Plan on 45 to 90 minutes from the plane door to your taxi at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport in peak season, and less on a quiet night flight. The order never changes: arrival card, visa (USD 30, 50 or 125 unless you already have one), immigration, a slow baggage belt, customs, then cash and a SIM card in the arrivals hall. Thamel is about 6 km away by road, and the prepaid taxi counter charges roughly NPR 800 to 1,200 (USD 5 to 8). Carry US dollar cash for the visa, because the card machines at the counter fail often.
- Plane to taxiAbout 45 to 90 minutes at peak times
- Visa on arrivalUSD 30 / 50 / 125 for 15 / 30 / 90 days
- Online form receiptValid 15 days, lets you skip the kiosk queue
- CustomsDeclare foreign cash over USD 5,000 at the red channel
- Tourist SIMAbout NPR 100 to 150, data packs from about NPR 500
- ATM feeAbout NPR 500 to 850 per withdrawal
- Taxi to ThamelAbout NPR 800 to 1,200 at the prepaid counter
- Domestic terminalAbout 500 m away, a 5 to 10 minute walk
Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu is Nepal's main international gateway, and a first arrival there often takes 45 to 90 minutes from plane to taxi in peak season. The sequence is fixed: arrival card, visa on arrival (USD 30 to 125), immigration, baggage, then money and SIM card before the taxi rank. The airport sits only about 6 km by road from Thamel, the tourist hub, and a prepaid taxi there costs roughly NPR 800 to 1,200. TIA is smaller and slower than most international hubs, so knowing the sequence in advance saves real time. Here is what to expect at each step.
Arrival at Tribhuvan Airport, Step by Step
The times below are typical ranges from travellers and airport guides at busy periods, not official figures. A single wide-body flight landing at the same time as yours can double the visa and baggage queues.
| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Arrival card | Fill it in on the plane, even if you already hold a visa | Before landing |
| 2. Visa on arrival | Kiosk form or online-form barcode, then the bank counter to pay | 15 to 45 min |
| 3. Immigration desk | Officer checks the receipt and stamps the visa into your passport | 10 to 30 min |
| 4. Baggage belt | Watch the screens and the neighbouring belts | 30 to 60 min |
| 5. Customs | Green channel for most tourists, red channel to declare | Under 5 min |
| 6. Cash and SIM | ATM or exchange counter, then the NTC and Ncell counters | 15 to 30 min |
| 7. Taxi or pickup | Prepaid taxi counter, ride-hailing app or a hotel name board outside | 5 to 10 min |
What Happens After You Land at Tribhuvan Airport?
The arrival building funnels everyone toward immigration, where separate queues serve foreigners with visas, foreigners without visas, diplomats, and Nepali citizens. If you arranged a visa in advance at an embassy, walk straight to the "foreigners with visa" desk. Everyone else completes the visa on arrival first.
Visa on Arrival
Self-service kiosks near the entrance scan your passport and print a barcode slip, which you take to the payment counter and then to the immigration desk. The fee is USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, or USD 125 for 90 days. Carry US dollar cash, ideally in exact notes. The bank counter accepts several payment modes, but the card machines fail often enough that cash is the safe plan. Filling the official online form at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np within 15 days of arrival lets you skip the kiosk queue entirely, and you can now also pay the fee online by card or get a full eVisa by email before you fly. The full procedure is in our guide to visa on arrival and visa extension in Nepal, and visa types and free visas are covered in our Nepal tourist visa guide.
Tip: most airlines hand out the arrival card on the plane. Fill it before landing. It is a separate document from the visa form, and you need it even if you already have a visa.
Collecting Your Luggage
Baggage delivery at TIA is slow by international standards. A wait of 30 to 60 minutes is common, and on bad days it stretches longer. Check the screens but also the neighbouring belts, since bags sometimes appear on a different carousel. The airport trolleys are free, so politely decline anyone offering to "rent" one or carry your bags for a fee. Say no clearly before anyone touches your bags, because a tip demand usually follows. If a bag goes missing, find your airline's representative desk before leaving the hall. Customs is a formality for tourists: hand in the form from the plane and walk through the green channel unless you carry declarable goods.
