Quick answer
Shram swikriti (श्रम स्वीकृति) is the labour approval the Department of Foreign Employment issues to a Nepali going abroad to work. It is required for every country except India, it is applied for online in the government’s FEIMS system at feims.dofe.gov.np, and it has to be renewed before you return to the same job after a visit home.
No Nepali worker may leave for foreign employment without a labour permit, and no airline counter or immigration desk at Tribhuvan International Airport will pass a work visa without one. It is also what connects you to the insurance and the welfare fund if something goes wrong abroad. This is what it is, who applies, and how.
On this page
01What shram swikriti is, and who needs it
Shram swikriti — labour approval, usually called the labour permit — is the Government of Nepal’s permission for one named person to work for one named employer in one country. It is issued by the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE).
You need it if you are leaving Nepal on a work visa for any country except India. That includes the Gulf, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Europe and everywhere else, whether you go through a manpower agency or found the job yourself.
| Type | When it applies | Who applies |
|---|---|---|
| Through a recruiting agency | You were selected by a licensed manpower agency against a demand letter. | The agency applies in the system for you; you verify and attend the required steps. |
| Individual (personal) | You got the job and visa yourself, or through a relative already working there. | You apply yourself in FEIMS. |
| Re-entry (पुनः श्रम स्वीकृति) | You are home on leave and going back to the same employer. | You apply yourself, online — from Nepal or from abroad. |
02How to apply for a labour permit online
Applications are made in FEIMS — the Foreign Employment Information Management System — at feims.dofe.gov.np. The screens change from time to time; the order of the work does not.
- 1Create your account in FEIMS with your passport number and mobile number, and log in.
- 2Choose the type — new individual approval, or re-entry if you are returning to the same employer.
- 3Enter your details: personal information, passport, the employer’s name and address, your position, salary and contract period, exactly as in your contract.
- 4Complete the pre-departure steps the system lists for a new approval: the orientation training, the medical examination at an approved centre, and term life insurance for the contract period.
- 5Pay the contributions the system shows — the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund and the Social Security Fund — through the payment options it offers.
- 6Upload your documents as clear scans and submit.
- 7Download and print the approval once it is issued. Carry it with your passport; it is checked at the airport.
03Documents for a labour permit
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- Your passport, valid for the period the destination country requires.
- The work visa or entry permit.
- The employment contract or offer letter, signed by the employer — with your position, salary, hours and benefits.
- Documents proving the employer and the job are genuine, as the system asks for an individual approval — commonly attested by the Nepali embassy in that country.
- The medical report, the orientation training certificate and the insurance policy.
- A recent passport-size photograph.
- For re-entry: your previous labour approval and your valid visa or residence card for the same employer.
04How to check your labour permit
Log in to your FEIMS account to see the status of an application and to download an issued approval. The Department also lets an existing labour approval be looked up by passport number, which is how you — or your family — can confirm that a permit an agency says it has obtained really exists. If you cannot find the search on the FEIMS site, ask at the Department’s help desk.
Check it before you pay the final amount to anyone and before you travel. A genuine approval shows your name and passport number, the employer, the country and its validity.
05Renewal — re-entry labour approval
A labour permit is tied to one employer and one contract. If you come home on leave and are returning to the same job, you need a re-entry approval before you fly. It is applied for online in FEIMS, and can be done from abroad before your trip so it is ready when you arrive.
Keep your insurance and contributions valid for the new period — the system will ask. If you have changed employer, it is a new approval, not a renewal.
06Why not go without one
- You will be stopped at the airport: a work visa without a labour approval does not pass immigration.
- The welfare fund’s support — compensation and help for your family in case of death, injury or serious illness abroad — depends on a valid approval.
- Without the record, the embassy and the Department have far less to work with if the employer does not pay or the job is not what was promised.
- Going through India or on a visit visa to avoid the process is how most cases of stranded workers begin.
07Before you go: the papers for the job itself
The permit lets you leave; the CV and the interview get you the job. For Gulf employers see the CV format for Dubai, Qatar and Saudi jobs, and for Europe the Europass CV guide. Interview questions for hotel, restaurant and security jobs abroad are in the hospitality and security guard interview guides.
Common questions
What is shram swikriti?
Shram swikriti (श्रम स्वीकृति) is the labour approval, or labour permit, issued by Nepal’s Department of Foreign Employment to a Nepali citizen going abroad for work. It names the worker, the employer and the country, and is checked at the airport.
How do I apply for a labour permit online in Nepal?
Create an account in FEIMS at feims.dofe.gov.np, choose new or re-entry approval, enter your passport, employer and contract details, complete the orientation, medical and insurance steps the system lists, pay the welfare fund and social security contributions shown, upload your documents and submit. Download the approval when it is issued.
Do I need a labour permit to work in India?
No. Labour approval is required for foreign employment in every country except India.
How do I check my labour permit?
Log in to your FEIMS account to see and download it. The Department also lets an existing labour approval be looked up by passport number, which you can use to confirm a permit that an agency has arranged.
Can I renew my shram swikriti from abroad?
Yes. Re-entry labour approval for returning to the same employer is applied for online in FEIMS and can be done from the country you work in, before you travel home.
How much does a labour permit cost?
The amounts — contributions to the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund and the Social Security Fund, plus insurance, the medical examination and orientation — are set by the government and shown in FEIMS when you apply. Check there for the current figures.