Visa on Arrival in Nepal
Most foreign tourists can obtain a Visa on Arrival immediately upon arrival in Nepal. A tourist visa is issued for 15, 30, or 90 days and allows for multiple entries during its validity period.
Check the current Visa on Arrival regulations on the Nepal Immigration website
Documents Required for Visa on Arrival
To obtain a tourist visa upon arrival, you will need:
- a foreign passport valid for at least 6 months;
- a completed Arrival Card;
- a completed online Tourist Visa application form;
- a receipt for payment of the visa fee.
You can fill out the online application before your trip on the official portal or upon arrival at a special kiosk. After submitting the form, you must save or print it along with the barcode. The application receipt is valid for 15 days.
How to Obtain a Visa on Arrival?
Upon arrival, you must fill out the Arrival Card and the online application form, if you haven’t already done so. Next, you need to pay the visa fee and proceed to the immigration counter with your passport, application form, and proof of payment. After verifying your documents, the immigration officer will issue your tourist visa.
How much does a Visa on Arrival cost?
The official cost of a tourist visa is:
- 15 days — 30 USD;
- 30 days — 50 USD;
- 90 days — 125 USD.
You can pay the fee in the visa zone upon arrival. Various payment methods are available, but it is recommended that you have cash on hand in case of problems with electronic payments.
Free Visa — Who Is Exempt from the Visa Fee?
For certain categories of travelers, a tourist visa is issued free of charge. Specifically, this exemption applies to children under 10 years of age (except for U.S. citizens), citizens of SAARC countries—for up to 30 days once per calendar year—citizens of China, and NRN Card holders. Separate conditions apply to citizens of Afghanistan, and a recommendation from the Department of Immigration is required.
Important: The Gratis Visa is not a visa-free regime. Travelers receive a tourist visa but are exempt from paying the standard visa fee.
Electronic Visa to Nepal (eVisa / ETA)
Foreign tourists can apply for an electronic visa to Nepal before their trip through the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system. The application is submitted online directly to the Department of Immigration of Nepal, and upon approval, the electronic document is sent to the applicant via email.
Documents Required for an Electronic Visa
To apply for a tourist eVisa / ETA, you must complete an online form and provide:
- personal and passport details;
- a scan or digital copy of your international passport, valid for at least 6 months;
- a recent passport-sized photo on a white background;
- planned travel dates;
- purpose of the trip;
- address or information about your place of residence in Nepal.
How to apply for an eVisa / ETA?
On the official NepaliPort portal, select Electronic Travel Authorization, specify your citizenship and visa type, fill out your passport and personal information, upload the required documents, and select the duration of the tourist visa.
After submission, the application is reviewed by the Department of Immigration. The visa fee can be paid online, including through a separate official card payment service. Once approved, the eVisa is sent via email. It is recommended that you print it out and have it with you upon entry into Nepal.
How much does an eVisa to Nepal cost?
The same basic rates apply to the tourist eVisa / ETA:
- 15 days — 30 USD;
- 30 days — 50 USD;
- 90 days — 125 USD.
The tourist visa is multiple-entry for the duration of the authorized stay.
How does an eVisa differ from a Visa on Arrival?
The main difference lies in the application process. A Visa on Arrival is processed upon arrival in Nepal, whereas an eVisa/ETA is applied for and pre-approved online before travel.
What documents are required to import an animal into the country?
- the animal must be implanted with a microchip that consists of 15 digits and complies with the ISO 11784/11785 standard. The microchip number must be displayed in the health certificate;
- the animal must have been vaccinated against rabies 30 days to 12 months before entering the country;
- a veterinary certificate completed by a licensed veterinarian in your country just before the trip;
- treatment for parasites before entry is not required, but it is better to do it;
- birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, amphibians, rodents are not subject to the requirements for rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements that should be specified in the relevant authorities of your country/country of destination.
