Visa & entry in Nepal

Nepal Visa on Arrival 2026: Fees, eVisa & How to Apply

Nepal Kathmandu Pokhara Annapurna Region Basantapur Everest Region Kathmandu Airport Thamel9 min read

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15-day visa: US$30
30-day visa: US$50
90-day visa: US$125
Entries: Multiple
How to apply: On arrival or eVisa online
Passport validity: 6+ months
Max stay per year: 150 days
Extension: US$45 (15 days), then US$3/day
Overstay fine: US$5 per day
Indian citizens: No visa needed

Most visitors can get a Nepal visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport or at a land border, or apply online in advance for the new Nepal eVisa. In 2026 a multiple-entry tourist visa costs US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days, the same price on arrival or online. Indian citizens need no visa, SAARC citizens get 30 days free, and citizens of 13 countries must apply at a Nepali embassy before travelling. This guide covers fees, eligibility, documents, the airport process step by step, the eVisa, land borders, extensions and fines, checked against the Department of Immigration in November 2026.

Nepal Visa Fees 2026

Tourist visa	Length of stay	Fee	Entries
15-day visa	Up to 15 days	US$30	Multiple
30-day visa	Up to 30 days	US$50	Multiple
90-day visa	Up to 90 days	US$125	Multiple

The fee is the same on arrival and online. Paying online by card adds a 3.5% card fee (minimum about US$1). Your visa starts on the day you enter Nepal. Source: Department of Immigration, Nepal.

New in 2026: Nepal eVisa Is Live

Since 17 August 2026, Nepal's Department of Immigration runs a full online eVisa (also called ETA, Electronic Travel Authorisation). You apply and pay before you fly, receive the approved visa by email, and show the printout when you board and on arrival. Visa on arrival still works as before.

Apply only on the official portal nepaliport-new.immigration.gov.np. The Department has warned about fake visa websites charging extra.
Approval time isn't guaranteed, so apply at least 1–2 weeks before you travel.

Who Needs a Visa? Rules by Nationality

Nationality	Rule
Indian citizens	No visa needed. Carry a passport or voter ID card when flying in
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (SAARC)	Free 30-day tourist visa, once per calendar year; normal fees after that
Chinese citizens	Free (gratis) tourist visa
Children under 10	Free visa, except US citizens, who pay the normal fee
USA, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea and most other countries	Standard fees; visa on arrival or eVisa
Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran	Not eligible for visa on arrival; apply at a Nepali embassy or consulate before travel
Refugees with travel documents	Not eligible for visa on arrival

Iran was added to the not-eligible list in March 2026, bringing it to 13 countries (The Himalayan Times). Rules can change at short notice: check the Department of Immigration notice before you book.

How to Get a Visa on Arrival at Kathmandu Airport

1
Fill in the arrival card
You get it on the plane or in the arrivals hall. Write your hotel's name and address in Kathmandu.
2
Complete the tourist visa form
Fill it in online before you fly (the receipt with a barcode is valid for 15 days) or use the self-service kiosks in the arrivals hall, which also take your photo. Filling it in online saves the kiosk queue.
3
Pay the visa fee
Take your receipt to the bank counter and pay US$30, US$50 or US$125. US dollars in clean notes are the safest; cards are usually accepted at the airport, but keep cash as a backup. Keep the payment receipt.
4
Go to the immigration desk
Join the Visa on Arrival queue with your passport, form receipt and payment receipt. The officer checks them and puts the visa in your passport.
5
Collect your bags and exit
In October–November and March–April, allow 45–90 minutes from landing to the exit. Your pre-booked driver waits outside arrivals.

How to Apply for the Nepal eVisa Online

Open the official portal nepaliport-new.immigration.gov.np and choose a new tourist visa / ETA application.
Confirm your email with the one-time code.
Enter your passport and travel details, including your hotel address in Nepal.
Upload a clear scan of your passport photo page and a recent photo on a plain white background (each up to about 2 MB).
Choose 15, 30 or 90 days and pay online by Visa or Mastercard. A card fee of 3.5% is added, and fees aren't refundable.
Wait for the approved eVisa by email, then print it. Show it at check-in and at immigration in Nepal.

Use only the .gov.np website. Other sites that look official charge extra service fees, and the Department says it isn't responsible for money paid through third parties.

Visa on Arrival vs eVisa: Which Is Better?

Feature	Visa on arrival	eVisa (online)
When you apply	When you land (form can be filled online first)	Before you fly
Fee	US$30 / 50 / 125	Same, plus 3.5% card fee
Payment	USD cash or card at the airport counter	Card online only
Time at the airport	30–90 minutes in peak season	Shorter: straight to the desk with your printout
Risk	Long queues; card machines can be down	Approval time not guaranteed; apply early
Best for	Flexible plans, last-minute trips	Tight connections, trekkers starting the next day

Our advice: if your trek or Lukla flight starts the morning after you land, use the eVisa or at least fill in the form online so you skip the kiosk queue.

