District Police Office or via the Nepal Police online portal (nepalpolice.gov.np). Cost: NPR 500–1,000. Validity: typically 3 months, so apply no earlier than 3 months before your expected visa submission. Bring your original citizenship certificate and passport for the application.

What is the MoFA attestation and who does it?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Kathmandu authenticates your Nepali documents before they go to the destination-country embassy for attestation. This is required for academic certificates, birth certificates and police clearance when the destination country requires attestation. Your agency coordinates the MoFA process. Nepal is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so full embassy-level attestation is required instead of a simple apostille stamp.

Is a CTEVT certificate mandatory?

Mandatory only for skilled trades — welder, electrician, plumber, mechanic, mason, carpenter — when the destination employer specifies trade qualification as a requirement. Most Gulf trade-test centres accept a CTEVT certificate as proof of competency for their practical assessment. Non-skilled and semi-skilled roles (factory worker, housekeeper, security guard, hospitality) do not require CTEVT.

How long before departure should I start gathering documents?

Start at least 6–8 weeks before your planned departure. Police clearance takes 1–2 weeks; MoFA attestation 3–7 working days; embassy attestation another 5–10 working days; translation for European destinations 1–2 weeks; GAMCA medical scheduling can take 1–2 weeks for an appointment. Running these in parallel (where possible) reduces total time to 3–4 weeks for standard Gulf placements.

What if my academic certificates are lost?

Contact the original issuing institution for a certified duplicate. School Certificate (SLC/SEE) duplicates are available from the National Examination Board (Sanothimi, Bhaktapur). Campus transcripts from Tribhuvan University take 2–4 weeks. Always keep digital scans of all certificates in a secure cloud folder — this is your fastest recovery route if originals are lost.

Questions about working abroad?

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