46 Nepalis Stranded in Cambodia on Visit Visas Rescued
बैशाख ४, २०८३ १८:५७
Kathmandu. A total of 46 Nepalis who had traveled to Cambodia under various pretexts and later became involved in illegally operated online scam centers, casinos, and other illicit activities have been rescued and brought back to Nepal.
According to a press release issued on Thursday by the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok, the return was made possible through coordination with the Cambodian government and the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Cambodia. The rescued individuals were repatriated to Nepal on April 13 and 14.
The embassy said efforts are also underway to rescue other Nepali nationals who remain stranded or are facing difficulties in Cambodia. It further warned that information has been received indicating that some Nepali citizens in Cambodia are involved in illegal activities, such as online fraud, and are overstaying their visas. The embassy noted that the Cambodian government has recently introduced strict laws targeting individuals working in online scam centers.
Under Cambodia’s new law, individuals involved in online scamming can face punishment ranging from a minimum of 2 years imprisonment to life imprisonment, depending on the nature of the offense. The law also stipulates fines ranging from USD 125,000 to USD 500,000. The Nepali Embassy in Bangkok has urged Nepalis living without valid visas or those who have overstayed to return to Nepal as soon as possible.
The embassy said it has received numerous complaints that passports of Nepalis working in scam centers in Cambodia are often confiscated or lost while workers are transferred from one center to another. In such cases, the embassy has been issuing a free “one-way travel permit” to Nepali citizens who wish to return home. Detailed information about the process is available on the embassy’s official website.
According to Cambodia’s tourism statistics, the number of Nepalis travelling there on visit visas has risen significantly in recent years. The data shows that 101 Nepalis visited Cambodia in 2021. The number increased to 1,977 in 2022, 2,140 in 2023, 6,404 in 2024, and 9,676 in 2025. The embassy has urged citizens to go abroad for employment only after obtaining labor approval in accordance with standards set by the Government of Nepal. It has also strongly warned Nepalis not to fall for false promises of quick and high earnings and to avoid traveling to countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand on visit visas.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: बैशाख ४, २०८३ १८:५७