Important! Before importing a pet (if it is not a dog, cat, or ferret), make sure that it is not protected by the International Convention on international trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna (CITES). If this is the case, then you will need to apply for additional documents.
Duty-free delivery can be made:
- 250 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 20 grams of tobacco;
- whiskey/wine no more than 1.15 liters or beer up to 12 bottles;
- fabrics and products for personal use;
- medicines for personal use in the amount of up to 10,000 NPR;
- food products in tin packages up to 1000 NPR;
- fresh fruit before 2000 NPR;
- 50 grams of gold jewelry and 100 grams of silver jewelry;
- up to 15 coils of film.
Important! When crossing Nepal, you will also need to indicate in your luggage a wristwatch, a movie or video camera, a tape recorder, a bicycle, a set of fountain pens, a radio and any electronic devices. All this can be carried only in the amount of one item of each type per person and only after filling out a declaration with the obligation to take your things back.
What is forbidden to import into Nepal:
- Drugs.
- Weapons and military equipment.
What is forbidden to export from Nepal:
- Nepalese Rupee (NPR). The national currency of Nepal is prohibited from being exported outside its borders. Therefore, the excess local money must be exchanged at one of the exchange offices at Kathmandu airport upon return. At the same time, you can exchange back no more than 15% of the amount that you exchanged for the local currency when entering the country. So don't forget to take a receipt when you change money at the entrance. Important! Keep in mind that currency can’t be exchanged at land border points at all, and the remaining local money may simply be withdrawn from you.
- Precious metals and stones.
- Wild animals. Representatives of the local fauna of Nepal are prohibited from being exported from the country. The same applies to products made of leather, fur, horns and claws of representatives of the local animal world.
- Drugs and raw materials for their manufacture. This category includes a variety of vegetable raw materials, from which narcotic drugs can be made.
Foreigners usually have no problems with the export of souvenirs. And if you have a special certificate, you can even bring antiques to your homeland, provided that their age is not older than a hundred years. But for all kinds of images of Gods, including paintings and metal figurines, you will need permission directly from the Department of Archaeology of Nepal.
Currency
- Without declaration, it is allowed to import currency no more than 2000 dollars USA. Currency can be exchanged at the airport of the Nepalese capital or exchange offices.
- You can export no more than the amount that you imported.
- However, only 10% of the amount you exchange for local currency in Nepal will be re-exchanged for foreign currency at the airport upon departure.
International Driving Permit (IDP) is required for governance in Nepal. But you can only ride with them for 15 days. In the future, you will need to obtain a local license. An international driver's license is also required to drive motorcycles.
Car rental in Nepal is carried out by two types of offices. If you rent a car directly at Kathmandu airport, you can do so from international companies. In this case, both payment and conditions will be standard, with insurance and other nuances of the lease agreement. In the capital itself and other cities of Nepal, car rental is provided by local companies.
For example, Sixt Nepal and Europcar. Both companies offer a wide range of rental vehicles, from mechanical to automatic, from compact to vans, and even from urban to off-road all-wheel drive vehicles.
Such rental offices are not very reliable, and their equipment often wants the best, so you need to inspect it carefully. Local companies prefer to give out the car together with the driver. Given the level of road quality in the country, this is a very relevant event.
The average car rental price in Nepal is from 2,000 to 7,000 NPR per move. However, this price is only valid if you agree to the services of a rental company driver. If you prefer to drive the car yourself, the rental price may increase several times.
Traffic rules in Nepal aren’t particularly observed, and local residents do not drive very carefully. This is not counting the animals that will go out on the road at any time. Speed limits in Nepal are observed more because of the low quality of roads than because of the rules. But before driving on local roads, you should consult about traffic fines in Nepal and other nuances of local driving.
Age requirements
To be able to drive a car in Nepal, you must be at least 18 years old when driving light and medium vehicles. You must be at least 21 years old to drive heavy vehicles, such as tourist buses.
