Nepal Tourist Visa Requirements for Holiday Travel

Updated: on 3 February 2024

With unparalleled access to the mighty Himalayas, mountain-top temples, amazing wildlife, and the incredible and unmissable regions of Kathmandu and Pokhara, the sometimes-tricky Nepal tourist visa requirements are a hurdle well worth jumping to visit this breathtaking country. The good news is that for most tourists a Nepal tourist visa on arrival is available. Indian visitors are permitted to cross the border without applying for a Nepal tourist visa, and a Nepal tourist visa on arrival is available for 15 days, 30 days and 90 days for most travelers flying in from the West including travellers holding passports from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, UK, France Germany and most other European nations. There are a couple of hoops to jump through following arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, but the long queues can be avoided by those who apply for Nepal visa online before boarding their flight. Please note of you are holding a passport from the following countries then you are required to apply for Nepal tourist visa at a Nepali Embassy, Consulate, or Diplomatic Mission before arriving in the country:
• Afghanistan
• Cameroon
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Iraq
• Liberia
• Nigeria
• Palestine
• Somalia
• Swaziland
• Syria
• Zimbabwe
• Refugees with travel documents

Special visa-free travel exemptions, because of a reciprocal agreement, are granted to nationals holding passports from the following countries:
• Thailand - up to 90 days
• Russian Federation - up to 90 days
• People’s Republic of China - up to 30 days
• Federal Republic of Brazil - up to 90 days
• Myanmar - up to 90 days
• Vietnam - up to 90 days
• Cambodia - up to 30 days
• Mongolia - up to 90 days
• Jordan - up to 90 days
• State of Israel - up to 90 days
• Georgia - up to 90 days
• State of Qatar - up to 90 days

Note: All visas that are issued at Tribhuvan International Airport are categorized as Nepal tourist visas. Any changes in category, including extensions, have to be applied for via the Department of Immigration.

How to Apply for Nepal Tourist Visa on Arrival

Don’t worry if you have not managed to apply for Nepal tourist visa online, the Department of Immigration allows most visitors to complete the process following their arrival. However, be warned that the queues at the airport can be excruciatingly slow-moving, especially during the high season between October and November. After arriving at the airport, you must complete an ‘Arrival Card’ and provide a recently taken passport-sized photo. Alternatively, you can queue for one of the automatic registration kiosks where you can have your photo taken and fill out a Nepal visa on arrival application. You will then be issued with a receipt with a barcode attached which you are required to print out and take with you to pay the appropriate visa fee depending on how long you intend to stay.

Expected Nepal tourist visa on arrival fees:
15 Days: USD30
30 Days: USD50
90 Days: USD125

Although there is the option of paying in several currencies, having the correct amount in USD will save you time and money. Children under the age of 10 who are not US citizens are not required to pay a visa fee. Once this is done it is time to head for the Immigration Desk with your Passport, Arrival Form, and Visa Payment Receipt. All being well the Immigration Officer will issue you with a Nepal tourist visa and you a free to begin your Himalayan adventure. Travellers who cross into Nepal overland are also permitted to apply for a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at recognized border crossings but be sure to bring a couple of passport photos with you and to have to hand the correct visa fee in US Dollars.

Note: If you intend to cross over to India from Nepal and then return to Nepal (or take a return trip from Nepal to Tibet or Bhutan), you will need a multiple-entry visa. Your single-entry visa can be converted into a multiple-entry visa at Kathmandu's Central Immigration Office, or the smaller Immigration Office in Pokhara. This service will typically cost you 25USD.

Apply for Nepal Visa Online and Save Yourself a Headache

By far the easiest way to fulfil your Nepal visa requirements is to apply for a Nepal visa online prior to arrival, a shortcut to avoid some of the queues. Your application for a Nepal visa on arrival can be made only on this official website - https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/on-arrival/IO01. This will help you circumnavigate the bureaucracy and the often long queues that greet all travelers to Nepal when they arrive at the airport. This process is not to issue a visa, this is an online registration for your Nepal visa on arrival. You can apply from 15days prior to your date of arrival in Nepal.

Here is a checklist to help you with your Nepal visa on arrival application requirements:

• A clean digital scan of the ID pages of a valid passport.
• A clear digital passport photo taken within the last 6 months (white background, facing the camera, no glasses or headwear etc.).
• Details of your home address and the address you intend to stay at for the duration of your stay.
• Phone numbers – both home and mobile.
• Your email address.
• You can only make your Nepal tourist visa application within 15 days from your planned arrival date in Nepal.
• A receipt with a barcode of your successful application for your Nepal Tourist Visa (applied online) will be sent to the email address you have supplied in your application, and this should be printed out as you will need to present this receipt to the Immigration Officer on arrival in Nepal to be granted your visa on arrival.
• Double-check the documents you will need to provide to the Immigration Officer (listed on your receipt).
• Make sure you have all these documents, your receipt, and the required fee for your Nepal tourist visa
• Although a negative PCR test report for COVID-19 or health insurance is not currently a prerequisite for entering Nepal, it is a good idea to visit a health professional before leaving your home country for advice on vaccinations and medicines. Comprehensive travel and health insurance is highly recommended. Book excellent travel insurance here.

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