The Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has fully implemented the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) starting today, 30 December 2022.
According to the authority, the mobile sets brought by Nepalis coming from abroad should be registered in the MDMS system from now on by availing an invoice from the customs office.
Although the NTA has said that the new system is adopted to eliminate illegal imports, sales and distribution of mobile phones, Nepalis working abroad are not happy with the decision.
Nepali migrant workers have warned to launch ‘no remittance’ campaign to protest and stop sending money through remittance, citing the government has implemented a strict policy to bring mobile phones from abroad.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has instructed the Ministry of Finance not to immediately implement any other rules that will make it difficult for Nepali abroad to bring mobile phones into Nepal.
However, it is still unclear whether the customs department will provide customs clearance invoice without paying customs or not.
Punya Bikram Khadka, Director of the Department of Customs has said a single handset bought for personal use need not declare customs on it.
Similarly, someone coming from abroad can also bring an additional mobile phone but will have to produce the bill of purchase and pay up to 18% of the total price, in the case of smartphones.
Even if someone is able to trick the customs, the mobile phone will not work after 15 days of inserting a SIM card, meaning, people would not be able to make calls/messages from it.
Nepal ranks in the 11th position for receiving the most remittances in proportion to the gross domestic product (GDP), with remittances making 21.8 percent of the total GDP of Nepal.
