Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making final preparations to recommend 21 ambassadors at once for vacant diplomatic missions, according to ministry sources. The recommendations are expected to include both career diplomats and individuals from outside the foreign service, following the government’s plan to appoint ambassadors through an open and competitive selection process.

Sources said the ministry is preparing to submit a proposal to the Cabinet next week recommending 21 individuals for ambassadorial posts, including both career officials and political or independent nominees.

The ministry is preparing recommendations for ambassadorial positions in Australia, China, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, Egypt, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna.

Traditionally, Nepal has followed a practice of maintaining a 50–50 balance between career diplomats and political appointees in ambassadorial appointments. However, sources said the current plan is to recommend only six or seven career diplomats, while the remaining positions are expected to go to political nominees.

Although the government has announced that ambassadorial appointments will be based on open competition, the Foreign Ministry has not yet disclosed how many candidates applied or how many were considered qualified.

Nepal currently has 44 diplomatic missions abroad, including 31 embassies, three permanent missions, and 10 consulates general. However, the government has already decided to close three embassies and two consulates general during the current fiscal year. After the closures, Nepal’s diplomatic presence will be reduced to 39 missions, consisting of 28 embassies, three permanent missions, and eight consulates general.

The government plans to shut down Nepal’s embassies in South Africa, Brazil, and Denmark. It has also announced the closure of the Consulate General in San Francisco, United States, and the Consulate General in Chengdu, China. Nepal’s liaison office in Visakhapatnam, India, will also be abolished this year.

Due to delays in appointing new ambassadors, the government has instructed Nepal’s ambassadors to Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Myanmar, Austria, and Egypt—who had completed their terms and were preparing to return home—to remain in their posts until further notice.

The Cabinet meeting held on July 21, 2026, made the decision. Nepal currently has ambassadors serving at its three permanent missions to the United Nations in New York, Geneva, and Vienna. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, several senior career diplomats are being considered for ambassadorial appointments, including: Ganesh Prasad Dhakal, Chief of the Europe Division; Bhrigu Dhungana, Chief of the Northeast Asia Division; Dilip Kumar Paudel, Chief of the North and South America Division; Kumar Raj Kharel, Chief of Protocol; and Bishnu Prasad Gautam, Chief of the International Organizations and International Law Division.

However, the names of candidates under the political quota have not been made public. The Foreign Ministry had earlier issued a public notice on May 28, 2026, inviting applications for ambassadorial positions in 13 vacant missions under the political category.