Customs: Green or Red Channel
Use the red channel and fill in a customs declaration if you carry more than USD 5,000 (or the equivalent) in foreign cash, goods above the duty-free allowance, or anything restricted. The duty-free limits most often quoted are about 200 cigarettes and about 1 litre of spirits for adults, but sources give slightly different figures, so check the current list if you are close to them. Drones are the item that catches trekkers out: flying one needs Civil Aviation Authority registration and park permission, and customs can hold a drone that arrives without paperwork.
Money Exchange and ATMs at the Airport
The exchange counters in the arrival hall offer a noticeably worse rate than the money changers in Thamel, so change only what you need for the taxi and the first day. ATMs operate in the arrivals area and accept most foreign cards. Expect a local fee of about NPR 500 to 850 per withdrawal and a cap of roughly NPR 20,000 to 35,000 per transaction depending on the bank (figures tracked in April 2026), plus whatever your own bank charges. That still usually beats the counter rate for larger amounts. At about NPR 155 to the US dollar (Nepal Rastra Bank, October 2026), NPR 35,000 is roughly USD 225.
Buying a SIM Card
Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell, the country's two main networks, run counters in the arrival hall past the money exchange. The SIM itself costs about NPR 100 to 150, and tourist data packs start around NPR 500 for roughly 10 GB over a week (2026 guides, so check the board at the counter). It activates on the spot. You need your passport with the visa stamp and one passport photo, and the counters can usually take the photo for a small fee. Ncell also sells tourist eSIMs you can book before you fly. Both networks cover the main trekking valleys patchily, with Ncell usually faster in Lukla and Namche and NTC holding a call signal higher up, as our guide to internet on the Everest Base Camp trek explains. The counters sometimes push larger packages than you need, so name the package you want rather than asking what is available.
Connecting to a Domestic Flight
The domestic terminal is a separate building about 500 m from the international one, a 5 to 10 minute walk with bags, since there is no airside connection, and Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, and Shree Airlines operate most trunk routes to Pokhara, Bharatpur, Biratnagar, and Nepalgunj. Leave at least three hours between an international arrival and a domestic departure, because immigration plus baggage alone can take 90 minutes. Mountain sectors enforce strict baggage limits, typically 10 kg checked plus 5 kg hand luggage on Lukla and Jomsom flights, with excess charged per kilo, so plan to leave a city bag at your Kathmandu hotel.
One planning fact surprises most Everest trekkers: during the busy spring and autumn seasons, on dates the Civil Aviation Authority announces each year, most Lukla flights do not leave from Kathmandu at all. They move to Manthali Airport in Ramechhap, a 4 to 5 hour drive east, with hotel pickups often leaving Kathmandu around 1 to 2 am, and the flight itself takes about 20 minutes. Outside those windows, Lukla flights operate from Tribhuvan's domestic terminal as normal. Factor the Manthali transfer into any peak-season Everest Base Camp itinerary, or ask about flying direct by helicopter. Our guide to Lukla flight delays and cancellations covers the buffer days to build in.
Departing from Tribhuvan: Three Tips
Arrive three hours before an international departure. Security screens passengers at the terminal entrance (have your ticket or e-ticket and passport ready just to get inside), again after check-in, and often with a manual bag check at the gate, and each layer queues slowly at peak times. Exchange leftover Nepali rupees before passing through immigration, since NPR is hard to change abroad and the airside counters offer poor rates. Airport and departure charges are built into your ticket price, so there is nothing extra to pay at the terminal. Finally, reconfirm the terminal situation if you booked a domestic-to-international connection in peak trekking season. A Lukla flight landing at Manthali leaves you a 4 to 5 hour drive from your evening departure at Tribhuvan.
