Nepal’s 2026 Election & Your Study Abroad Dream: Risks, Realities & The Right Solution

Historically, election years in Nepal create a "bureaucratic slowdown." Here is what you need to watch out for in early 2026:

1. The "NOC" Bottleneck

During election periods, government staff are often redeployed for election duties. The Keshar Mahal (Scholarship Section) and other Ministry of Education offices may operate with reduced staff.

• The Risk: In previous years, we have seen NOC processing times jump from 2 days to 2 weeks.
• The Policy Flip: Interim governments sometimes make sudden changes to foreign exchange rules to stop "capital flight" before an election, temporarily pausing NOCs for certain courses (like Diplomas or Language classes).

2. Banking & Loan Delays

Elections create economic uncertainty. Banks become cautious.

• Valuation Issues: If you are using land/property for your education loan, getting government engineers for property valuation can be difficult if municipal offices are focused on election logistics.
• Liquidity Crunch: During elections, cash flow in the market fluctuates. Banks may tighten their lending criteria for foreign education loans to preserve liquidity.

3. International "Risk Ratings"

Foreign embassies (especially Australia and the USA) watch Nepal closely. If political instability rises (protests, strikes), countries may temporarily downgrade Nepal’s "Assessment Level." This leads to:

• Stricter Vetting: Visa officers may ask for more financial evidence.
• Longer Processing: Visa decisions that took 14 days might take 45 days.

You cannot control the politics, but you can control your application. Here is the strategy we are using for our students at Right & Associates for the 2026 Intake.

Strategy 1: Beat the "Election Freeze" (Apply NOW)

The election is in March 2026. The chaos usually starts 2 months prior (January/February).

• Our Advice: Do not wait for your +2 results or final certificates if you have provisional ones. Start your process today.
• Goal: Secure your Offer Letter and NOC before the election code of conduct kicks in.

Strategy 2: Lock in Your Financials Early

Don't wait until the last minute for your Education Loan.

• Pre-Approval: We work with Nabil, SBI, and Everest Bank to get your loan sanctioned early. Once sanctioned, the bank is committed to releasing the funds even if market rules tighten later.
• Property Valuation: Get your property valuation done immediately. Municipal engineers will be unavailable once election campaigning heats up.

Strategy 3: Choose "Stable" Destinations

If you are worried about visa rejection due to instability, we diversify your risk.

• Multi-Destination Planning: We can apply to Australia (your primary choice) and keep a UK or USA application active as a backup. This ensures that if one embassy slows down, your year isn't wasted.

In times of uncertainty, experience is your best asset. New consultancies panic when rules change. We don't.

1. Direct Ministry Access: Our senior liaisons visit government offices daily. We know about NOC rule changes before they are published in the newspapers.
2. Digital Processing: Even if there are strikes (bandas) in Kathmandu or Chitwan, our Sydney Head Office continues working on your file. We are a global team; local politics don't stop our work.
3. Emergency Support: If you get stuck—whether it's a delayed flight or a stuck document—our team has the networks to unblock the path.

Governments change. Policies shift. But your career cannot wait. The 2026 Election will come and go. Make sure you are watching the results from your university dorm in Sydney or New York, not from a waiting room in Kathmandu.

Secure your 2026 seat today.

📍 Visit Us:

• Kathmandu: Putalisadak (Opposite Kumari Bank)
• Chitwan: Lions Chowk (Yamaha Building)
• Butwal: Sukrapath, Milanchowk