The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set 15 minimum eligibility criteria in its call for applications for the vacant positions of ambassadors to 17 countries, including India, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
According to the specified criteria, any individual holding a permanent or temporary residency permit or immigration benefit of any foreign country is deemed ineligible for the ambassadorial post.
Individuals currently employed by any non-governmental organization funded by international or foreign assistance are also barred from applying.
Similarly, the applicant must not be on any blacklist maintained by the Government of Nepal or other international bodies.
Furthermore, if an individual applying for the post of ambassador was previously appointed to a salaried position by a foreign state, they must have completed at least 10 years since leaving that role.
There is no such cooling-off period for Nepali government employees or civil servants. However, individuals dismissed from government service or declared disqualified for future government employment are prohibited from applying for the post of ambassador.
Individuals convicted by a court of law for any offense involving corruption or moral turpitude are also ineligible.
Apart from these, the other minimum eligibility requirements are as follows:
- Must be a Nepali citizen who has reached at least 35 years of age.
- Must have graduated with at least a bachelor’s degree from a university recognized by the Government of Nepal.
- Must have experience in Nepal’s foreign policy, international relations, or bilateral/multilateral diplomacy, and be capable of representing Nepal.
- Must have knowledge and/or experience relevant to key functions to be performed in the country or organization of posting.
- Must have a good command of the English language. (Knowledge of the official language of the host country is an added advantage.)
- Must have no conflict of interest or vested interest of any kind in the country of proposed posting.
- Must be of high moral character and ethical standing.
- Must possess resilience to perform under highly demanding situation.
- Must have knowledge of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Consular Relations, and related international diplomatic practices.
Ambassadorial positions are currently vacant in diplomatic missions across 17 countries after the interim government led by Sushila Karki and the current government led by Balen Shah recalled ambassadors previously appointed by the KP Oli government.
Following the formation of the government led by Prime Minister Shah, ambassadors from six countries – India, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Denmark, and South Africa – were recalled. Prior to that, the interim government led by Sushila Karki had recalled 11 ambassadors on October 16 from China, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the USA, the UK, and Japan.
The Foreign Ministry has called for applications to appoint ambassadors for all these countries through an open competitive model for the first time.
The ministry invited applications along with the terms of reference (ToR) on its website on Thursday, according to which eligible Nepali citizens meeting the minimum eligibility criteria must apply by 5 p.m. on June 5.
The notice issued by the ministry has not specified any country.
When asked about this, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said that qualified and capable Nepali citizens can apply for any country with a vacant ambassadorial position, but the final decision will rest with the government.
"Interested candidates can state in their application that they are qualified for a specific country among those with vacant ambassadorial positions," he said. "However, after evaluating and selecting candidates based on their proposals and qualifications, the government will make the final decision on who will be appointed to which country."
According to him, the public can also recommend another person's name while submitting their personal application.
After screening the applicants, the Foreign Ministry shortlist eligible candidates and recommend them to the Cabinet, which will nominate ambassadors and recommend them for a parliamentary hearing. Subsequently, a hearing will take place before the Parliamentary Hearing Committee of the Federal Parliament, and the appointment will be made after receiving an agrément from the receiving country.
The tenure of an ambassador will be four years. The salary and benefits will be on par with gazetted special-class government officers. The government can recall ambassadors before the completion of their tenure if deemed necessary.
In addition to the minimum eligibility criteria, the Foreign Ministry has also published a list of preferred qualifications and competencies that will strengthen a candidature. These additional qualifications include:
- Postgraduate degree (master’s degree or higher) in international relations, political science, law, economics, public administration, or a relevant field.
- Specialized training or certification in diplomacy, international trade, or multilateral negotiations.
- Academic publication, research, or significant scholarly contribution to fields relevant to Nepal's foreign policy.
- Significant experience, in leadership positions, in senior government, diplomatic, or corporate organizations, non-government organizations or public service roles at national or international level.
- Demonstrated track record in bilateral or multilateral negotiations, treaty-making, or international legal frameworks.
- Prior posting or assignment in the proposed host country or region is advantageous.
- Experience in trade promotion, investment facilitation, or economic diplomacy.
- Familiarity with United Nations systems, international financial institutions, or regional bodies (SAARC, BIMSTEC, etc.) where applicable.
- Proven ability to lead, inspire, and manage diverse teams in complex and multicultural environments.
- Strong record of strategic thinking, planning, and effective decision-making.
- Sound financial management and administrative oversight experience.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in Nepali and English; proficiency in the host country's language is a significant advantage.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior government officials, political leaders, business leaders, civil society, and the diplomatic community.
- Experience in media engagement, and public diplomacy.
- Highest standards of integrity, probity, and professionalism.
- Sound political judgment and sensitivity to cross-cultural dynamics.
- Adaptability, resilience, and willingness to work in a demanding international environment.
- Commitment to inclusive governance, gender equality, and sustainable development principle.
Nepal currently appoints ambassadors to 34 countries and consuls general to 10 countries. While 17 countries currently have vacant ambassadorial positions, the tenures of ambassadors in several other countries, including Brazil, Myanmar, Oman, Austria, Bangladesh, and Egypt, are set to expire within a few months.
Plans are underway to appoint their replacements through the open competitive model as well.
Questions have long been raised over whether ambassadors and consuls-general are even necessary in all these countries. In the past, too, the Ministry of Finance had suggested reducing their number, noting that maintaining diplomatic missions in unnecessary countries had led to increased expenditure.
The Foreign Ministry is currently conducting a study to reduce the number of embassies and consulates general for staff adjustment and cost-cutting. The study will provide recommendations on which countries require embassies and which do not. It will also advise on how many staff members are needed per country, and where embassies should be closed to merge staff into other foreign missions.
Preparations are underway to finalize the ambassador appointment process after closing unnecessary diplomatic missions based on the recommendations of the study committee.
According to the Ambassador Appointment Guidelines formulated in 2018, at least 50 percent of ambassadors must be selected from officers within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Such diplomats appointed from the ministry are known as career diplomats. In the past, the remaining 50 percent of ambassadors were appointed by ruling parties based on political power-sharing and proximity.
Foreign Minister Khanal plans to revise this ratio by increasing the share of career diplomats from 50 percent to at least 60 percent, though the exact figure has not yet been finalized. The remaining 40 percent would then be selected through open competition rather than direct political appointments.
The government has yet to determine which countries will receive career diplomats and which will have ambassadors selected through open competition.
