A Nepal tourist visa costs USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days or USD 125 for 90 days, and it is multiple entry. Most nationalities can get it on arrival at Kathmandu airport or a land border, or apply online for a full e-visa before flying, which the Department of Immigration opened on 17 August 2026. Indian citizens need no visa, and first-time SAARC visitors, Chinese citizens and most children under 10 go free. Twelve nationalities must apply at an embassy in advance. You can stay up to 150 days in a calendar year by extending inside Nepal.
- FeesUSD 30 (15 days), 50 (30 days), 125 (90 days)
- Ways to get itOn arrival, online e-visa, or at an embassy
- No visa neededIndian citizens
- Free visaSAARC first visit (30 days), Chinese citizens, children under 10 (not US)
- Must apply in advance12 nationalities, listed below
- Longest stay150 days per calendar year, with extensions
- Pay inUS dollars cash on arrival, card online
A Nepal tourist visa costs USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, or USD 125 for 90 days, and almost every nationality can get one on arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport or at the major land borders. Indian citizens need no visa at all, most SAARC nationals and Chinese citizens get theirs free, and around a dozen nationalities must apply in advance at an embassy. The visa is multiple entry, can be extended inside Nepal for up to 150 days per calendar year, and since 17 August 2026 you can also apply for a full e-visa online before you fly. This guide covers every way to get the visa, the current fees, and the special cases. For the step-by-step airport process and extensions, see our visa on arrival and extension guide.
What Is a Nepal Tourist Visa?
A Nepal tourist visa is a multiple-entry entry permit issued by Nepal's Department of Immigration for tourism, trekking, and other non-working visits. Every visa issued on arrival is a tourist visa. Other categories (business, study, work) must be arranged through different channels. The clock starts on the day you enter Nepal, and the 15, 30, or 90 days count your total permitted stay, not the validity of the sticker.
How Can You Get a Nepal Tourist Visa?
Four routes lead to the same tourist visa: on arrival at an airport, on arrival at a land border, online as an e-visa before you travel, or in advance at a Nepali embassy or consulate. The fees are the same whichever you choose.
| Route | Where you pay | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival, airport | Bank counter at the airport, US dollars cash | Most travellers | Queues of up to 90 minutes in October, November, March and April |
| Visa on arrival, land border | Immigration office, cash only | Travellers coming overland from India | Carry clean US dollar notes and a passport photo |
| e-visa (online, since 17 Aug 2026) | Online, by card | Skipping the airport payment queue | Apply early, approval is emailed and has no published guaranteed time |
| Embassy or consulate | At the mission | The 12 nationalities that cannot get a visa on arrival | Processing time varies by mission |
Visa on Arrival at the Airports
Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu issues the large majority of tourist visas. Gautam Buddha International in Bhairahawa has an immigration office that issues visas on arrival, though it had no scheduled international flights between late March and October 2026, and Pokhara International, which began its first daily scheduled international route (flydubai to Dubai) on 23 September 2026, handles arrivals on its few international flights. If you plan to land outside Kathmandu, check with your airline that the visa desk is staffed for your flight. The process takes three steps: fill the form at a self-service kiosk (or online beforehand), pay the fee at the bank counter, and present your passport, receipt, and form at the immigration desk. During the peak months of October, November, March, and April, the whole process can take 45 to 90 minutes. Our guide to visa on arrival and visa extension in Nepal walks through each step in detail.
Visa on Arrival at the Land Borders
Nepali embassies list seven land crossings as designated entry points for foreigners, and their immigration offices issue visas on arrival: Kakarbhitta in the east, Birgunj, Belahiya (Bhairahawa), Jamunaha (Nepalgunj), Mohana (Dhangadhi) and Gaddachauki (Mahendranagar) on the Indian border, and Kodari on the Tibet border. Rasuwagadhi, the other Tibet crossing, has been shut since the 26 August 2026 flood destroyed its customs post, and Kodari has closed for weeks at a time after landslides, so anyone planning to cross from Tibet should check the current status first (see our flood update). Land border counters take cash only, so carry crisp US dollar notes.
