If you are planning to visit Nepal, the good news is that the country offers one of the easiest visa systems in Asia. Most foreign nationals can get a Visa on Arrival directly at the airport or border entry points.
Whether you are coming for trekking in the Himalayas, tourism, business, or short-term visits, this guide explains everything you need to know about the Nepal visa process for foreigners in 2026.
In this guide
- Overview & who needs a visa
- The two main categories
- SAARC nationals
- Non-SAARC nationals
- Restricted nationalities
- What documents do you need
- How to apply
- Extending your visa
- Who Needs a Visa?
Nepal is one of the most welcoming countries in Asia when it comes to tourist visas. Nepal offers on-site visas for the vast majority of international travelers.
Indian citizens require no visa at all. Nepal shares its borders with India in all three directions, with provisions of free entry and exit. This is under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, using their Indian passport or even a photo voter ID card. No form, no fee, no stamp required.
Chinese citizens have had a special arrangement since 2015, where Chinese nationals are eligible for a free visa upon arrival. However, ordinary Chinese tourists should confirm the current policy with the Nepal Embassy before travel.
The Two Main Visa Categories
Nepal’s tourist visa system is built around two tracks. Which one applies to you depends entirely on whether your country is a member of SAARC (the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).
SAARC Nations
Citizens from most SAARC member countries get a gratis (free) tourist visa for the first 30 days, once per calendar year, after which nationals have to apply for a paid extension.
The following SAARC countries are eligible for the free 30-day tourist visa on arrival:
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
🇧🇹 Bhutan
🇲🇻 Maldives
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
🇮🇳 India (visa-free)
🇵🇰 Pakistan: Pakistani citizens traveling to Nepal do not get direct visa-free entry but are eligible for Visa Before Arrival (VPA), which is free of cost.
| Duration | First Visit (per year) | After Free Period |
|---|---|---|
| First 30 Days | Free (USD $0) | — |
| Extensions beyond 30 Days | — | USD $3 per day |
| 2nd visit in same calendar year | — | USD $3 per day (from day 1) |
The free SAARC visa is granted once per visa year (January to December). If you enter Nepal a second time within the same calendar year, standard daily extension fees kick in from day one of your second visit.
The SAARC free visa is a fee waiver, not a skip of the process. You must still fill in the visa application form (online or paper), show your passport at the immigration counter, and receive your visa stamp.
Non-SAARC Nations
Citizens from non-SAARC nations have to pay a standard tourist visa fee based on the duration of their stay, 15, 30, or 90 days. The cost varies between USD 30 and 125.
The good news is that it’s still very easy to get, and you can get it on arrival.
Standard Tourist Visa Fees (Non-SAARC)
| Duration | Entry Type | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 days | Multiple entry | USD $30 |
| 30 days | Multiple entry | USD $50 |
| 90 days | Multiple entry | USD $125 |
All tourist visas issued from 2019 onwards are multiple-entry visas, meaning you can exit and re-enter Nepal as many times as you like within the validity period. Single-entry visas are only issued for extensions.
The maximum total stay in Nepal for any foreign tourist is 150 days per calendar year (January – December), combining your original visa and any extensions.
There is a special provision for children where foreign children under 10 years of age receive a gratis (free) visa regardless of their nationality. However, they still require a passport for entry.
Restricted Nationalities
A small number of countries cannot obtain a visa on arrival. Citizens of these countries must apply for a visa in advance through a Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in their home country or a nearby country.
Countries that must apply in advance:
Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Swaziland (Eswatini), Zimbabwe, and Pakistan (for SAARC rule — see above).
Always verify with the official Nepal Department of Immigration website before travel.
If you hold a passport from one of these countries, you will need to contact the nearest Nepalese diplomatic mission and submit your visa application, supporting documents, and fees before your travel. Processing typically takes 2–3 working days after complete documentation submission.
What Documents Do You Need?
Whether you’re a SAARC or non-SAARC national, the basic documentation requirements are the same. Make sure you have all of these before you travel:
- ✓ Valid passport: must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay. Nepal does not accept travel documents that expire soon.
- ✓ Completed visa application form: available online at the Nepal immigration website (recommended), or as a paper form at the airport kiosks.
- ✓ Passport-sized photo: one recent photo. Some entry points have photo booths; it’s safer to carry 1–2 photos with you.
- ✓ Visa fee in cash: pay in USD (preferred) or other major convertible currencies. Bring exact change when possible. Card payments are sometimes available at TIA (Kathmandu airport) but are not guaranteed.
- ✓ Return or onward ticket: not always strictly checked, but good to have to show you plan to leave.
- ✓ Proof of accommodation: a hotel booking or a host’s contact is sometimes asked for.
- ✓ Customs declaration: if you’re carrying more than USD $5,000 or equivalent in foreign currency, you must declare it on the customs form upon arrival.
How to Apply for a Tourist Visa in Nepal??
There are two ways to get your Nepal tourist visa: apply online before you fly, or do everything on arrival at the airport or border.
Online pre-application (recommended)
Visit the official Nepal immigration portal at online.nepalimmigration.gov.np and fill out the form up to 15 days before your arrival. You’ll receive a barcode/QR code to present at the immigration counter. You still pay in cash on arrival, but the queue is much faster.
Fill out the visa application form
- Do this online before departure (up to 15 days prior) or at the kiosks available at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. You’ll enter your personal details, planned length of stay, and purpose of visit. Print or save the barcode you receive.
- Choose your visa duration
- Pay the visa fee
- Proceed to the payment counter and pay in USD cash (or accepted equivalent). Card machines exist at TIA but are not always reliable. Keep your payment receipt.Hand over your passport, application form (or printed barcode), passport photo, and payment receipt. The immigration officer will verify your documents, ask a few basic questions, and stamp your passport.
- Proceed through customs
Extending Your Visa in Nepal
Decided to stay longer? No problem. Tourist visas can be extended inside Nepal, up to a maximum of 150 days total per calendar year. Extensions must be applied for before your current visa expires.
Where to extend?
Department of Immigration, Kathmandu (main office at Kalikasthan) or the Pokhara Immigration Office. No other offices handle tourist visa extensions.
Regular processing takes 1–2 business days. Same-day express service is available at the Kathmandu office for an additional USD $25 fee.
Extension fees
| Item | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Minimum 15-day extension | USD $45 |
| Additional days beyond 15 days | USD $3 per day |
| Multiple Re-entry Facility (MRE) | USD $20 extra |
| Late fine (overstay) | USD $3 per day |
Extension Fees
- You must appear in person – The applicant must be physically present at the immigration office for biometric verification. Agents can help you prepare paperwork, but cannot submit on your behalf.
- Before going to the immigration office – You must complete the extension application online via the official Nepal immigration website. Print the application slip and bring it along with your passport and fee.
Overstaying your visa beyond 150 days per year results in fines and potential legal complications. Overstay fines begin at approximately NPR 1,000 per day. Prolonged overstay may affect future visa eligibility for Nepal. Always renew or extend before your visa expires.
Nepal’s visa process is genuinely one of the easier ones in South Asia. With the right documents and a bit of USD cash in your pocket, you’ll be through immigration and on your way to the mountains in no time. For the most up-to-date rules, always check the official Nepal Department of Immigration at www.immigration.gov.np before your trip.
Information is based on official Nepal Department of Immigration sources and updated for 2025–2026.
For the most current rules, always verify at www.immigration.gov.np