Most travellers need a visa for Nepal, but almost everyone can get one on arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport or at the main land borders. A tourist visa costs US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days or US$125 for 90 days (all multiple entry), and you can stay up to 150 days in a calendar year with extensions. Indian citizens need no visa at all, and a handful of nationalities must apply at an embassy before they travel.
This guide covers the current Nepal visa requirements in 2026: who needs a visa, how visa on arrival works step by step, the online pre-arrival form and the newer e-visa (ETA), fees, extensions, overstay fines and the rules for Indian, SAARC and Chinese nationals. We have checked it against Department of Immigration figures as published by Nepal’s embassies and the UK FCDO, current to October 2026. Rules can change at short notice, so confirm with the Department of Immigration or your nearest Nepali embassy before you travel.
Nepal visa requirements at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need a visa? | Yes, unless you are an Indian citizen |
| Can I get it on arrival? | Yes, for most nationalities, at Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu) and the main land borders |
| Cost | US$30 (15 days), US$50 (30 days), US$125 (90 days) |
| Entries | Multiple entry on all three tourist visas |
| Passport validity | At least six months from your date of entry |
| Online option | Pre-arrival form (submit up to 15 days before you land) or the e-visa/ETA, both through the Department of Immigration’s NepaliPort portal |
| Payment on arrival | Card accepted at Kathmandu airport; carry clean US dollar notes as a backup. Cash only (US dollars) at land borders |
| Free visas | Chinese nationals; SAARC nationals (except Afghanistan) for up to 30 days on the first visit of the year; children under 10 (except US citizens) |
| Maximum stay | 150 days per visa year (1 January to 31 December) |
| Extensions | US$45 for the first 15 days, then US$3 per extra day, at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or the Pokhara immigration office |
| Overstay fine | US$5 per day on top of the extension fee; long overstays risk detention and deportation |
| Trekking permits | Separate from the visa and arranged on top of it |
Who needs a visa for Nepal?
Every foreign national needs a visa to enter Nepal except citizens of India. That includes travellers from the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all EU countries. The good news is that these nationalities are all eligible for a tourist visa on arrival, so there is no need to apply in advance unless you want to.
A few groups get their tourist visa free of charge (covered in detail below), and a short list of nationalities cannot use visa on arrival and must apply at a Nepali embassy or consulate before they travel.
Countries not eligible for visa on arrival
According to the Department of Immigration list published by Nepal’s embassies, citizens of the following countries must obtain a visa from a Nepali diplomatic mission before arriving:
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Eswatini (Swaziland)
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran (added on 13 March 2026)
- Iraq
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Palestine
- Somalia
- Syria
- Zimbabwe
- Holders of refugee travel documents, whatever their nationality
Nepal stopped issuing on-arrival visas to Iranian nationals on 13 March 2026, citing the security situation in West Asia, as reported by the Kathmandu Post. Diplomatic and official passport holders from these countries are treated separately. Some embassy pages have not yet been updated to include Iran, so if you hold one of these passports, confirm the current position with your nearest Nepali embassy well before you book flights.
Nepal visa fees in 2026
Nepal’s tourist visa fees have been stable for several years and are still quoted by Nepal’s embassies in 2026. Every tourist visa is multiple entry, so you can pop over to Tibet, Bhutan or India and come back on the same visa while it is valid.
| Visa or service | Fee (US$) | Approx. GBP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa, 15 days | US$30 | about £23 | Multiple entry |
| Tourist visa, 30 days | US$50 | about £38 | Multiple entry; the usual choice for a two- to three-week trek |
| Tourist visa, 90 days | US$125 | about £94 | Multiple entry |
| Extension, first 15 days (minimum) | US$45 | about £34 | Even if you need fewer than 15 extra days |
| Extension, each additional day | US$3 | about £2.25 | After the first 15 days of extension |
| Late or overstay fine | US$5 per day | about £3.75 | Charged on top of the extension fee |
| SAARC nationals (not Afghanistan) | Free | Free | Up to 30 days, first visit in the visa year |
| Chinese nationals | Free | Free | Gratis tourist visa |
| Children under 10 | Free | Free | Except US citizens, who pay the normal fee |
| Indian citizens | No visa needed | n/a | Passport or Election Commission voter ID required |
Sterling figures are approximate, at US$1 to about £0.75. If you apply through a Nepali embassy abroad, the fee is charged in local currency at a rate the embassy sets, so it may differ slightly from the US dollar figure.
