Humla residents get permits for work in Taklakot, Tibet

More than 10,000 residents of Humla district have received special border passes that let them travel to Taklakot in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. These passes allow people to cross up to 30 kilometers into Chinese territory for jobs and business.

According to Chief District Officer Narayan Pandey, so far 10,955 passes have been given out. Among these, 8,237 are new, and 2,718 are renewals. Each pass is valid for one year and needs to be renewed after mid-July every year.

The Humla border point with China reopened on May 1, 2024, after being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, 47 locals already working in Taklakot remained there to continue their jobs.

CDO Pandey shared that many Humla residents now travel regularly to Taklakot in China’s Purang County for work. Around 312 people are involved in trade, while others work in construction, hotels, and restaurants.

Some traders go to Taklakot to buy goods and building materials, which they bring back to Nepal. Workers usually stay for up to six months, earning between Rs. 400,000 and Rs. 600,000 during this period, said Dhanjit Bhandari, who is currently working there.

Since April 2025, the local office has issued 3,906 border passes, including 2,657 new ones and 1,741 renewals.

Though people can apply for passes anytime, most prefer to get them before the end of November each year.