Nepal Visa on Arrival | Things You Need to Know

Nepal, known for its rich culture, biodiversity, and vivid landscapes, attracts tourists from all over the year. Additionally, Nepal is equally popular for its majestic mountains, hospitality and friendly-natured people. However, for tourists, obtaining a Nepal Visa on Arrival (VOA) is a must.

For those planning to visit Nepal or escape from their hustling and bustling busy life, visiting Nepal could be the best option. Whether it is sightseeing or adventure, Nepal has everything for everyone.

Going on a trek like EBC Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek, Langtang Valley Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, etc., is the best way to enjoy nature, culture, and Nepalese lifestyle.

Other things that tourists can do in Nepal are white-water rafting, boating, bungee, paragliding, canoeing, etc. Or, they can just visit around Kathmandu, Pokhara, and other parts of Nepal.

But before all of these, tourists entering Nepal’s territory need to be issued a Nepal Visa from the Department of Immigration (DoI).

How to Get a Nepal Visa on Arrival?

Basically, there are two methods of getting a “Nepal Visa on Arrival”. One way is at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), and the other is at the Entry and Exit points of the Nepal border.

Whichever process you take to issue a Nepal visa, or for whatever reason, ‘On Arrival Visas’ are ‘Tourist Visa’.

The immigration office, TIA (the only international airport in Nepal), working under DoI, issues VOA to tourists arriving by flight.

Tourists can also issue Nepal VOA from the Entry and Exit points at the borders of Nepal. However, tourists might need to wait in queue at the border. So, if you want to skip this queue, you can contact Nepalese Diplomatic Missions established abroad. You can get an ‘On Arrival Visa’ through them before visiting Nepal.

Eligibility to Obtain a Tourist Visa

There are certain criteria for obtaining a tourist visa. All the tourists visiting Nepal need a tourist visa before or after entering Nepal’s territory.

Tourists visiting Nepal for other than tourism (tour, travel, trekking, mountaineering, meeting friends and families, etc.) will also need to obtain tourist visas. However, they will need to change the visa category according to their purpose and duration of stay.

Furthermore, people from certain countries are not eligible to acquire a visa on arrival unless they present an official letter provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal. So, they will need to get a tourist visa prior to visiting Nepal from their nearest diplomatic missions (Embassies/consulates) with the Nepal government.

Countries who need to acquire tourist visas to Nepal prior to entering Nepal are Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Swaziland, Syria, Zimbabwe, and refugees with travel documents.

Visa on Arrival Processes

Following a few simple steps, tourists can request a visa on arrival in Nepal.

1st Step: Fill up Arrival Card/Visa Application

Fill in the ‘Arrival Card’ at TIA or Entry and Exit points of Nepal. You can also fill out an online tourist visa form from DoI’s official website. Then, print it or get the submission receipt and present it at the DoI office.

2nd Step: Visa Fee Payment

According to the duration of your stay, pay the required amount at the bank recommended by the Immigration offices.

Payment can be made using different modes of payment. However, we advise that you carry some Nepali currency cash to be safe. Credit card payment is not always reliable, and you must pay a 3.5% additional transaction fee.

3rd Step: Application Submission and Approval

Submit your arrival card or online form, payment receipt, and valid passport to the Immigration Desk. If all the documents are fine, the immigration officer will approve your tourist visa request.

Documents Required for Arrival Visa on Nepal

To acquire Nepal on Arrival Visa, tourists must submit the following documents at the Nepal entry point.

• Passport with at least 6 months of validity
• At least one blank visa page (not endorsements page) available in the passport to issue a tourist visa or visa according to your purpose
• A few copies of recently taken passport-sized photos (optional)
• Visa appropriate for the purpose of travel.

Online Pre-Arrival Form (Optional)

If you want to skip the long queue at the Immigration office or Entry and Exit points of Nepal, it is better to fill out the ‘Online Pre-Arrival Form’.

Tourists can get the form from the official website of the Immigration Office of the Department of Immigration. Then, you can fill out the form using the Kiosk machines at the TIA.

Or, if you fill out the form from the website, you will get a submission form with a barcode. Finally, print it out and bring it along with you to issue an arrival Visa in Nepal.

NOTE: Forms filled online are only valid for 15 days. If it exceeds 15 days, you will need to fill out another form.

On Arrival Visa Fee

The cost of an On Arrival Visa is very cheap in Nepal. Based on your stay in Nepal, there are different visa fees.

Arrival Visa fees for Nepal are listed below.

• 15 Days: $30
• 30 Days: $50
• 90 Days: $125

Tourist Visa Extension Fees

Past 90 days, a Nepal tourist visa can be extended for at least 15 days for $45. However, after that, tourists will need to pay $3 per day.

Tourists on a ‘Tourist Visa’ are allowed to stay in Nepal for only 150 days. If they extend more than 150 days, they will be penalized $5 for every single day.

Tourist visas can be extended in Pokhara and Kathmandu at the Department of Immigration.

Arrival Points

Other than TIA, if you take an international flight to Nepal, there are several Entry and Exit points by land in Nepal.

