The Nepali government has formally initiated Online Application System (OAS) for foreigners who apply for Nepali visa, officials said Tuesday.

Department of Immigration (DoI), the government agency to issue visa in Nepal, said the move was taken in an attempt to offer better quality and smart services to the foreign guest willing to visit Nepal for different purposes.

"Since the system consumes less paper, it is also a part of our commitment to the environment friendly service apart from easing the visa application process for foreigners," Shambhu Ghimire, director of the DoI, told Xinhua by phone.

The DoI had however introduced this modern system from November last year as a trial.

"With the success of the trial, the visa application through online system has been made mandatory, meaning that it will now be the only way to apply for Nepali visa," added Ghimire.

He said foreigners who want to visit or stay in Nepal can apply for visa by logging into www.online.nepalimmigration.gov.np or www. nepalimmigration.gov.np from any place and at any time. The system however will not be available for applying diplomatic and official visa.

Initially, the online service is available at the DoI, Kathmandu and Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) which will be gradually expanded to other parts of Nepal.