| Entry point | Border | Nearest town or route | Status, October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribhuvan International Airport | Air | Kathmandu | Open |
| Kakarbhitta | India | Siliguri, Darjeeling, Sikkim | Open |
| Birgunj | India | Raxaul, Patna | Open |
| Belahiya (Bhairahawa) | India | Sunauli, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Lumbini | Open |
| Jamunaha (Nepalgunj) | India | Rupaidiha, Lucknow, gateway for flights to Karnali and Dolpo | Open |
| Mohana (Dhangadhi) | India | Gauriphanta, far west | Open |
| Gaddachauki (Mahendranagar) | India | Banbasa, Uttarakhand | Open |
| Kodari | Tibet (China) | Zhangmu, Araniko Highway | Check first |
| Rasuwagadhi | Tibet (China) | Kerung, Syabrubesi | Closed since 26 Aug 2026 |
If you are coming overland from the south, our guide to travelling to Nepal from India covers each crossing and its onward connections.
Applying in Advance at an Embassy
Nepali embassies and consulates abroad issue the same tourist visa before you travel, which removes all airport queue time. Advance application is optional for most travellers but mandatory for the nationalities listed below. Some missions now issue the visa as an Electronic Travel Authorization rather than a sticker, which you print and carry.
Applying Online: the e-Visa and the Pre-Arrival Form
The Department of Immigration runs its online services through NepaliPort at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np. Until August 2026 this was only a pre-arrival form: you filled it within 15 days of arrival, printed the barcode receipt and still paid and got the visa at the airport. That option is still there for visa on arrival.
The department announced a full e-visa on the same portal from 17 August 2026 (its spokesperson, Tikaram Dhakal, reported by VisasNews on 3 August 2026), and travel reports from September describe it as working. You upload your passport and photo, pay the same USD 30, 50 or 125 by card, and the approved visa arrives by email. Print it and show it at check-in and on arrival. It must be used within six months of being issued, and no guaranteed approval time has been published, so apply at least a week before you fly. Visa on arrival has not been withdrawn, so the e-visa is optional for most nationalities. Our guide to the Nepal e-visa and online application walks through the form.
Nepal Tourist Visa Fees in 2026
| Duration | Fee | Entry | Cost per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 days | USD 30 | Multiple entry | USD 2.00 |
| 30 days | USD 50 | Multiple entry | USD 1.67 |
| 90 days | USD 125 | Multiple entry | USD 1.39 |
| Extension (first 15 days) | USD 45 | + USD 3 per additional day, in Nepal | USD 3.00 |
Children under 10 need a visa but pay no fee, except US citizens, who pay the normal fee under Nepal's reciprocity rule. The arrival counters take US dollars and usually euros and pounds, and the airport counters also take cards, though the machines are unreliable, so cash in US dollars remains the safe choice. Multiple entry is included in all three durations, which is useful for side trips to Tibet, Bhutan or India. The fee for the e-visa is the same and is paid by card online.
Extensions cost USD 45 for the first 15 days and USD 3 per additional day, at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or the Immigration Office in Pokhara. The Pokhara office can extend your stay only up to 120 days in a visa year, and the Kathmandu office takes you on to the 150-day ceiling. At the offices you pay the rupee equivalent of the dollar fee, and online extensions are paid by card. Keeping multiple re-entry on an extension adds USD 25, and overstaying costs a late fine of USD 5 for every day, so extend before your visa runs out. Fees change, so check the department's site before you apply. Full extension rules are in our visa extension guide.
Who Does Not Need a Visa, and Who Cannot Get One on Arrival?
Indian nationals need no visa for Nepal under the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. They only need a passport or an Election Commission voter ID to prove nationality when flying.
Citizens of the other SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) receive a free 30-day gratis visa on their first visit in a calendar year. Afghan citizens can receive the same only with a prior recommendation arranged through the Department of Immigration. Chinese citizens have received a free tourist visa on arrival since 2016.