Getting from the Airport to the City
| Option | Typical cost to Thamel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel transfer | Free – USD 10 | Name board at the exit, the easiest option after a long flight |
| Prepaid airport taxi | NPR 800–1,200 | Fixed-rate counter inside the arrivals hall. Check the posted board, slightly more at night |
| Bargained taxi outside | NPR ~700 | Drivers quote higher, so agree the fare before getting in |
| Pathao / inDrive | About NPR 400–800 | Book in the app and meet the car at the pickup area outside the terminal |
Finding Your Pickup
Hotel and agency drivers wait outside the arrival exit with name boards, not inside the hall, so walk out past the taxi counters before you look for yours. Keep the driver's or hotel's phone number handy, because the crowd at the exit is thick when several flights land together, and agree on a meeting point if you can.
What It Costs on Arrival
Rupee figures are converted at about NPR 155 to the US dollar (Nepal Rastra Bank, October 2026) and rounded. Taxi, SIM and ATM prices are ranges reported in 2026 guides, so treat them as a guide and check the counter boards.
| Item | Typical cost | About in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival (15 / 30 / 90 days) | USD 30 / 50 / 125 | Paid in USD |
| Tourist SIM card | NPR 100–150 | About 1 |
| Data pack, about 10 GB for a week | From about NPR 500 | About 3 |
| ATM fee per withdrawal | NPR 500–850 | 3–6 |
| Prepaid taxi to Thamel | NPR 800–1,200 | 5–8 |
| Pathao or inDrive to Thamel | NPR 400–800 | 3–5 |
| Hotel transfer | Free to USD 10 | 0–10 |
Other International Airports in Nepal
Two newer airports take a handful of international flights. Pokhara International began its first daily scheduled international route, flydubai to Dubai, on 23 September 2026. Gautam Buddha International at Bhairahawa, near Lumbini, has struggled to keep regular routes, with Thai AirAsia's seasonal flights the main service in 2026. Both have immigration desks for international arrivals, but confirm visa on arrival with your airline before you book, as our Nepal tourist visa guide explains. If you are coming overland, see travelling to Nepal from India.
Tribhuvan Airport FAQ
How much is a taxi from Kathmandu airport to Thamel?
The prepaid taxi counter in the arrivals hall charges roughly NPR 800 to 1,200 (about USD 5 to 8) to Thamel, a little more late at night. A bargained taxi outside costs about NPR 700, and a Pathao or inDrive car about NPR 400 to 800. Check the posted fares at the counter, since they change.
Can I use Pathao or inDrive at the airport?
Yes, both apps work in Kathmandu and their cars collect from the pickup area outside the terminal. You need mobile data to book, so buy a SIM in the arrivals hall first or use the airport Wi-Fi.
Do I need to declare cash when I arrive in Nepal?
Yes, if you carry more than USD 5,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency. Use the red channel and fill in a customs declaration. Below that amount, walk through the green channel.
Is there free Wi-Fi at Kathmandu airport?
Yes, a free network covers the terminals, but it is slow and unreliable. The NTC and Ncell counters in the arrivals hall are the faster fix: a tourist SIM with data costs a few hundred rupees and activates on the spot.
Is visa on arrival available for late-night flights?
Yes. Immigration and the visa counters are staffed for every arriving international flight, whatever the hour. Queues are typically shorter at night.
Can I store luggage at the airport?
There is no reliable left-luggage service at the terminal. Most Thamel hotels store bags free for returning guests, which is the standard solution while trekking.
How early should I arrive for an international departure?
Three hours. Security checks happen at the terminal entrance, after check-in, and often again at the gate, and each layer queues slowly at peak times.
Quick Checklist for a Smooth Arrival
- Fill the online visa form within 15 days of arrival and carry the barcode receipt
- US dollars in cash, exact change for the visa fee
- Several passport photos and passport photocopies (visa, SIM card, and trekking permits all want them)
- Fill the arrival card on the plane
- Book a hotel pickup for your first night if you want the easiest exit
- Your first hotel's name, address and phone number for the forms and the driver
Also read: Best Domestic Airlines in Nepal, All You Need to Know About Nepal Tourist Visa, and Travelling to Nepal from India if you are arriving overland instead.