Which visa length should you choose?
The validity starts on the day you enter Nepal, and the day you arrive counts. A 15-day visa suits a short city-and-culture trip, but it is tight for almost any trek once you add flight delays. Our 16-day Everest Base Camp trek and 15-day Annapurna Base Camp trek both need the 30-day visa, which also leaves a buffer for the weather-related delays that are common on Lukla flights.
Pick the 90-day visa if you plan to stay longer than about eight weeks. A 30-day visa plus an extension costs more than the 90-day visa once you need more than about 25 extra days (US$50 + US$45 + US$30 already equals US$125), and each extension means another trip to an immigration office. If you are still building your plans, our Nepal itinerary guide and Nepal trip cost breakdown will help you settle on the length of stay.
Free visas: SAARC, Chinese nationals and children
SAARC nationals
Citizens of Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka get a free tourist visa for up to 30 days on their first visit to Nepal in a visa year (January to December). After that, or for a longer stay, normal fees apply. Afghanistan is a SAARC member but is excluded: Afghan citizens are on the list of nationalities who must apply in advance, and a free visa is possible only on the recommendation of the Department of Immigration, with paperwork started by an inviting institution in Nepal.
Chinese nationals
Chinese passport holders receive a gratis (free) tourist visa. The Nepali embassy in Beijing confirms that no visa fee is charged to Chinese nationals, who can apply in advance through the embassy and consulates in China or obtain the visa on arrival at authorised entry points, including Tribhuvan International Airport and the Kodari and Rasuwagadhi crossings on the China border.
Children under 10
Children under 10 get a free tourist visa, with one exception: US citizens. American children pay the same fees as adults. Children still need their own passport and must go through the same arrival process.
Non-Resident Nepali card holders
Holders of a Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) card are also listed as eligible for a gratis visa. Nepal does not recognise dual nationality, so people of Nepali origin who hold a foreign passport otherwise enter as foreign nationals.
Do Indians need a visa for Nepal?
No. Indian citizens do not need a visa or any permit to enter Nepal, stay or work there, and there is no fee. You do, however, need to carry an accepted identity document, and airlines and immigration staff check it closely.
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu lists two documents as valid for travel between India and Nepal by air:
- A valid Indian passport
- An original voter ID card with photograph, issued by the Election Commission of India
The embassy states that Aadhaar, PAN card, driving licence and Indian Embassy registration certificates are not accepted, and neither are downloaded or online-printed voter ID cards. A 2019 Indian Ministry of Home Affairs notice allowed travellers over 65 and under 15 to use some other photo ID, including Aadhaar, but the embassy’s current list does not repeat this, so older and younger travellers should take a passport or voter ID to be safe, particularly when flying. If you are trekking, take your passport: trekking permits are issued against it.
Visa on arrival in Nepal: where it is available
You can get a tourist visa on arrival at Nepal’s international airport in Kathmandu and at the main land border crossings. Nepal’s embassies publish slightly different lists, but the entry points most consistently listed are:
| Entry point | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu | Airport | Where almost all international visitors arrive; kiosks, card payment and online pre-registration |
| Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa | Airport | Listed as a visa-on-arrival point; very few scheduled international flights |
| Pokhara International Airport | Airport | Listed as an entry point; scheduled international flights are rare, so check before relying on it |
| Kakarbhitta (Jhapa) | Land border, India | Eastern crossing, for Darjeeling and Siliguri |
| Biratnagar (Morang) | Land border, India | Eastern Terai |
| Birgunj (Parsa) | Land border, India | Opposite Raxaul; for Patna and Kolkata routes |
| Belahiya/Bhairahawa (Rupandehi) | Land border, India | Opposite Sunauli; the most used crossing for Varanasi and Lumbini |
| Jamunaha (Nepalgunj) | Land border, India | Western Nepal |
| Mohana (Dhangadhi) | Land border, India | Far west |
| Gaddachauki (Mahendranagar) | Land border, India | Far west, for Delhi and Uttarakhand routes |
| Kodari (Sindhupalchok) | Land border, China | Tibet border; access depends on Chinese rules and road conditions |
| Rasuwagadhi (Rasuwa) | Land border, China | Tibet border; disrupted by flood damage in recent years |
At land borders, plan to pay in cash, in US dollars. Bring crisp, unmarked notes and a couple of passport photos, since card payment and online systems are not reliable at the smaller posts. Remember that the China-border crossings are only usable if you have the right Chinese permits for Tibet, which are a separate matter.
