All the information on how to get a visa for Nepal

Nepal is an Asian country situated between India and China with an area of approximately 150,000 square kilometres and a population of 30.5 million. Nepal’s capital is Kathmandu. In our Nepal travel guide, you can find all the vital information about Nepal (geography, gastronomy, best time to travel there, safety, etc.).

The country is known as "the front of the sky", due to the fact that it is home to 8 of the highest mountains in the world, such as the world-famous Everest and Annapurna. It also has the highest border in the world with its neighbour China. There are plenty of things to do in Nepal. One of the things you must do on a trip to Nepal is trekking in Nepal.

In this article, you will find all the information on how to get a visa for Nepal and all the types of visas for Nepal.

Do I need a visa to travel to Nepal?

Yes, except for those travelling with an Indian passport, all other foreign nationals must apply for a Nepal visa before traveling. The On-Arrival visa is a tourist visa and it can be obtained online or upon arrival at Kathmandu International Airport. This procedure requires filling in a form, waiting for the resolution, and presenting the visa to the authorities along with your passport. If you want to learn how to get a visa for Nepal, continue reading the following lines.

Types of visas for Nepal

There are different types of visas, depending on your reason for travelling to Nepal.

Tourist visa

This visa will allow you to enter Nepal if you travel for sightseeing, tours, mountaineering, trekking or to visit friends and family. You can apply for 15, 30 or 90 days, with the possibility of extending it and with multiple entries.

Transit visa

This visa will be granted to people passing through Nepal and will allow you to enter the country for a maximum stay of 24 hours. You must present proof of transit with an air ticket.

Business visa

This visa is designed for investors, business people investing or carrying out business in Nepal.

Student visa

The student visa is issued to international students who wish to obtain an academic degree or who are travelling to Nepal for a research project.

Non-Tourist visa

This visa is specifically for people who will be working in Nepal on an occasional basis and for a short period, such as journalism professionals.

Residence visa

This visa must be applied for by people who wish to live in Nepal.

Diplomatic visa

The diplomatic visa will be granted only to a person holding a diplomatic passport issued by any country. It must be accompanied by a recommendation of a foreign diplomatic delegation. It may also be extended to the direct family members of that person.

Official visa

This visa will be granted to the person who is on an official visit to Nepal. Family members, including spouse and children, are also entitled to this visa. The official visa is issued for the duration of the person's stay in the country, and can be extended once or several times.

How to get Nepal visa?

Tourism and transit visas are applied for online through the government of Nepal's official website, or through the official website of a third party such as Visagov.com. We can process the visa while you relax and plan what you are going to see in Nepal.

You can also process your visa on arrival at the airport. However, it is less advisable because of the likelihood of long queues or other setbacks that might arise.

All tourist visas for Nepal are called 'On Arrival', as you must present the visa on arrival, where the authorities will verify that all the details are correct. If you are travelling to Nepal for any reason other than tourism or to make stopover or transit at its airports, you must arrange the necessary visa through the Nepalese embassy nearest to your place of residence.

Who needs a visa for Nepal?

All foreigners wishing to travel to Nepal, except Indian nationals, must apply for one of the various types of visa offered by the government of Nepal. There are a few more exemptions, such as officials from China, Brazil, Russia and Thailand who will not need a visa because of an agreement between the countries.

You can check with our eligibility verifier if your nationality is one of the eligible nationalities to apply online. If your nationality is not listed, you must contact the embassy for information on how to proceed with your visa application.

What are the requirements to apply for a visa to Nepal?

If you are applying for a tourist visa, there are some Nepal entry requirements. You will need a passport with an expiry date of more than 6 months from the date of entry into the country. In addition, you will need a recent, passport-size photograph (taken within the year).

You will need to fill in the form online, and present it with your passport and photo to the Nepalese authorities upon arrival. The form can also be filled out from one of the terminals that you will find at Kathmandu International Airport.

Can the Nepal visa be changed once it has been processed?

The tourist visa, or On Arrival visa, cannot be changed, but it is possible to re-apply for a new one that will cancel the previous application or visa.

How much does a visa to Nepal cost?

The cost of processing a visa for Nepal will differ depending on where it is processed. The government tourist visa fees are paid upon arrival in the country. This fee varies depending on the number of days you have applied for:

• Tourist (On Arrival) Visa valid for 15 days: 30 USD.
• Tourist visa (On Arrival) valid for 30 days: 50 USD.
• Tourist visa (On Arrival) valid for 90 days: 125 USD.

The visa is free of charge if any of the following conditions are met:

• Children under 10 years of age.
• Be a citizen of SAARC, except for Afghan citizens.
• To be a holder of a Nepalese non-resident card (NRN).
• To be a Chinese citizen.

For visas other than tourist visas, you must consult the Nepalese embassy or consulates with regards to the appropriate fee.

Do you need a transit visa in Nepal? 

Yes, a transit visa is required, which can be obtained at the airport for $5. You must show a ticket proving you are going to leave the country within 24 hours.

How far in advance do I need to apply for a Nepal visa?

If you intend to apply for a visa to travel to Nepal in person at a consulate or embassy, you must do so at least 1 month in advance.

To apply for a tourist visa online, you must do so at least 48 hours before your departure. Also note that you should apply a maximum of 14 days before your arrival to Nepal as the form expires 15 days after being issued. If you are going to process your visa on arrival at the airport in Nepal, you will need to be patient because you will have to wait in the queue, and at the immigration post where the visa is presented and government fees are paid.

What are the entry borders to Nepal?

Nepal is a small country of approximately 147,000 sq. km located in the middle of two Asian giants, China and India. Its capital, Kathmandu, is located in the centre of the country, with the main entrance being Kathmandu International Airport. This airport is frequented by foreign tourists travelling to Nepal, and is the only airport where you can process On Arrival visas.

If you intend to enter Nepal through a land border such as Sonauli or Kakarbhitta, then the entry process will be the same. You must go with the On-Arrival Visa form and present it along with your documentation at the border. Please note that the visa fees can only be paid in dollars dated from 2006 onwards. These dollars cannot be damaged or wrinkled, or they may not be accepted.

There are also border crossing points along the border with India and China where several immigration offices are located and where the procedures are the ones mentioned before. The country can be reached from Siddharthanagar, Birganj, Dhangadhi, Kakarbhitta, Kodari, Mahendranagar and Nepalgunj.