Nepal Visa and Permits: A Guide for Travelers
When planning your next big adventure to Nepal, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the current visa and permit requirements. Here is everything you need to know to ensure a smooth, hassle-free entry into this beautiful country.
General Visa Information
- Passport Validity: Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of arrival and contain at least one blank visa page.
- For Indian Nationals: Nepal maintains an open border with India, meaning no visa is required for Indian citizens. If you are arriving by air, you must present either a valid Indian Passport or an original Voter ID Card with a photograph (issued by the Election Commission of India). Note: Aadhaar cards and driving licenses are not accepted by airport immigration.
Gratis Visa (Visa Free of Cost)
The following categories of travelers are eligible for a Gratis Visa, which is issued free of charge at entry points:
- Children: Anyone below 10 years of age (except US citizens).
- SAARC Citizens: Citizens of SAARC nations (except Afghanistan) visiting Nepal for the first time in a given calendar visa year are granted a free visa for up to 30 days.
- Chinese Nationals: Regular tourists from China are exempt from paying tourist visa fees.
- NRN Cardholders: Non-Residential Nepalese (NRN) cardholders (issued by MoFA or Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad).
- Official & Diplomatic Passports: Officials from China, Brazil, Russia, and Thailand based on reciprocal visa waiver agreements.
Please Note: All visas issued at border entry points and airports are strictly tourist visas. If you wish to extend your stay, tourist visa extensions can be easily processed online and finalized at the Department of Immigration offices in either Kathmandu or Pokhara.
In Conclusion
Before you embark on your journey, ensure that you have the appropriate travel documentation in place. Whether you are grabbing a visa on arrival, securing an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) beforehand, or traveling visa-free, these guidelines will help you navigate immigration with ease.