Online options: the pre-arrival form and the e-visa (ETA)
There are now two ways to start your visa online, both through the Department of Immigration’s NepaliPort portal (nepaliport.immigration.gov.np). Use only the official government portal; private websites that look official charge extra for the same service.
1. The online pre-arrival (visa on arrival) form
You fill in your details online, upload a passport-style photo and the passport data page, and receive a submission receipt with a barcode. You then pay for and collect your visa at the airport. The key points:
- The submission is valid for 15 days. Submit it no earlier than 15 days before you arrive. If you fill it in a month ahead, it expires and you have to do it again. The UK FCDO and the embassy pages both confirm this 15-day window.
- Print the receipt or keep a clear copy on your phone. Immigration staff scan the barcode.
- You still pay the visa fee on arrival.
- It mainly saves time at the kiosks; you still queue to pay and to see an immigration officer.
2. The e-visa / Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
Nepal has been phasing in an Electronic Travel Authorisation and fully rolled it out on 17 August 2026, according to immigration specialists Fragomen. You apply online, upload your passport and photo, pay the visa fee by card and receive approval by email before you travel. On arrival the ETA is converted into your tourist visa, so you skip the payment queue.
- It is optional. Visa on arrival has not been withdrawn for eligible nationalities.
- Allow several days. The Department of Immigration’s stated target is about 24 hours, but this is not guaranteed, and travellers report waits of up to around three days.
- Print the approval and carry it with your passport.
- An advance visa must be used within six months of issue, and the 15, 30 or 90 days count from your date of entry.
Applying through an embassy
You can also apply at a Nepali embassy or consulate before you travel, including the Embassy of Nepal in London. Embassies typically ask you to complete the online form first, then submit your passport (valid for at least six months, with blank pages) in person. Processing usually takes a couple of working days. This is the route you must use if you are on the list of nationalities not eligible for visa on arrival. Check your embassy’s own page for its fee in local currency, hours and current processing times.
Documents you need
- Passport valid for at least six months from your date of entry, with at least one blank page for the visa sticker (embassies ask for two). Damaged passports, or ones reported lost or stolen, will be refused. Emergency or temporary passports can cause problems; check with the embassy first.
- Photo: one passport-size photo for the online form (a digital JPG or PNG). At Kathmandu airport the kiosks take your photo, but bring two printed passport photos anyway, especially if you are crossing by land.
- Online submission receipt or ETA approval, if you used either.
- Visa fee: a card, plus US dollars in clean, untorn, unmarked notes as a backup.
- Address in Nepal: the forms ask for your first hotel. The FCDO notes that border officials may ask for proof of where you will spend your first night.
- Travel insurance: the FCDO says you may be asked to show cover for healthcare and repatriation. If you are trekking, your policy needs to cover the altitude you will reach and helicopter evacuation; see do I need travel insurance for trekking.
- Return or onward ticket: not always checked on arrival, but airlines sometimes ask for it at check-in.
How to get a Nepal visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, step by step
Tribhuvan International Airport is small, and several large flights often land together, particularly in the October and November peak season. Expect anything from 20 minutes to well over an hour in the immigration hall. Doing the online form beforehand is the single biggest time-saver.
- Before you fly: submit the online pre-arrival form within 15 days of arrival, or get an approved ETA. Print the receipt. Put your US dollars somewhere easy to reach.
- Land and walk to the immigration hall. Follow the signs for visa on arrival. If you already have a visa in your passport from an embassy, or an approved ETA, look for the separate queue.
- Use a registration kiosk if you have not done the online form. The machines scan your passport, take your photo and print a form. If you did the form online, staff may simply scan your barcode.
