Nepal Visa Guide
Most visitors can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport or at overland border crossings. The process is straightforward, but knowing the details in advance saves time at immigration.
Visa Types & Costs
Nepal offers three standard tourist visa durations: 15 days ($30 USD), 30 days ($50 USD), and 90 days ($125 USD). Multiple-entry visas are available for the same fee if you plan to leave and re-enter Nepal during your trip. Children under 10 receive a free visa. Indian nationals do not need a visa. Payment is accepted in major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP) — exact change speeds up the process.
On-Arrival Process
At Kathmandu airport, fill out the visa application form at the automated kiosks before joining the immigration queue. You will need a passport-sized photo (the kiosks can take one), your passport with at least 6 months validity, and the visa fee in cash. The entire process typically takes 15-45 minutes depending on flight arrivals. During peak season (October-November), expect longer queues.
Visa Extensions
Visa extensions are handled at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan) or the Immigration Office in Pokhara. The cost is $3 per additional day. You can extend up to a maximum of 150 days per calendar year. Bring your passport, a passport photo, and a completed application form. Processing takes about 30 minutes to a few hours.
Overland Entry
Nepal has several land border crossings open to foreign tourists, including Kakarbhitta and Birgunj (from India) and Kodari/Rasuwagadhi (from Tibet/China). Visas on arrival are available at these crossings. The China-Nepal border crossings may require pre-arranged Chinese group visas — check current status before traveling.
Visa Tips
- •Bring passport photos from home to skip the kiosk photo step.
- •Carry exact change in USD for the fastest transaction.
- •Your visa validity starts from the date of entry, not the date of issue.
- •Overstaying your visa incurs a $5/day fine — extend before it expires.
- •Digital nomads can apply for a special long-stay visa at the Department of Immigration.
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