Twelve nationalities cannot get a visa on arrival and must apply in advance at a Nepali diplomatic mission: Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria, along with holders of refugee travel documents.
| Traveller | Visa needed? | Fee | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian citizens | No visa | None | Passport or voter ID when flying |
| SAARC citizens, first visit in the year (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) | Yes | Free, 30 days | On arrival |
| Afghan citizens | Yes | Free with a recommendation | Department of Immigration recommendation, or an embassy |
| Chinese citizens | Yes | Free | On arrival or embassy |
| Children under 10 (any nationality except US) | Yes | Free | With the parent's application |
| Most other nationalities, including US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada | Yes | USD 30, 50 or 125 | On arrival, e-visa or embassy |
| Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, refugee documents | Yes | Normal fee | Embassy only, in advance |
The rules for these categories come from Nepali embassy pages and the Department of Immigration. They change from time to time, so check the department's site before you travel. Use only the official immigration.gov.np and NepaliPort sites to apply, because the department warns that third-party visa websites charge extra and are not official.
What Do You Need for a Visa on Arrival?
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date
- One passport-size photo with a light background (kiosks photograph you, but a spare photo helps at land borders)
- The visa fee in cash, ideally exact change in US dollars
- The completed visa form, from the kiosk or the online portal, or your printed e-visa
A practical tip from every frequent visitor: fill out your arrival card on the plane, and carry several passport photos and photocopies of your passport. You will need them again for trekking permits and SIM cards. Our guide to surviving your first arrival at Tribhuvan Airport covers what happens after the visa desk.
Other Visa Rules Worth Knowing
A transit visa costs USD 5 and covers up to 24 hours for passengers connecting through Kathmandu with an onward ticket. Ask for it at the same immigration counters. US citizens can also apply in advance for a reciprocal five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, valid for up to 180 days a year, for USD 160 with a bank statement showing at least USD 10,000. The tourist visa is the only category issued on arrival, and it does not permit paid work, journalism assignments, or formal volunteering, all of which need different visas arranged through the Department of Immigration before those activities begin.
The 150-day limit runs per visa year, which follows the calendar year from January to December. The counter resets on January 1, so a traveller who exhausts 150 days by November can legally re-enter in the new year. If you renew your passport mid-stay, the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu transfers the visa to the new passport. If you lose your passport, file a police report first, obtain an emergency travel document from your embassy, and then visit the Department of Immigration for the transfer.
Nepal Tourist Visa FAQ
Does Nepal have an e-visa now?
Yes. Since 17 August 2026 you can apply online through NepaliPort, pay by card and receive the approved visa by email. Visa on arrival is still available, so the e-visa is optional for most travellers. Apply at least a week ahead, because no guaranteed approval time has been published.
How long does the visa on arrival take?
Between 20 and 90 minutes at Tribhuvan, depending on season and time of day. The October-November and March-April peaks produce the longest queues, and completing the online form in advance typically saves 20 to 30 minutes.
Can I pay the visa fee by card?
The airport counters accept cards in principle, but the machines fail often. Treat US dollar cash with exact change as the only dependable method, and the only method at land borders.
Do children need a visa?
Yes. Every traveller needs a visa regardless of age, but children under 10 pay no fee, unless they are US citizens.
Can I extend a 15-day visa?
Yes. Any tourist visa can be extended at the immigration offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara, at USD 45 for the first 15 days and USD 3 per day after, up to the 150-day annual ceiling. Apply before the visa expires to avoid the USD 5 a day late fine. Pokhara can extend you only up to 120 days in a visa year.
What if my passport has less than six months' validity?
Nepal requires six months' validity beyond arrival, and airlines enforce it at check-in. Renew the passport before travelling rather than testing the rule at the counter.
Can I get two 90-day visas in one year?
You can enter twice, but total stay is capped at 150 days per calendar year, so a second 90-day visa would be cut short by the ceiling.
Planning Your Trip to Nepal?
Our team at Swotah Travel plans treks and tours that fit neatly inside your visa window, from a four-day Poon Hill trek, which fits inside the shortest visa, to a 14-day Everest Base Camp trek, which needs the 30-day visa once you add arrival and buffer days. Contact us to get started.
