It is an endorsement document from the government outlining Nepali students’ compliance/adherence of all legal requirements to study abroad. Additionally, the letter allows transfer of financial funds from Nepal to abroad for payments to universities and colleges.
Importance of NOC
As mentioned earlier, NOC is required for legal right to transfer admission and college fees to universities abroad but its importance does not stop there. Some additional importances of NOC are bulleted below:
1. Financial Transaction Facilitation
Banks and financial institutions in Nepal require NOC for processing international fund transfers of tuition fees, living expenses, and insurance related fees by NRB. The NOC allows students to pay fees to the university of their choice.
2. Visa Related Importance
Students who possess student visas but do not possess NOC’s are often returned back from the immigration check points in airports in Nepal & India.
3. Academic Record Proof
The certificate proves all academic qualifications are genuine and are verified as real from relevant educational institutions and government bodies. The verification process provides credibility to academic transcripts and certificates when presented to visa officials and foreign universities.
Eligibility Criteria for NOC Application
Understanding eligibility requirements before starting the application process saves considerable time and effort. Student must follow the criteria outlined down below to apply for an NOC
- Students need to complete previous levels of their education from educational institutions like college and University recognised by Nepal Government. The completion or award certificate along with all the transcripts should be attested by respective educational boards CDC and TU. Additionally, candidates need an official conditional letter or Full offer letter, i20s or acceptance letter to apply for NOC.
- NOC applicants need to be a minimum of 17 years old for bachelors programs and have completed 12 education. For masters studies, a bachelor's degree certificate from a recognized university is necessary/mandatory.
Essential for NOC Application
Gathering all the academic certificate related documentation eases the application process significantly. The students need to gather the following documents before proceeding to apply for NOC.
- Original and photocopies of all academic certificates related to class 10 in High School School Leaving Certificate (SLC) or Secondary Education Examination (SEE) through to +2 bachelor and masters completion is necessary. Character certificates from previously attended institutions are necessary along with migration certificates.
- Students who have completed high school level (Indian 12 class examinations like CBSE, ICSE or international qualifications like A-Levels and IB Diploma) need equivalency from NEB Sano Thimi.
- Masters and Bachelors students need an equivalency letter from Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur.
- The official acceptance letter from the foreign institution must clearly provide/state the program details, duration, and commencement date.
- Medical, engineering, nursing licences are required to be uploaded.
- Valid passport copies, and recent passport-sized photographs.
Step-by-Step Application Process
The application process for NOC follows a systematic procedure that requires attention to detail at each stage:
1. Document Preparation
Begin by collecting all necessary documents in advance. Ensure academic certificates are properly attested by respective educational boards such as NEB for intermediate level or university registrar office TU for bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
2. Online Application Submission
Visit the official MOEST website and navigate to the NOC application portal. Create an account with a valid email address and Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) mobile number. Fill out the online application form carefully, ensuring all information matches supporting documents exactly. Upload scanned copies of required documents according to instructions.
3. Application Fee Payment
After successful form submission, pay the application fee of NRS 2000 through designated bank, esewa or other online payment gateways. Keep the payment receipt safely as it will be required during document submission.
4. Application Review Period
The ministry typically takes 1 to 5 working days for processing. However this processing time often extends during peak foreign studies application time periods like June till September and December till February. Students can check the status of their application online using the tracking number.
5. Collection of NOC
Once approved, applicants receive notification via registered email and SMS. It often arrives as a pdf document for download on the website but some cases require additional steps. The students whose document is incorrect in the portal need to Visit the MOEST in person. When visiting the MOEST office, take a print of acknowledgement receipt and identification documents to collect the original NOC certificate. Verify all details on the certificate immediately to make necessary corrections right away because updates later take more time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Following are the list of common mistakes from students. The students are requested to avoid these:
- General and common errors lead to application processing delay and rejections. Incomplete documentation is the most common issue especially missing attestations, error in documents, and missing equivalency documents are leading causes.
- Applying too close to visa appointment dates is the leading reason for unnecessary/added stress, as processing delays can jeopardize travel plans. Starting the NOC application at least one month before the intended visa application date provides adequate buffer time.
- Poor quality document scans or photographs failing to meet technical requirements results in application rejection. Following exact instructions for uploading files like format, size, and resolution prevents such issues.
Processing Time and Validity of NOC
Standard processing typically requires a week. However, complex cases involving document verification from multiple institutions usually take longer time. The issued NOC is valid for a period of six months from the date of issue.
Quick Minitaurised Recap on NOC application
- Open the official MOEST NOC portal in mobile, tablet or desktop browser.
- Register with an NTC number and fill in personal and academic details.
- Upload required documents (Scanned).
- Verify email and phone number with the OTP codes delivered in SMS and Email.
- Select the country, institution, and course applied.
- Submit the application and wait for approval.
- After Approval pay an online payment of NRs 2000 with Khalti, Mobile banking, esewa or other relevant payment gateway.
- Download or take a screenshot of fee payment
- Collect your NOC in PDF on the website's download section.
- Additional Step: If there’s any error in the NOC, print the payment receipt and visit MOEST office with photocopy of official documents for correction
Special Considerations
Students applying for scholarship programs need to include scholarship award letters and details in their application document. Medical students require additional documents due to specific regulations from Nepali and foreign medical education abroad
Taking the right steps toward international education begins with proper documentation and guidance. For personalized assistance including NOC applications and comprehensive study abroad counseling, Contact 360 Education Global.
