Visa and Permits

Visa:

All foreigners, except Indians, must have a visa. Citizen of South Asian countries and China need visas but these are free of charge. Nepali embassies and consulates overseas issue visas without problems. It is also possible to get a visa on arrival when you arrive in Nepal, either at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan Airport or at road borders: Nepalganj, Birganj/Raxaul Bazaar, Sunauli, Kakarbhitta, Mahendranagar, Dhangadhi and even at the Kodari checkpoint on the road to Tibet.

A Nepali visa is valid for a single entry for three to six months from the date of issue. Children below 10 require a visa but are not charged a visa fee. The passport must have at least six months of validity.

To obtain a visa on arrival it is necessary to fill in an application form and provide a passport photograph. A single-entry visa valid for 60 days costs US$30.

At Nepali embassies abroad it is possible to get a multiple-entry visa (US$80 or equivalent), which gives you multiple trips into Nepal for a year, with each stay valid for 60 days, up to a total of 150 days in any calendar year.

Visa extensions:

Visa extensions are available from immigration offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara only and cost US$30 (payable in rupees) for a 30-day extension. Every visa extension requires the passport, money, photos and an application form. Visa extensions are available the same day, often within an hour. You can extend your visa up to a total stay of 120 days without undue formality.

Entering Nepal:

The capital Kathmandu is linked by both air and road. Flights link it with Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi, and Mumbai in India, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Karachi (Pakistan), Paro (Bhutan), Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Hongkong, Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Pairs, Osaka, and Lhasa.

The entry and exit points for foreigners entering into and departing from Nepal are listed below. The Immigration offices in such points are opened 24 hours. Entering and departing from other places except the point is treated as the violation of the law.

• Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
• Immigration Office, Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
• Immigration Office, Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
• Immigration Office, Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
• Immigration Office, Belahia, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
• Immigration Office, Jamunaha, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)
• Immigration Office, Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
• Immigration Office, Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)
• Immigration Office, Pokhara (not the entry point)

Permits

To trek in any part of Nepal, a trekking permit is required. The normal visa is only valid for the towns and the places reachable by road. All trekkers require a trekking permit to visit Nepal’s interior regions, which are not connected by highways. So if you want to trek two areas, you will need two permits and each permit requires details for the route and region. Police checkpoints are set up in some areas so do not venture off the set route because it will be really hard to find you in case you get lost. Recently the Annapurna, Langtang, and Everest regions have been declared "permit free"; the National Park or Conservation Area fees are still applicable.

Trekking and Restricted                                                              Areas Fee
Dolpa and Kanchanjunga                                                                Equivalent to US$ 10 per person per weeks and US$ 20 per week thereafter.
Manaslu                                                                                        US$ 75 per person per week.
Mustang and Upper Dolpa                                                               US$ 500 per person for the first 10 days and US$ 50 per person per day thereafter.
Tamang Heritage Trail                                                                     US$ 10

Note: Trekking to Dolpa, Kanchanjunga, Manaslu, and Mustang can be undertaken through registered trekking agencies only.

Name of the protected areas                                                          Entry fees Rs.
Manaslu Conservation Area                                                                3000.00
Annapurna Conservation Area                                                             3000.00
Kanchanjunga Conservation Area                                                        2000.00
Langtang National Park (including Tamang Heritage Trail)                  3000.00
Sagarmatha National Park                                                                  3000.00
Rara National Park                                                                             3000.00
Shey-Phoksundo National Park                                                           3000.00
Makalu Barun National park 10                                                            3000.00
Khaptad National Park                                                                        3000.00
Koshi Tappu Wild Life Reserve                                                            1000.00
Royal Chitwan National Park                                                                500.00
Royal Bardia National Park                                                                  500.00
Parsa Wildlife Reserve                                                                         500.00
Sukla-Phanta Wildlife Reserve                                                              500.00
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve                                                                  500.00
Shivapuri Water Shed Conservation Area                                             500.00