- Pay at the visa fee counter. Choose 15, 30 or 90 days and pay by card or cash. You receive a payment receipt. Keep it.
- Go to the immigration desk with your passport, the kiosk or online receipt and the payment receipt. The officer checks everything, fixes the visa sticker and stamps your passport.
- Check the sticker and stamp before you leave the desk: the duration, dates and your name. Mistakes are much easier to fix on the spot.
- Collect your bags and clear customs. Declare cash over US$5,000 in notes (or US$10,000 including travellers’ cheques) and keep the declaration certificate.
Once you are through, our guides to Kathmandu and things to know before travelling to Nepal cover getting from the airport, SIM cards and money. Pashupatinath Temple is only a few minutes from the airport and makes an easy first outing.
Paying for your visa: cards and cash
The UK FCDO confirms card payment is accepted at Kathmandu airport but advises carrying cash as a backup, with US dollars preferred. Card terminals do go down. Other major currencies are often accepted at the airport bank counter, but at an unfavourable rate, and land borders generally want US dollars only.
Nepali counters routinely reject notes that are torn, faded, stained or written on, and some refuse older series. Bring the exact amount in newer, clean notes, ideally in small denominations so you are not relying on change.
Extending your Nepal tourist visa
If you want to stay longer, you can extend your tourist visa inside Nepal. Extensions are handled by the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan, Dillibazar) and the immigration office in Pokhara, the two offices most tourists use. You cannot extend at the airport.
Extension fees
- US$45 for the first 15 days, which is the minimum charge even if you only need a few days
- US$3 for each additional day after that
- US$5 per day late fee if you apply after your visa has already expired
For example, extending by 30 days costs US$45 plus 15 × US$3, or US$90 (about £68). Fees can usually be paid in US dollars or Nepali rupees at the office.
How to extend
- Fill in the online extension application on the NepaliPort portal and print the receipt.
- Take it to the immigration office with your passport, a passport photo and the fee, ideally a few days before your visa expires.
- Expect to leave your passport for a few hours or return later the same day; at busy times allow longer.
Many trekking agencies will handle this for clients, but you still need to supply your passport. If you are coming back from a trek with only a day or two left on your visa, sort the extension in Kathmandu or Pokhara straight away. Do not leave it to the morning of your flight.
Maximum stay per year
A tourist can stay a maximum of 150 days in total in one visa year (1 January to 31 December), counting the original visa and all extensions. Embassy guidance says a tourist visa can be extended up to a total of 120 days, with a further 30 days possible on reasonable grounds at the Department’s discretion, which brings you to the 150-day ceiling. Because the limit resets on 1 January, a stay that runs across the new year can be longer in total, but you need to manage the extensions carefully.
Overstaying your visa
The FCDO describes overstaying as a serious offence in Nepal that can lead to significant fines or imprisonment. For short overstays, you pay a fine of US$5 per day on top of the normal extension fee for the period, and you must regularise your status at the Department of Immigration before you can leave. The airport cannot fix an expired visa: travellers are sent back to the Kathmandu office, which can cost you your flight.
For longer overstays, Nepal can detain and deport foreign nationals and bar them from returning, and Nepali newspapers regularly report deportations for overstaying. The exact penalties for long overstays are set by the Immigration Act and Rules and applied case by case, so there is no simple figure to quote. The practical advice is simple: note your expiry date and extend before it.
What a tourist visa does not cover
Trekking permits are separate
Your visa lets you into the country. It does not let you into Nepal’s national parks, conservation areas or restricted regions. Every trek needs its own permits on top of the visa, for example:
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 for most foreign nationals (about £15), needed for Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and the Annapurna Circuit.
- Everest region: a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit plus the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee, both needed for Everest Base Camp.
- Restricted areas such as Upper Mustang, Manaslu and Dolpo need a special restricted area permit, issued only through a registered agency to a group of at least two trekkers with a licensed guide.
Since 1 April 2023, foreign trekkers in most of Nepal’s trekking areas, including Annapurna, must hire a licensed guide through a registered agency. The Khumbu (Everest) local government did not adopt this rule, although a guide is still strongly recommended. Your passport and visa details are needed for every permit, so carry copies. Our Nepal trekking hub covers permits for each route.
