Nepal visa on arrival

How it works

Most nationalities can get a tourist visa on arrival in Nepal, at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at official land border crossings. The Department of Immigration is the authority for visas and publishes the current rules and fees.

To save time at the airport, you can fill in the online arrival form on the Department of Immigration website shortly before you travel and bring the confirmation. At the airport you then pay the fee and have the visa issued at immigration.

Standard tourist visa fees

The Department of Immigration lists these fees for multiple-entry tourist visas. They are paid on arrival. Check the current amounts before you travel.

What to bring

Have these ready when you land:

• A passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
• The visa fee, ideally in US dollars cash in clean notes; other major currencies and cards may be accepted but do not rely on it.
• The online form confirmation, or be ready to fill in a form at the airport kiosks.
• A passport photo, in case it is asked for.
• Your accommodation address for the first night.

Who should check before travelling

Indian citizens do not need a visa to enter Nepal. Nationals of other SAARC countries and of China have been eligible for free tourist visas under specific conditions. Citizens of a short list of countries cannot get a visa on arrival and must apply at a Nepali embassy or consulate before travel.

These arrangements change, so check the Department of Immigration website or your nearest Nepali embassy for your nationality.

Extending your visa

Tourist visas can be extended at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu and at the immigration office in Pokhara. There is a fee for the extension, and a tourist can stay in Nepal for a limited total number of days in a visa year (the Department of Immigration lists the current limit, which has been 150 days).

Extend before your current visa expires. Overstaying leads to fines and can cause problems when you leave.

Arriving by land

Visa on arrival is also available at Nepal's main official land crossings, including several on the border with India and the Rasuwagadhi crossing with China. Facilities at land borders are simpler than at the airport and hours can be limited, so arrive during the day, carry the fee in cash, and check in advance that the crossing you plan to use issues tourist visas to your nationality.

Make sure your passport is stamped on entry. Without an entry stamp you can have problems at checkpoints and when you leave the country.

At the airport

The arrival process at Tribhuvan International Airport usually runs in this order:

• Complete the arrival form online in advance or at a kiosk in the arrivals hall.
• Pay the visa fee at the payment counter and keep the receipt.
• Join the visa-on-arrival immigration queue with your passport, form and receipt.
• Collect your bags and pass through customs. Queues can be long when several flights land together, so be patient.

Things a tourist visa does not cover

A tourist visa does not allow paid work. Restricted trekking areas need separate permits arranged through a registered agency, and national parks and conservation areas have their own entry permits; see our trekking permits guide.