Quick answer: Most travelers get a Nepal travel visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport. It costs US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, or US$125 for 90 days, and all three allow multiple entry. You can also apply online in advance through Nepal’s new eVisa portal and receive the visa by email. Indian citizens need no visa at all.
Getting into Nepal is one of the easiest parts of the whole trip. For most nationalities, the visa is waiting at the airport, and there is now an online eVisa as well. Still, the fees, the queue, and the rules around extensions confuse a lot of first-time visitors. (New to Nepal? Start with our how to plan a trip to Nepal guide.) (Wondering about safety too? Our is Nepal safe guide covers 2026 honestly.) So here is the complete picture, with every figure taken from the official Department of Immigration pages.
Key Takeaways
- Visa on arrival costs US$30 (15 days), US$50 (30 days), or US$125 (90 days), all multiple entry.
- Nepal now offers an eVisa: apply and pay online, then receive the visa by email.
- Indian citizens need no visa. Other SAARC citizens get 30 days free once per year.
- Citizens of 12 countries cannot get a visa on arrival and must apply through an embassy.
- Tourist visas can be extended up to 150 days total per calendar year, at US$3 per day.
- Your passport needs at least 6 months of validity.
How much does the Nepal visa cost in 2026?
US$30, US$50, or US$125, depending on how long you stay. These are the official rates set by Nepal’s Department of Immigration, and every option allows multiple entry.
| Visa | Length | Fee | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist, short | 15 days | US$30 | Multiple |
| Tourist, standard | 30 days | US$50 | Multiple |
| Tourist, long | 90 days | US$125 | Multiple |
Here, the clock starts on the day you enter Nepal. So a 30-day visa gives you 30 days in the country, whatever the issue date. And if you leave and come back within the visa period, the multiple-entry rule covers you.
So which one should you pick? For a standard two-week trek, the 30-day visa is the safe choice, because flight delays and rest days eat time. For a long trip, or two treks in one season, the 90-day visa costs less than paying for extensions later. Not sure when to come? Our best time to visit Nepal guide breaks down the year month by month.
Who can get a Nepal visa on arrival?
Almost everyone, with 12 exceptions. So travelers from the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and most of the world simply land in Kathmandu and get the visa at the airport.
But citizens of these 12 countries cannot get a visa on arrival, per the Department of Immigration: Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (Swaziland), Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria. So if you hold one of these passports, apply in advance through a Nepalese embassy or the official mission portal, and allow extra weeks for processing.
Also, a few groups pay nothing at all. The official gratis list includes:
- Indian citizens, who need no visa for Nepal at all.
- Other SAARC citizens, free for up to 30 days, once per calendar year.
- Children under 10, free for most nationalities.
- Chinese nationals, free for up to 150 days per visa year.
- NRN card holders, free while the card stays valid.
So check the free list before you pay. Gratis travelers still fill in the same application form, they just skip the fee.
Nepal visa rules by nationality
Here is the quick answer for the most common passports. The system is the same for nearly everyone, so the table settles most questions at a glance.
| Your passport | What you need | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| India | No visa at all | Free |
| Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives | Free SAARC visa, 30 days, once per calendar year | Free (first visit) |
| China | Gratis tourist visa | Free, up to 150 days a year |
| United States | Visa on arrival or eVisa, plus a 5-year option | US$30 / $50 / $125 |
| UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan | Visa on arrival or eVisa | US$30 / $50 / $125 |
| Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam | Visa on arrival or eVisa | US$30 / $50 / $125 |
| The 12 restricted countries | Embassy or mission visa, in advance | Varies |
A few nationality notes worth spelling out.
US citizens get the standard on-arrival visa like everyone else. But under a reciprocity arrangement, they can also apply for a 5-year visa at US$160, with stays of up to 180 days per year. One quirk comes with it: children under 10 travel free for most nationalities, yet not on US passports, a side effect of the same arrangement.
Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens are covered by the SAARC rule. So the first visit in a calendar year is free for up to 30 days, straight from the on-arrival counter. For a second visit in the same year, or a longer stay, the normal fees apply.