No work or volunteering
A tourist visa does not allow paid work or unpaid volunteering for an organisation. Volunteering placements, research, journalism and business activity can require a different visa or permission, so get written confirmation from the organisation and check with the embassy before you travel.
Leaving and re-entering Nepal
Because all Nepal tourist visas are multiple entry, you can leave and come back while your visa is valid without buying a new one. This is useful if you are combining Nepal with Bhutan, Tibet or India. The days keep counting while you are out of the country, and the 150-day annual limit still applies.
Before you fly home, check that your departure date falls within your visa. Leave plenty of time at Kathmandu airport in peak season, when the departure immigration queue can be slow too.
Practical tips to make arrival easier
- Do the online form within 15 days of your flight, or get an ETA if you want to skip the payment queue.
- Choose the 30-day visa for any standard trek; 15 days rarely leaves enough buffer.
- Carry clean US dollar notes even if you plan to pay by card.
- Have your first night’s hotel name and address written down; the form asks for it.
- Keep digital and paper copies of your passport, visa page and insurance; trekking checkpoints ask for them.
- Check the FCDO’s Nepal travel advice before you go. It was last updated in October 2026 and also covers safety, monsoon disruption and road travel. Our safety tips for trekking in Nepal cover the mountains.
- Peak arrival times are October, November, March and April; book flights and hotels early if you travel then.
Planning a trek in Nepal?
Your visa is the easy part. If you are planning a trek, our ground partners in Nepal handle trekking permits, licensed guides, domestic flights and accommodation as part of every trip, so you only need to arrive with your passport and visa fee. See our Everest Base Camp trek and Annapurna Base Camp trek, or tell us what you have in mind and we will arrange a tailor-made trek. For a wider overview of the country, start with our Nepal travel guide or our list of things to do in Nepal.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Nepal visa in 2026?
A Nepal tourist visa costs US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days, roughly £23, £38 and £94. All three are multiple entry. Chinese nationals, SAARC nationals (except Afghanistan) on their first visit of the year and children under 10 (except US citizens) get a free visa, and Indian citizens need no visa at all.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Nepal?
Yes, if your nationality is eligible. Tourist visas are issued on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at the main land borders with India and China. Citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Syria and Zimbabwe, and refugee travel document holders, must apply at a Nepali embassy before travelling.
Do I need to apply for a Nepal visa online before I travel?
No, it is optional. You can fill in the online pre-arrival form up to 15 days before you land, which speeds up the kiosk stage, or apply for the e-visa (ETA) and pay in advance. Both are done on the Department of Immigration’s NepaliPort portal. You can also do everything at the airport using the registration kiosks.
How long is the Nepal online visa form valid?
The submission receipt from the online pre-arrival form is valid for 15 days. If you submit it earlier than 15 days before you arrive, it expires and you need to fill it in again. An approved advance visa, by contrast, must be used within six months of issue.
Can I pay for my Nepal visa by card?
At Kathmandu airport, yes: card payment is accepted at the visa fee counter. The UK FCDO still advises bringing cash as a backup, preferably US dollars in clean, undamaged notes. At land borders, plan to pay in US dollar cash. The e-visa (ETA) is paid online by card.
How do I extend my Nepal tourist visa and how much does it cost?
Apply online on the NepaliPort portal, then visit the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or the Pokhara immigration office with your passport, a photo and the fee. It costs US$45 for the first 15 days (the minimum) and US$3 per day after that, plus US$5 per day if your visa has already expired. You can stay up to 150 days in a calendar year in total.
Is a trekking permit included in the Nepal visa?
No. The visa only covers entry to Nepal. Each trekking region needs its own permits, such as the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (NPR 3,000) or the Sagarmatha National Park and Khumbu municipality permits for Everest. Most areas also require a licensed guide booked through a registered agency.
What happens if I overstay my Nepal visa?
You pay a fine of US$5 per day on top of the normal extension fee and must sort out your status at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu before you can leave; the airport cannot fix it. Long overstays can lead to detention, deportation and a ban on returning, so extend before your visa expires.
