Nepal Visa & Entry Requirements: What Every Traveller Needs to Know

Visiting Nepal is straightforward for citizens of most countries. Nepal issues tourist visas on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at major land border crossings, making it one of the more accessible Himalayan destinations for international travellers. Here is everything you need to know about getting into Nepal.

Do I Need a Visa for Nepal?

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Nepal. There are a few exceptions:

• Indian nationals do not need a visa and can enter Nepal freely, the two countries share an open border under the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
• Chinese nationals may enter certain areas without a visa under specific bilateral arrangements, but should verify current rules with the Nepal Embassy before travel.
• Citizens of a small number of SAARC countries receive free visas.

For all other nationalities, including travellers from the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, the European Union, Canada, and most of Asia, a tourist visa is required.

Nepal Tourist Visa Options

Visa on Arrival (VOA)

The simplest option for most visitors. You can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, and at the Kakarbhitta, Birgunj, Belhiya/Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, and Mahendranagar crossings on the Indian border, and at Rasuwagadhi on the Chinese border.

Current fees (USD or equivalent):

• 15 days: USD 30
• 30 days: USD 50
• 90 days: USD 125

You will need: a valid passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond your travel dates), a recent passport-size photograph, a completed entry form, and the visa fee in cash. USD, EUR, GBP, and most major currencies are accepted. Credit and debit cards are also accepted at the TIA visa counter.

E-Visa (Online Application)

Nepal's Department of Immigration offers an e-visa system for tourist and trekking visas. Applying online before departure means you skip the visa counter queue on arrival, particularly useful during busy autumn season when queues at TIA can be long.

To apply online, visit the official Nepal e-visa portal (evisa.nepalimmigration.gov.np), upload a scan of your passport photo page and a passport-size photograph, pay the fee by card, and download your approval letter. Present it at the immigration counter on arrival to collect your visa stamp.

Processing time: usually 24–72 hours. Apply at least 3 business days before travel.

Visa Extension

If you want to stay longer than your initial visa allows, you can extend at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan) or the Immigration Office in Pokhara. Extensions cost a minimum of USD 45 (which covers up to 15 days), then USD 3 per day beyond that. Tourist visas can be extended up to a total stay of 150 days per visa year.

What Documents to Carry on Arrival

• Valid passport (6+ months remaining validity)
• E-visa approval letter (if applicable)
• Return or onward ticket details
• Proof of sufficient funds (not always checked, but good to have)
• Accommodation details for your first night

Trekking Permits Are Separate

Your tourist visa gives you entry into Nepal and access to most cities and lowland areas. To trek in national parks, conservation areas, or restricted zones, you need additional trekking permits. These include:

• TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System), required for most trekking routes, obtained in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
• National Park / Conservation Area Entry Permits, for Sagarmatha NP (EBC trek), Annapurna Conservation Area, Langtang NP, etc.
• Restricted Area Permits, for Upper Mustang, Manaslu Circuit, Dolpo, Nar Phu, and other controlled regions. These require a licensed guide and are only issued through registered agencies.

All permit logistics are handled by your trekking agency if you travel with a company like Swotah Travels. For independent trekkers, permits are obtained at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap) or Pokhara (Damside).

Avoid These Common Visa Mistakes

A few errors come up again and again at Kathmandu immigration, and all of them are easy to avoid:

• Overstaying. Overstay fines are USD 5 per day plus the visa extension fee, and a long overstay can lead to a ban on re-entry. Check your stamp before you leave the counter.
• Forgetting the 150-day cap. Tourist visas cannot exceed 150 days in total within a single visa year (January to December), no matter how many extensions you buy.
• Arriving without cash backup. Cards are accepted at the TIA visa counter, but the card terminals occasionally go down. Carry the visa fee in USD cash as a backup, in reasonably new, undamaged notes.
• Mixing up the e-visa letter and the visa. The e-visa approval letter is not itself a visa; you still receive the visa sticker or stamp at the immigration counter on arrival.
• Working on a tourist visa. Volunteering or working, even unpaid, is not permitted on a tourist visa and can result in deportation.

Money and SIM Cards on Arrival

Once through immigration, there are ATMs and currency exchange counters in the arrivals hall at Tribhuvan International Airport. Exchange a small amount for the taxi and your first day, then change larger sums in Thamel where rates are better. Ncell and Nepal Telecom both run SIM-card counters at the airport: bring a passport photo and a copy of your passport photo page, and you can be online with a tourist data package within minutes of landing.

Health Requirements on Arrival

As of 2025, there are no mandatory vaccination certificates or health documentation required to enter Nepal. However, a number of vaccinations are strongly recommended by travel health clinics, including Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus. Consult your GP or a travel health specialist 6–8 weeks before departure.

Ready to Start Planning?

Nepal's visa process is one of the simpler ones in the region, most travellers are through immigration and on their way to their hotel within 30–45 minutes of landing. The key is to have the right documentation ready and to apply for your e-visa in advance if you want to avoid queues.

If you have questions about permits, restricted areas, or documentation for a specific trek, our team is happy to help, we handle all permit and entry logistics for every Swotah Travels trip.