UK, Australian, Singaporean, Filipino, and Hong Kong travelers follow the standard path: visa on arrival at the airport, or the eVisa from home. No special rules, no extra documents beyond the usual checklist.
What is the new Nepal eVisa, and should you use it?
The eVisa lets you finish the whole visa before you fly, and it is the best option for most travelers. Since recently, Nepal’s Department of Immigration runs an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) portal alongside the classic on-arrival counter.
Here is how the eVisa works:
- Open the official portal at nepaliport-new.immigration.gov.np and start a new application.
- Fill in your personal details, passport information, and travel dates.
- Upload a scanned passport copy (valid at least 6 months) and a passport photo on a white background.
- Pay the US$30, $50, or $125 fee online by card.
- Receive the approved eVisa by email. Print it and carry it with you.
So the gain is simple: no bank-counter queue and no payment stress at the airport. Meanwhile, the on-arrival counter still works fine, and nothing forces you online. But after a long flight, walking past the payment line with a printed eVisa is a very good feeling.
How does the visa on arrival process work at the airport?
Three steps: form, payment, immigration desk. The official process at Tribhuvan International Airport runs like this.
First, the form. Here you can fill in the online tourist visa form up to 15 days before you land, then print the barcode receipt it gives you. Or you can use the kiosk machines in the arrival hall, which do the same job on the spot.
Second, the payment. Pay your visa fee at the bank counter, in the hall, before you join the immigration queue. Several payment methods are accepted, but machines fail and networks drop, so carry some cash. US dollars are the safest.
Third, the desk. Finally, hand the officer your passport, the barcode receipt, and the payment slip. The visa goes in your passport, and you are in Nepal. On a quiet morning, the whole thing takes 20 minutes. On a peak-season evening with several wide-body arrivals, budget an hour or more, or skip the lines with the eVisa.
One rule worth knowing: if you got your visa from a Nepalese embassy before traveling, you must enter Nepal within six months of the issue date.
Can you get the visa at land borders?
Yes, the main land crossings issue visas on arrival too. So travelers coming from India or Tibet can get the same tourist visa at the designated border checkpoints.
The fees are identical. But the difference is practical: land border posts rarely have working card machines. So bring the exact fee in US dollars cash, plus a spare passport photo. A little preparation turns a slow crossing into a quick one. And the eVisa works at land borders as well, which removes the cash worry entirely.
How do you extend a tourist visa in Nepal?
At the immigration offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara, for US$3 per day. After all, treks run long, and Nepal has a clear system for staying on. The rules, per the Department of Immigration:
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Extension fee | US$3 per day |
| Minimum extension | 15 days (so US$45 minimum) |
| Maximum total stay | 150 days per calendar year |
| Late fine (overstay) | US$5 per day, plus the extension fee |
| Where | Immigration offices at Kalikasthan (Kathmandu) and Pokhara |
So apply before your current visa runs out, and bring your passport and a passport photo. In most cases, the offices process extensions the same day.
And do not overstay. The US$5-per-day fine adds up, and a recorded overstay can complicate your exit and your next visit. If your plans change on the trail, extending in Pokhara after an Annapurna trek or in Kathmandu after Everest takes an afternoon.
What documents do you need for the Nepal visa?
A passport with 6 months of validity, a photo, and the fee. That is nearly everything. The full Nepal visa requirements fit in one short checklist.
- Passport, valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival, with a free page.
- One or two passport photos. The kiosks take your picture, but a paper backup costs nothing and saves the day if a machine is down. The eVisa upload needs a white background.
- The fee, in cash or by card. Cash in US dollars is the reliable fallback everywhere.
- The barcode receipt, if you filled in the online form before flying.
- Onward travel proof and a hotel address are occasionally asked about, so having them handy does no harm.
Also, there is no vaccination requirement for the visa itself, and no bank statement is needed for a tourist visa. It really is one of the world’s simpler arrival systems.
What about the trekking permits?
The visa gets you into Nepal. The trails need their own paperwork. They are two separate systems, and mixing them up is the most common planning mistake we see.
