Passport and Nepal Visa Requirements
We urge obtaining a visa before you come to Nepal. It is possible to get a visa upon arrival in Kathmandu. All nationals must hold a valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your expected date of departure from Nepal.
An entry visa for Nepal is required for all nationalities except Indians. You need to arrange these prior to departure with the relevant embassy/consulate, or you even get a visa on arrival. Make sure about the type of visa you will need (15 days, 30 days, or 90 days) and make the payment accordingly. You need to make the payment in the bank and make sure you get the receipt.
If you plan to obtain a visa on arrival, you must bring one passport-size photo with you for this purpose along with the exact amount in US currency of the current visa fee while paying at the visa counter. Any other currencies and credit cards are not accepted.
You may also save time by filling in the Visa Pre-arrival form online beforehand. But you must do this less than 15 days before your arrival date.
Note: Regarding filling up information of Addresses in Nepal, please fill in the details under the following headings:
Street Name: Banshidhar Marg, Chandol
Municipality/VDC: Municipality
Ward: Ward number 04
District: Kathmandu
Required documents for Visa on arrival
Please keep your valid passport at hand.
Ready a recent digital photograph (size: 1.5” x 1.5”) in your removable device to upload your photograph for the application.
Gather beforehand
- a detailed permanent residence address, and
- detailed address in Nepal.
You need to provide telephone numbers—landline and mobile.
You need to provide your email address as well.
The submitted application will remain in the system for 15 days. After 15 days, the application will delete automatically from the system.
Once the application is successfully submitted, a receipt will be sent to your email immediately.
Print the receipt and keep it with you as you need to produce it before the Immigration Authority.
For your convenience, the deadline to contact the Immigration Authority will be mentioned in the receipt.
The receipt also mentions the documents you need to produce before the Immigration Authority.
Please contact the Immigration Authority within 15 days of the submission of the application.
For example, if you submit your extension application today, and your visa is expiring the next day, on the third day if you visit the Department of Immigration, you will have to pay the late fee for that day. In order to prevent this sort of hassle, please submit your extension application on time and get your visa renewed before crossing the expiry date.
When you contact the Immigration Authority, please make sure you have the receipt and proper documents with you, including the necessary fee.
(On Arrival Visa Fees details: https://www.immigration.gov.np/page/tourist-visa )
(Note: Please print the submitted visa application to present it at an airport in Kathmandu)
a. Tourist Visa
- Multiple entry 15 days US$ 30 or equivalent convertible currency
- Multiple entry 30 days US$ 50 or equivalent convertible currency
- Multiple entry 90 days US$ 125 or equivalent convertible currency
b. Tourist Visa Extension
- Visa Extension (within valid visa period): USD 3 per day
- Visa Extension (With Multiple Entry): Additional USD 25
- Visa Extension (After Visa Expiration): Late fee USD 5 per day
c. Gratis (Free) Visa
Gratis visa for 30 days is available only for tourists of SAARC countries.
Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal.
d. Transit Visa
A Transit visa for one day can be obtained from Nepal’s immigration offices at the entry points upon the production of a departure flight ticket via Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, by paying US $5 or equivalent convertible currency.
Tourist entry visa can be obtained for the following duration from Nepal Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad, or at the following immigration offices in Nepal:
- Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
- Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
- Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
- Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
- Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
- Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid-Western Nepal)
- Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
- Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)
Customs
Customs duty is waived on the following items carried by the tourists:
- One bottle of liquor Up to 1 litre or 12 cans of beer.
- Cigarettes up to 200 sticks, cigar up to 50 sticks, and tobacco up to 250 grams.
- 15 pieces of film for the still camera and 12 pieces of film for the movie camera.
- Medicine up to the value of Rs. 1,000 (except the medicine banned to import into Nepal );
- Foodstuff up to the value of Rs 5,000 (including tin pack food);
- Fresh fruits up to the value of Rs. 2,000
There is a limitation on importing certain electronic goods, including 16 mm video cameras, and requires a special permit. Still, cameras and 8 mm video cameras for your personal use may be imported duty-free, though you may be asked to declare them on arrival.
There are limitations on the export of Nepalese antiques and items of archaeological or historical value. If you purchase any such item, ask the shopkeeper to assist you in obtaining an export licence from the Department of Archaeology. Reputable dealers are usually willing to assist. Carpets, brass metal statues, and Thankas (finely detailed paintings depicting Buddhist themes) are among the items in this category.
It is illegal to import any items more than 100 years old or made from any endangered species of wildlife into most countries.
Tourists traveling by international flight are exempted from the duty on the following personal items imported or exported on the condition that such items shall be returned or carried back.
- One binocular.
- One tablet or laptop computer, one video camera, and one still camera.
- Furthermore, one set of portable music systems.
- Clothes, beds, and used household articles.
- One perambulator, one tricycle.
- One bicycle.
- One watch.
- One cellular mobile phone set.
Hotel Transfer on Arrival
If your arrival transfer includes in your itinerary, then the transfer would arrange according to your provided flight details. If your flight timetable changes within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, then we will reschedule accordingly.
On your arrival day, Nepal Sanctuary Treks representative will wait for you outside the arrival lounge with “Nepal Sanctuary Treks” signage board. While you exit from the arrival lounge, please look at our representative with displayed signage of “Nepal Sanctuary Treks”. If your arrival transfer does not arrive or if you miss the representative after you have exited the arrivals lounge, then please contact the following numbers:
Tulsi Gyawali, Managing Director
+977(0)9851023043
Prashant Rana, General Manager
+977(0)9841291201
Nepal Sanctuary Treks office
+977 14531610, 01-4526721
Stay alert for scam porters at the airport
As you walk through the arrival hall, a friendly person approaches you and may offer to carry your weighty bags or push your trolley for you. Although they appear helpful, they will demand cash payment for helping you. They will not return your possession until you hand over the overpayment. Therefore, you should be cautious of such scam artists and never let your baggage touch and keep a close watch on all your belongings. Your collected luggage should keep in front of you at all times.
International and Domestic Departure
Make sure to arrive at the airport one hour prior to the scheduled departure for domestic travel and three hours for international travel. This allows plenty of time to check in, obtain a boarding pass, and clear security before scheduled departure.
