Documents Required for Foreign Employment — Complete 2026 Checklist

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 EU destinations, originals 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, Bahrain, Oman)

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 (Poland, Romania, Czech, Croatia, Malta, Portugal, Germany)

• Biometric photographs (Schengen standard) — 35×45 mm, plain light background, ICAO biometric compliant, taken within last 6 months.
• Sworn/notarised translations of all certificates— into the destination country's official language by an accredited translator. Required for: academic certificates, professional certificates, experience letters, birth certificate, police clearance.
• TB (tuberculosis) clearance certificate — required by some EU embassies (particularly for UK and several Schengen embassies). Must be from a designated UK/Schengen-approved TB clinic in Kathmandu.
• Travel/medical insurance — Schengen-compliant travel insurance with minimum €30,000 coverage for the initial visa period. Usually arranged by the employer.
• Proof of accommodation — employer accommodation confirmation letter, or rental agreement if self-arranging.
• Employment contract in English and destination language — Schengen embassies often require a bilingual contract.

South Korea — Employment Permit System (EPS)

• EPS-TOPIK Korean language test pass certificate — the mandatory Korean language proficiency test for EPS workers. Pass score varies by sector.
• EPS skill test certificate — sector-specific competency test (manufacturing, agriculture, fishing, service, construction) conducted by HRD Korea or its Nepal partner.
• UMS roster registration — you must be registered on the HRD Korea Unified Management System via EPS Centre Nepal (Buddhanagar, Kathmandu).
• HRD Korea fingerprint enrolment — taken at the EPS Centre.
• EPS health examination certificate — separate from GAMCA; conducted at EPS-approved clinics.
• Korean language learning certificate — evidence of formal study, for some sectors.

Japan — Specified Skilled Workers (SSW)

• JFT-Basic (Japanese Foundation Test) pass certificate — minimum A2 Japanese language proficiency, conducted by Japan Foundation. Alternatively: JLPT N4 certificate is equally accepted.
• SSW sector-specific skill test certificate— issued after passing a practical skills assessment in one of Japan's 12 designated SSW industries (nursing care, food service, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, etc.).
• Health declaration form — mandatory for nursing and care sectors; signed by a licensed physician.
• No-criminal-record certificate — equivalent to police clearance, attested via MoFA and submitted to Japan Immigration Services Agency.

Israel — caregiving workers

• Caregiver training certificate — from an NMC-affiliated training centre. Minimum 6-month course (theory + clinical placement).
• Basic Hebrew or English conversation — demonstrated through a structured interview arranged by the Israeli employer or placement agency.
• Medical clearance — full medical including HIV and Hepatitis B from an Israeli-embassy approved clinic.

Document attestation process — step by step

For most Gulf and non-EPS/SSW 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 EU 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.