Study abroad scams in Nepal
Most consultancy staff do honest work. But the same few tricks keep turning up in police cases and news reports, and they are easy to spot once you know them.
Last verified · how we check
We do not name firms on this page. We are not police or a court, and this is not legal advice.
The patterns
Reports on the new rules list four common abuses (english.nepalnews.com, checked 2026-11-07):
Visa guarantees
Nobody in Nepal can promise a visa. Only the destination country decides.
Held passports
Your passport is yours. A firm has no reason to keep it.
Fabricated offer letters
Confirm any offer directly with the college, using contact details from its own website.
Refused refunds
Get the refund terms in writing before you pay, and keep every receipt.
What has happened recently
- UAE study scam. Police arrested six owners and managers. Students reportedly paid between Rs 800,000 and Rs 2.2 million each (kathmandupost.com, checked 2026-11-07). Before that, after student complaints, the government had begun listing fake institutes, and the Foreign Ministry's consular department had built a portal to record victims' details (kathmandupost.com, checked 2026-11-07).
- Unregistered firms. In late June 2026, 18 operators tied to 15 unregistered consultancies were arrested (english.nepalnews.com, checked 2026-11-07).
- A wider campaign. The PIE News reported 69 people detained in the wider campaign (thepienews.com, checked 2026-11-07).
How to protect yourself
- Search the list, then ask for the approval document.
- Never pay in cash, and get a receipt each time.
- Write to the college yourself before you pay anything large.
- Keep your passport and your original certificates with you.
If it has happened to you
- Stop paying. Do not send more money to "fix" the problem.
- Save everything: receipts, bank records, messages, letters, and the names of the people you dealt with.
- Report it to the police, and tell the ministry's Educational Consultancy and Certification Section (collegenp.com, checked 2026-11-07).
- If you are abroad, contact Nepal's embassy or consulate. For UAE cases the Foreign Ministry's consular department built a portal to record victims' details (kathmandupost.com, checked 2026-11-07).
- Talk to a lawyer if a large sum is involved. We cannot advise on your case.