The Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950 regulates cross-border movement between Nepal and India, and cross-border travel for citizens of both countries is relatively easy. Nepalese migrants cross the border to explore various employment and income-generating opportunities. While such mobility has resulted in numerous benefits, it has led to several challenges. The scale and characteristics of frequent and undocumented Nepalese mobility are largely unknown. This lack of data has made it difficult for the Government of Nepal to effectively harness migration benefits into its development plans, and address and minimize risks. Many studies have acknowledged the paucity of research and records regarding migrant workers, but the COVID-19 pandemic has brought further attention to this matter. The Nepal Migration Profile of 2019 also suggests dedicated research to quantify trans-border migration.

The “Baseline Report on Cross-border Migration” seeks to better understand the unique nature of human mobility between the two countries. The report provides key insight into the various dimensions of migration while assessing the situation of migrants and communities, prevailing data gaps in open border migration, and suggests ways to move forward to help support the development of evidence-based policy. It highlights the need for a multifaceted and robust institutional framework for migrants, emphasizing protection, health, and development, and lays the foundation for future targeted studies on cross-border movement. It recommends conducting a comprehensive survey at the Ground Crossing Points (GCPs) by placing trained researchers/enumerators to collect data on trans-border movement, which may help in bridging the information gaps and boost prioritization of evidence-based policymaking by the federal, provincial, and local governments.