Nepal Visa & Entry Requirements

Short answer: most nationalities can buy a Nepali tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport — US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days or US$125 for 90 days, all issued multiple-entry. Indian citizens need no visa at all. Twelve nationalities must apply at a Nepali mission before flying.

Before you travel: visa rules and fees change, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current requirements with Nepal's Department of Immigration at immigration.gov.np or your nearest Nepali diplomatic mission before you book. Every figure on this page was checked against the Department of Immigration on 28 July 2026.

How much does a Nepal visa on arrival cost?

The Department of Immigration publishes one fee schedule. Its guidance is that visa-on-arrival counters operate at Tribhuvan International Airport and at other designated entry points. All three tourist durations are issued as multiple-entry visas, and the clock starts on the day you enter Nepal — not the day the visa is issued.

Tourist visa	Fee (USD)	Entries
15 days	US$30 per person	Multiple
30 days	US$50 per person	Multiple
90 days	US$125 per person	Multiple
Transit (max 24-hour stay)	US$5 per person	Single

Source: Department of Immigration, Nepal Visa Types & Requirements and eVisa & Online Visa for Nepal, checked 28 July 2026.

Two rules catch people out. A tourist visa must be used within six months of the date it is issued, and once issued it cannot be withdrawn — fees are non-refundable. Budget accordingly if your plans are still moving.

Do I apply online before I fly, or get the visa at the airport?

Both work. The Department of Immigration now runs an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) / eVisa through its Nepali Port portal, where you complete the form, upload a scanned passport page and a photo, pay by card in US dollars and receive the approved visa by email to print and carry. You can also apply through a Nepali embassy or mission, or simply arrive and use the visa-on-arrival counters at Kathmandu.

Whichever route you take, apply only through the official portal at nepaliport-new.immigration.gov.np, linked from immigration.gov.np. The Department has issued a public notice about fraudulent websites and unauthorised online visa-fee payment — look-alike sites charge inflated "service fees" for a form that is free to submit.

Which nationalities cannot get a visa on arrival?

The Department of Immigration lists twelve nationalities that must obtain a visa in advance through a Nepali embassy or the mission portal rather than at the border:

Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and Syria.

Afghan nationals are a partial exception: the Department's guidance says they may be issued a visa on arrival on the recommendation of the Department of Immigration. Source: immigration.gov.np, checked 28 July 2026. All other passport holders may use the on-arrival counters.

Who gets a free (gratis) Nepal visa?

Traveller	What they get
Indian citizens	No visa required to enter Nepal
Children under 10	Gratis visa (the Department's ETA page notes this covers stays up to 30 days)
SAARC citizens, except Afghanistan	Gratis up to 30 days, on the first visit in a given visa year
Afghan citizens	Gratis on the recommendation of the Department of Immigration
Chinese nationals	Gratis tourist visa (the ETA page states up to 150 days per visa year)
NRN card holders	Gratis, with an NRN card or citizenship issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Source: Department of Immigration, Visa Information, checked 28 July 2026. A gratis visa still requires the full application — the fee is simply waived, not the paperwork.

How does visa on arrival work at Kathmandu airport?

The Department describes it as a three-step process. Doing step one online before you fly is what saves time at the counter.

1. Fill the Arrival Card and the online tourist-visa form. Do it on the Department's website before you fly, or at the kiosk machines in the arrivals hall. Print the submission receipt with the barcode — it is valid for 15 days.
2. Pay the visa fee at the bank counter. Multiple payment modes are accepted, and the Department itself advises carrying some cash.
3. Present your form, payment receipt and passport at the immigration desk. The officer processes and issues the visa there.

What documents do I need for a Nepal tourist visa?

• A passport valid for at least six months before the date of travel.
• A recent passport photograph with a white background (the eVisa route requires a scanned copy).
• Your visa-fee payment receipt and the barcoded submission receipt from the online form.
• Your previous Nepal visa, if you have one, plus any supporting documents for your visa type.

How do I extend a Nepal tourist visa?

Extensions are handled by the Department of Immigration at Kalikasthan in Kathmandu and by the Immigration Office in Pokhara — useful to know if you finish a trek in the Annapurnas and decide to stay longer.

Item	Cost
Extension	US$3 per day, minimum 15 days (so US$45 is the smallest extension)
Multiple re-entry added to an extension	+US$25
Late fine (overstay)	US$5 per day
Maximum tourist stay	150 days per visa year (January–December)

Source: Department of Immigration, visa fees and documents, checked 28 July 2026. Note that the 150-day cap runs on the calendar year, not on twelve months from your arrival — a trip that straddles New Year effectively gets two allowances.

Is there a different rule for US citizens?

Yes, on a reciprocity basis. Alongside the standard on-arrival visa, the Department of Immigration issues US citizens and their dependents a five-year tourist visa at US$160, allowing 180 days of stay per year, subject to supporting documents including a bank statement, health insurance certificate and police report. The Department's ETA page also notes that the under-10 gratis exemption does not extend to US citizens. Source: immigration.gov.np, checked 28 July 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Nepal visa on arrival multiple-entry?
Yes. All three tourist durations — 15, 30 and 90 days — are issued as multiple-entry visas, so a side trip across the Indian border and back does not cost you a new Nepali visa.

How long can I stay in Nepal in one year?
A maximum of 150 days per visa year, and the visa year runs January to December.

Can I pay the visa fee by card at Kathmandu airport?
The Department says multiple payment modes are accepted at the bank counter and advises carrying some cash as well. The online eVisa route takes card payment in US dollars.

Do children need a Nepal visa?
Children under 10 are issued a gratis visa, but they still need their own passport and their own completed application.

I already have a visa from a Nepali embassy. How long is it valid?
You must enter Nepal within six months of the issue date. Your stay is then counted from the day you actually enter.

What happens if I overstay?
A late fine of US$5 per day applies on top of the US$3-per-day extension fee. Settle it at an immigration office rather than at the airport gate.

Do I need proof of onward travel or accommodation?
The Department's published tourist-visa checklist asks for a valid passport, any previous Nepal visa and supporting documents. Airlines and individual officers sometimes ask for an onward ticket or a booking, so it is worth having both to hand.

Once you are through immigration

If you are heading straight for the hills, read our guide to trekking permits, regions and seasons — the permits are a separate system from your visa, and some are only issued through a registered agency. For timing, see the best time to visit Nepal. When you know your dates, you can compare places to stay in Nepal on Travia in your own currency.

Rules and fees change — confirm with the official source before travelling. The authority for everything on this page is Nepal's Department of Immigration, immigration.gov.np. Reviewed by Travia Editorial on 28 July 2026.