The arrival points/land border points of entry of Nepal are:

• Belahiya/Sunauli, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi District
• Biratnagar, Morang District
• Banbasa/ Gadda Chauki, Mahendranagar Kanchanpur District
• Hilsa, Humla District
• Jamunaha, Nepalgunj, Banke District
• Kakarvitta, Jhapa District
• Kodari, Sindhupalchowk
• Korala, Mustang District
• Mohana, Dhangadi, Kailali District
• Pashupati Nagar, Jhapa District
• Raxaul/Birgunj, Parsa District
• Tatopani, Rasuwa District

Payment Method

The fees for obtaining a Nepal tourist visa or extending the visa can be paid through different payment methods. You can pay it in cash or through a credit card.

One of the easiest and best ways is to pay by Nepali cash. You can exchange money into Nepali cash from the money changer or withdraw from ATMs at the checkpoint.

You will need to pay the visa fee amount in the bank, as appointed by the Immigration Offices. They also accept US dollars.

Paying using a credit card is not wise, as there is an additional charge, i.e. 3.5% of your transaction amount.

Biometric Process

According to a recent update from August 2024, biometric information is not required to issue a visa to Nepal. Tourists are only required to present valid passport information and personal details.

Important Notes for Obtaining Nepal Visa on Arrival

• Check and keep a passport with at least 6 months of validity.
• Keep a few copies of recently taken passport-sized photos. Or, you can also keep a digital photograph so that you can print and use it anytime.
• Book your accommodation beforehand, or keep the address details in Nepal where you will be staying.
• Suppose you fill out a visa application through the website once you submit it. In that case, a receipt will be emailed immediately to the email address that you entered while filling out the application form. Then, print the receipt and bring it with you when you visit Nepal. The application, filled out online, is only valid for 15 days. After 15 days, the application will be deleted automatically from the DoI’s system.
• Visa extension should be done in time. Once the visa expires, you will need to pay a late fee if you apply for a visa extension once it expires.
• For updated information or any information, contact the Immigration Authority.

Gratis Visa (Visa for Free)

Free Visa for Nepal, also called Gratis Visa, is offered by the Nepal Immigration office under several terms and conditions. Some cases for obtaining a Gratis Visa are mentioned below.

Children under 10 years of age from any country are eligible for a Gratis Visa.

SAARC citizens (except Afghanistan) can get free visa to Nepal for up to 30 days, once in a visa year. Afghan citizens can request the sponsoring institution of Nepal to provide the necessary documents to receive a free visa on arrival.

Nepal free visa for Non-Residential Nepalese (NRN) citizens can be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) for a specified number of days.

People from China can get a Visa for Free to Nepal for 150 days.

Officials from different countries are exempted from visa fees for 30 to 90 days.

Mistakes to Avoid during the Nepal visa on arrival process

Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid during the Nepal visa on arrival process.

• Sometimes, people forget to carry or misplace passports and passport-sized photographs.
• Do not skip some mandatory fields or enter incorrect information while filling out the online form.
• The validity of the online form is 15 days, so you need to visit the immigration office before that.
• Calculate your intended days of stay in Nepal and issue a Nepal visa on arrival accordingly (15, 30, or 90 days).
• Visitors require a Nepal tourist visa even if they have Nepal transit.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Some of the common challenges that tourists face during acquiring a visa on arrival in Nepal are long queues at the immigration office, lack of information about required documents and visa costs, etc.

Additionally, due to language barriers and technical issues on the Nepal website, tourists face inconveniences.

How do we solve these challenges?

Some of the challenges and their best possible solution.

• To skip long queues, you can request a tourist visa through Nepalese Diplomatic Missions in your home country. Also, you can fill out an online form so that you do not have to wait in a queue to fill it out at the Immigration Office Desk.
• For all sorts of information, you can go through this article, or you can visit the official Department of Immigration’s website.
• Officials at the Immigration office usually understand English, or you can also ask for assistance.
• Print physical copies of documents in case there is an issue with the website.
• Visit the official Immigration Office for updated rules and information.

How much cash can a foreign tourist bring when entering Nepal?

Foreign tourists are allowed to bring up to $5000 in cash. Likewise, no more than 100 rupees of Indian currency cash is allowed to bring when entering Nepal.

Similarly, bringing pure, raw, or unworked gold or silver is strictly prohibited in Nepal for tourists in Tourist Visas. Furthermore, female tourists are allowed to bring 50 grams of gold and 25 grams for men. And, travellers can bring up to 100 grams of silver. The same is the case when leaving Nepal.

Additionally, while leaving Nepal, if you want to take Nepali currency with you, you are allowed to take not more than NPR 5000.

Requirements For Departing from Nepal

There are certain things that you need to consider while departing from Nepal. Some of them are listed below.

• You must have a valid visa (has not expired) and a valid passport.
• Only the Immigration Office in Kathmandu are allowed to extend your visa. So, remember to extend your visa before it expires, or you might miss your flight or not be allowed to leave Nepal.
• In case you renew or replace your passport from the Embassy in Kathmandu, you will need to visit the Department of Immigration to transfer your Nepal visa into a new passport. Transferring a visa on your own is a serious crime, which could lead to 9 years of imprisonment.
• Follow the Department of Immigration’s official website for further information.