First, the visa comes from the Department of Immigration and covers your stay in the country. Then the trekking permits, national park fees, and local municipality fees are separate, and they depend on which region you trek. So a full breakdown of every permit, fee, and the mandatory guide rule lives in our Nepal trekking permits guide.
On a Spade Himalaya trek or tour, we arrange the permits for you, so the visa is the one piece of paperwork you handle yourself. And with the eVisa, even that is now a ten-minute job from home.
FAQs
How much is the Nepal visa on arrival in 2026?
US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, or US$125 for 90 days. All three are multiple-entry, and the official fees are set by the Department of Immigration.
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Nepal?
No. Indian citizens do not need a visa to enter Nepal. Carry a valid passport or an accepted government ID for the border or the airline.
Does Nepal have an eVisa now?
Yes. You can apply on the Department of Immigration’s online portal, pay by card, and receive the approved visa by email before you fly. It uses the same US$30, $50, and $125 fees.
Which countries cannot get a Nepal visa on arrival?
Twelve: Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria. Citizens of these countries apply through a Nepalese embassy or the official mission portal instead.
Can I pay the Nepal visa fee by card?
Often yes at Kathmandu airport, but not reliably, and land borders are cash only in practice. Carry the fee in US dollars cash as a backup, or use the eVisa and pay online in advance.
How long can a tourist stay in Nepal per year?
Up to 150 days per calendar year on a tourist visa, counting the original visa plus extensions. Extensions cost US$3 per day with a 15-day minimum.
What happens if I overstay my Nepal visa?
You pay a fine of US$5 per day on top of the extension fee, and a recorded overstay can complicate your departure and future visits. Extend at Kathmandu or Pokhara immigration before the visa expires.
Do children pay the Nepal visa fee?
Children under 10 get the visa free for most nationalities. They still need their own passport and application.
Is there a transit visa for Nepal?
Yes. A US$5 transit visa covers a stop of up to 24 hours, on proof of onward travel. If you want to leave the airport and see the city, a normal tourist visa is the better choice.
Can US citizens get a Nepal visa on arrival?
Yes, easily. US citizens land at Kathmandu airport and get the visa on arrival at the standard US$30, $50, or $125 fees, or apply for the eVisa from home. No embassy visit is needed for a normal tourist trip.
Can Americans get a long-term Nepal visa?
Yes. Under a reciprocity arrangement, US citizens can apply for a 5-year visa at US$160, allowing stays of up to 180 days per year. Standard on-arrival visas remain available and are cheaper for a single trip.
What is the new visa rule for Nepal?
The big change is the eVisa. Nepal’s Department of Immigration now accepts full online applications, with card payment and the approved visa delivered by email. The fees have not changed: US$30, $50, and $125 for 15, 30, and 90 days.
How do you check your Nepal visa application status?
Use the Track Status tool on the official nepaliport portal, the same site where applications are filed. If you applied for the eVisa, the approved visa itself arrives by email.
How far in advance should you apply for a Nepal visa?
For the eVisa, a week or two before flying leaves comfortable margin, and the portal processes applications quickly. The pre-arrival barcode form is valid for 15 days, so fill it within two weeks of landing. And the on-arrival counter needs no advance work at all.
What size photo do you need for the Nepal visa?
A standard passport-size photo on a white background, per the Department of Immigration. The airport kiosks can take your picture on the spot, and the eVisa portal needs the same style of photo as a digital upload.
Accuracy note: all fees and rules verified on the official Nepal Department of Immigration pages, visa fees and documents, ETA / eVisa, and visa information (retrieved 2026-07-12): US$30/50/125 on-arrival fees, US$3 per day extension with 15-day minimum, 150-day annual cap, US$5 per day overstay fine, US$5 transit visa, the 12-country visa-on-arrival exclusion list, the gratis list, and the US$160 five-year US reciprocity visa; travel-practice notes (cash at land borders, queue times) reflect Spade Himalaya’s operating experience receiving guests; reviewed by Yubaraj Katel, government-licensed trekking guide (Licence No. 19827) with 10 years of experience.
