Nepal Visa Guide for Foreigners: Visa-on-Arrival Fees, Eligible Nationalities and Entry Points

Nepal operates a liberal entry regime built around the tourist visa on arrival (VOA), administered by the Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs and governed by the Immigration Act and the Immigration Regulations, 2051 (1994). The vast majority of foreign visitors do not need to arrange a visa before travelling: they can buy a tourist visa at the airport or at designated land borders on the day they arrive.

Tourist visas are issued for leisure, sightseeing, trekking and similar non-employment purposes. They do not permit paid work, study or volunteering, which require separate visa categories. A passport with at least six months of remaining validity and a recent passport-size photograph are the standard requirements; applicants can also pre-fill the arrival form online and pay the fee at the entry point to speed up processing.

Citizens of India are a special case: they do not require a visa to enter Nepal at all, reflecting the open-border arrangement between the two countries, and may travel using an Indian passport or other accepted identity document.

The Nepal Tourism Board and Department of Immigration publish a fixed fee schedule for tourist visas. All three standard categories are issued as multiple-entry visas, so travellers can leave and re-enter Nepal (for example on a side trip to India or Tibet) within the validity period without buying a new visa.

Fees are payable in cash. US dollars are universally accepted; the airport may take other major convertible currencies, while land borders generally accept US dollars only. Carrying the exact amount is strongly advised, as change can be limited.

Several groups are exempt from the tourist visa fee, receiving a gratis (free) visa. These exemptions are intended to support regional travel, families and the Nepali diaspora.

Note that the children-under-10 waiver explicitly excludes US citizens, and Afghan nationals can only be granted a visa on the recommendation of the Department of Immigration rather than automatically on arrival.

A limited number of nationalities are not granted a visa on arrival and must instead obtain a visa in advance from a Nepali embassy or consulate. Applicants from these countries typically need a completed application form, a passport valid for at least six months, a recent photograph and any additional supporting documents the mission requires. Holders of refugee travel documents are likewise not eligible for visa on arrival.

According to the Department of Immigration and Nepal Tourism Board, the affected nationalities include the following (lists published by official sources have varied slightly over time, so travellers should confirm with the nearest Nepali mission before booking).

Nepal can be entered by air at its international airports and overland at official border crossings, most of which adjoin India, with one principal road crossing from China (Tibet). Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is the busiest gateway and the most reliable place to obtain a visa on arrival.

Visa on arrival is available at the main international airport and at the major designated land crossings; smaller or more remote crossings may require an advance visa, so it is wise to verify before travelling to a particular border.

Tourists who wish to stay longer than their original visa can extend it at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (located at Kalikasthan, Dillibazar) or at the regional immigration office in Pokhara. Extensions are commonly applied for online and then finalised in person.

An extension is granted for a minimum of 15 days at a cost of US$45, with US$3 charged for each additional day beyond the first 15. The total stay, combining the original visa and all extensions, may not exceed 150 days within a single calendar year.

Overstaying is treated as an immigration violation. If a traveller extends after the visa has already expired, a late fine of about US$5 per day applies on top of the standard extension fee. Persistent or lengthy overstays can result in larger discretionary fines, denial of departure until the penalty is paid, deportation and possible entry bans, so visitors should track their stay carefully and extend before expiry.