Nepal’s Diaspora in Australia Strengthening Bilateral Ties: Minister Khanal

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal stated that the Nepali diaspora in Australia has made significant contributions to further strengthening Nepal-Australia relations.

Minister Khanal expressed these views during the launch of a report titled Nepali Diaspora in Australia, jointly organized by the Institute for Integrated Development Studies and the Australian Embassy in Nepal in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

He noted that the Nepali community in Australia has played an important role in deepening bilateral cooperation and people-to-people relations between the two countries.

The Minister said the Government of Nepal is exploring ways to make provisions related to Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) citizenship more practical and effective, while acknowledging legal complexities arising from the absence of a dual citizenship system in Nepal.

He added that initiatives are being taken to strengthen engagement with the diaspora within the existing legal framework.

Similarly, Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Simon Ernst, said the Nepali diaspora serves not only as a source of remittances but also as an important global network linking Nepal with the wider world through economic, social and cultural contributions in Australia.

According to the report, the Nepali-origin population in Australia reached an estimated 213,580 by June 2025, marking a significant increase since 2021.

The survey found that 61.16 percent of respondents moved to Australia for higher education, while 45.27 percent reported annual earnings between AUD 65,000 and 120,000. Around 34.99 percent stated they had made formal investments in Australia.

Bishwas Gauchan, Executive Chairperson of IIDS, highlighted that remittances contribute more than 30 percent to Nepal’s GDP and stressed the importance of effectively utilizing the diaspora’s economic and intellectual potential.

Presenting the survey findings, Sneha Ghimire said the contribution of the Nepali diaspora extends beyond remittances to areas such as investment, entrepreneurship, trade connectivity, cultural exchange and knowledge transfer, with their role continuing to expand.