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Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked Himalayan country wedged between the north Indian plains and the Tibetan plateau, and its defining characteristic is vertical: it holds eight of the ten highest mountains on earth, including Everest, and falls from those summits to subtropical lowlands barely above sea level within a couple of hundred kilometres. That range is why one country can offer glacier trekking and rhino tracking in the same fortnight. Most nationalities obtain a visa on arrival, with trekking permits arranged separately after arrival.

Arrange your visa on arrival
  • Visavisa on arrival
  • CapitalKathmandu
  • CurrencyNPR ₨
  • TimezoneNepal Time (UTC+5:45)
  • Population30 Million
  • RegionAsia · Southern Asia
  • Phone code+977
  • Native nameनपल

Nepal Visa & Entry System

Nepal offers visa on arrival for citizens of most countries at Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu) and land borders with India and Tibet/China. Very few nationalities require advance visas. The process is straightforward: fill out the form (online pre-registration through the official Nepal immigration portal recommended to speed entry), pay the fee in USD cash or credit card, and receive a 15, 30 or 90-day multiple-entry visa. Costs: 15 days USD 30, 30 days USD 50, 90 days USD 125. Passport must be valid 6 months beyond intended stay with one blank page. Indian citizens enter free under the reciprocal open-border agreement — no visa required, unlimited stay. Chinese citizens need an advance visa. Visas can be extended in Kathmandu or Pokhara up to 150 days total per visa year (mid-January to mid-January) at USD 3/day for the first 30 days, then approximately USD 40-50 per month — making Nepal popular with long-term travellers. Trekking permits (TIMS card, conservation area permits, national park permits) are separate from the visa and arranged through trekking agencies or tourism offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Visa types

15 days (USD 30), 30 days (USD 50) or 90 days (USD 125); multiple entries included

For tourism, trekking, visiting and business. Available to most nationalities at Kathmandu airport and land borders. Online pre-registration through the official Nepal immigration portal recommended. Payment in USD cash or credit card. Passport photo required. Simple process, typically 15-30 minutes at the airport.

Guides

Nepal fits an improbable amount into a small country, and the reason is the gradient — eight of the ten highest mountains on earth stand along its northern border, and its southern edge is subtropical jungle. Most visitors come to walk, and the trekking here is the best-organised high-mountain walking anywhere, built on village lodges rather than expeditions. But the country is not only that: the Kathmandu Valley holds a concentration of medieval craft architecture that would justify the journey on its own, the southern lowlands hold one of Asia's genuine conservation successes, and the Buddha's birthplace sits in the plains near the Indian border. It is also among the most affordable destinations in the world, which is a large part of why people who arrive for a fortnight so often stay for a season.

Nepal travel guide →

The full guide — the teahouse system, Newari heritage, the Terai, Lumbini and the body-sets-the-schedule plan.

Money in Nepal →

Rupees, trek cash carried in full and Kathmandu-only ATMs — the practical money guide.

Eating in Nepal →

Dal bhat as an operating system, momos' real origins, the Newari table most visitors never eat and Nepal's unknown tea.

Getting around Nepal →

Gradient over distance, the day-versus-night bus question, mountain airstrips and trails as the actual network.

Health & safety in Nepal →

The honest risk profile, the altitude rules that matter, the insurance that actually counts and the water-bottle problem.

Cities & planning

KathmanduBagmati

Regions

Embassies & missions

Frequently asked questions

Land at Kathmandu (or cross a land border), fill in the form, pay in USD cash or by card, and walk out with a multiple-entry visa: 15 days for USD 30, 30 days for USD 50, or 90 days for USD 125. Pre-registering online through the official Nepal immigration portal speeds the queue noticeably. Bring a passport valid six months with a blank page and a passport photo. Very few nationalities need an advance visa — Chinese citizens do; Indian citizens need none at all under the open-border agreement.

Yes — always. Most routes need a TIMS card (USD 20) plus the relevant conservation-area or national-park permit (USD 30 each for Annapurna and Sagarmatha/Everest). Restricted areas like Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo are a different tier entirely, at USD 500. Everything is arranged in Kathmandu or Pokhara, directly or through a trekking agency — allow a day in the city for the paperwork before heading out.

Officially, since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas must hire a licensed guide through a registered agency — but the Everest region opted out under its local municipality, so solo trekking in the Khumbu remains permitted, and enforcement elsewhere has varied year to year. The practical advice: confirm the current position for your specific route with a registered agency when planning — and remember a good guide is also employment for the mountain communities the trails run through.

Planning a trip to Nepal? Check what you need to enter and apply online in minutes.

Arrange your visa on arrival

Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.