Travel essentials
Nepal tourist visa, sorted before you land.
A Nepal tourist visa on arrival is a multiple-entry stamp issued at Kathmandu airport or major land borders. Fees are USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, and USD 125 for 90 days. Most passports qualify; Indian citizens enter visa-free, and SAARC nationals receive one free 30-day visa per calendar year. Last updated January 2026.
Fees
Three durations, multiple-entry by default.
Every visa on arrival is multiple-entry. You can leave and re-enter without paying again until the validity expires. Pay in fresh USD bills; soiled or torn notes are routinely refused at the cashier window.
| Duration | Fee (multiple-entry) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 15 days | USD 30 | Most short trips. |
| 30 days | USD 50 | Standard pilgrimage or trek. |
| 90 days | USD 125 | Long stays, extensions possible. |
On arrival
Four steps at Kathmandu airport.
Complete the online form before you fly. At the counter, have USD cash, one photo, and your arrival QR ready. Most travellers clear immigration in under twenty minutes.
Fill the online arrival form
Complete the online arrival card at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np within 15 days of landing. Save the QR receipt on your phone or print a copy. This is not a pre-approved visa; it speeds up the counter queue.
Collect a fee slip at the airport
On landing at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), proceed to the Visa on Arrival counter on the upper floor of the arrivals hall. Take a fee slip and queue.
Pay the visa fee
Pay at the bank counter in fresh USD bills (or equivalent major currency). International cards are accepted at Tribhuvan airport, but carry cash as backup. Torn or marked notes are often refused.
Submit at the immigration counter
Hand over your passport, fee receipt, the arrival card, and one passport-sized photo. The officer stamps and returns your passport on the spot. Total time is usually under 20 minutes.
Documents
What to carry at the counter.
The visa officer is brisk and helpful. Have these ready before you queue and the whole process is faster than passport control on the way out.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months past arrival date
- Two blank pages in the passport
- Recent passport-sized photograph (35×45 mm)
- Visa fee in fresh USD bills (no torn or marked notes)
- Confirmed return or onward ticket
- Hotel booking or sponsor contact details in Nepal
- Online arrival card receipt or QR code
Visa-free entry
Three passports walk straight through.
India
Indian citizens travel visa-free under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty. Carry a passport, voter ID, or for minors an Aadhaar plus school ID. Nepal tours from India.
South Asia (SAARC)
Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Maldivian, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan citizens receive a free 30-day Gratis tourist visa once per calendar year (visa year runs 1 January to 31 December). A second visit in the same year pays the standard USD fee. Afghan citizens must apply at an embassy before travel. Nepal tours from Bangladesh.
Chinese passport holders
Mainland Chinese citizens have received free visa on arrival since 2016. Same documents apply.
Not eligible for visa on arrival
Apply at a Nepal embassy first.
Embassy visa required
Citizens of the following countries must apply for a Nepal visa at a Nepali embassy or consulate before travel. Visa on arrival is not available.
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iraq
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Palestine
- Somalia
- Syria
- Swaziland
- Zimbabwe
Air entry
Visa on arrival at three international airports.
The same USD fee table applies at each airport. Tribhuvan (KTM) handles the highest volume; Pokhara and Lumbini suit regional and pilgrimage arrivals.
- Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), Kathmandu
- Pokhara International Airport (PKR)
- Gautam Buddha International Airport (BWA), Lumbini
Land borders
Overland entry from India and Tibet.
Visa on arrival is available at major immigration posts. Carry fresh USD, passport photos, and your online arrival QR. Queues are shorter than at KTM but cash is essential.
Birgunj (Raxaul, India)
Main overland route from Patna and Kolkata. USD cash at the border counter.
Sunauli / Bhairahawa (India)
Common for pilgrims and Uttar Pradesh departures to Lumbini and Pokhara.
Kakarbhitta (India)
Eastern Nepal entry from Siliguri and the Darjeeling corridor.
Nepalgunj (India)
Western route used for Bardiya and mid-west Nepal circuits.
Mahendranagar (India)
Far-west entry toward Khaptad and remote trekking regions.
Rasuwagadhi (Tibet, China)
Overland from Tibet when the border is open; check current status before travel.
Extensions
Stay longer than your stamp allows.
Tourist visas can be extended without leaving Nepal. Plan extensions before the stamped expiry date to avoid the late fine.
- Extensions are processed at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan) or the Pokhara immigration office.
- Minimum extension is 15 days at USD 45, then USD 3 per additional day.
- Maximum tourist stay is 150 days in a calendar year (counted 1 January to 31 December).
- Overstaying beyond the stamped date incurs a USD 5 per day late fine before an extension is granted.
Need help timing an extension around a trek or pilgrimage circuit? Ask a Nepal specialist when you request your itinerary.
Frequently asked
Answers from our specialists
The things travellers ask most, answered by guides who lead these trips, not by a script.
About 15 to 20 minutes if you complete the online arrival card before landing. Without the card, expect 45 minutes during peak arrivals from Delhi and Doha.
Yes. Visas are extendable at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan) or the Pokhara office. Extension fee is USD 3 per additional day, with a minimum top-up of 15 days at USD 45. The cumulative maximum stay is 150 days in any calendar year.
No. Indian citizens travel visa-free to Nepal under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Carry a valid passport, Indian voter ID card, or for minors an Aadhaar plus school identity card. Drivers licenses and PAN cards are not accepted at immigration.
Nepal does not currently issue a true eVisa. The online arrival card on the Department of Immigration portal is a pre-fill of the on-arrival form, not a pre-issued visa. The visa itself is stamped at the immigration counter when you land.
USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, USD 125 for 90 days. All visas are multiple-entry by default. Fees must be paid in fresh USD bills; some other major currencies are accepted at the discretion of the cashier.
Yes. Visa on arrival is available at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), and at the major land borders of Birgunj, Kakarbhitta, Sunauli (Bhairahawa), Nepalgunj, Mahendranagar, and Rasuwagadhi (Tibet border). Bring USD cash; INR is also accepted at land borders from Indian travellers.
No. Visa fees are non-refundable once the slip has been issued, even if the traveller is denied entry. Make sure your passport validity, return ticket, and onward bookings are in order before you queue.
Trip planning
Visa sorted? Let's plan the actual trip.
Once the visa is settled, a Nepal specialist can build the rest in about four working hours.