Documents You Need

Document	Details
Passport	Valid for at least 6 months from arrival, with at least one blank page
Passport photo	One recent photo on a white background is useful; kiosks can also take it
Arrival card	Filled in on the plane or in the arrivals hall
Visa form receipt	Printed online receipt with barcode, or completed at the kiosk
Visa fee	US dollars cash (clean, recent notes) or a card; eVisa paid online
Hotel address	Name and address of your first night's accommodation
Onward or return ticket	Rarely checked, but have a copy on your phone

Entering by Land: Border Crossings That Issue Visas

You can get a visa on arrival at the immigration offices of Nepal's main land borders:

From India: Kakarbhitta (east), Birgunj (central), Belahiya/Sunauli near Bhairahawa (the most used, for travellers from Varanasi or Delhi), Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi and Gaddachowki/Mahendranagar (far west).
From Tibet (China): Rasuwagadhi and Kodari, when open to foreign tourists.
Other airports: Pokhara International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport (Bhairahawa) also issue visas on arrival for international flights.

Bring US dollars in cash at land borders. Card machines are rare, and Indian rupees aren't accepted for the visa fee. Border offices keep shorter hours than the airport, so cross during the day.

Extending Your Nepal Tourist Visa

Item	Fee or rule
Minimum extension	15 days for US$45
Each extra day after that	US$3 per day
Keep multiple-entry on the extension	Extra US$25
Late fee if your visa has already expired	US$5 per day, on top of the extension fee
Maximum stay	150 days in one calendar year (January–December)
Where to apply	Online first, then the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan) or the Immigration Office in Pokhara (Lakeside)

Apply about a week before your visa ends. Extension fees are paid in Nepali rupees at the US-dollar rate of the day.

Don't Overstay Your Visa

Overstaying costs US$5 per day plus the extension fee, paid at immigration before you leave. Long overstays can lead to a ban on future visits. If a Lukla flight delay or illness might keep you past your visa date, extend it in Kathmandu before it ends, or buy the 30-day visa in the first place.

Which Visa Should You Buy for Your Trip?

Your trip	Days in Nepal (typical)	Visa to buy
Kathmandu and Pokhara sightseeing	5–10 days	15-day (US$30)
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour plus city stay	3–7 days	15-day (US$30)
Annapurna Base Camp Trek (12 days)	14–18 days with arrival and buffer	30-day (US$50)
Everest Base Camp Trek (14 days)	16–20 days with buffer for Lukla delays	30-day (US$50)
Everest Three Passes (18 days) or two treks	22–30 days	30-day, or 90-day if there's any doubt
Volunteering or long travel	1–3 months	90-day (US$125)

A 15-day visa is too short for the Everest Base Camp Trek once you add arrival day and spare days for Lukla flight delays. Your visa does not include trekking permits; those are separate and, on our treks, arranged for you.

Nepal Visa Do's and Don'ts

Do

Fill in the visa form online before you fly to skip the kiosk queue
Carry clean US dollar notes even if you plan to pay by card
Buy a visa that covers your trek plus 2–3 spare days
Use only immigration.gov.np sites for the eVisa
Keep your visa receipt until you leave Nepal

Don’t

Pay a look-alike visa website extra service fees
Try to pay the visa fee in Indian rupees
Bring torn or marked dollar notes; they may be refused
Let your visa expire while waiting for a Lukla flight
Assume your visa covers trekking permits

After You Land in Kathmandu

Once you're through immigration, a private airport transfer to Thamel is the easiest way to your hotel: your driver waits with your name, and it's paid in advance. Before your first day out, read our guides to money in Nepal (ATMs and exchange counters are in the arrivals hall), SIM cards and internet and safety in Nepal. Heading on to the lakes? See Kathmandu to Pokhara by bus, flight or car.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Nepal visa on arrival in 2026?

US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days. All tourist visas are multiple-entry, and the fee is the same on arrival or online.

Can I get a Nepal visa online?

Yes. Since 17 August 2026 you can apply for the Nepal eVisa (ETA) at nepaliport-new.immigration.gov.np, pay by card and receive the visa by email before you fly. A 3.5% card fee applies.

Which countries cannot get a Nepal visa on arrival?

Citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria and Iran, plus refugees with travel documents. They must apply at a Nepali embassy or consulate before travelling.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for Nepal?

No. Indian citizens don't need a visa, but must show a passport or voter ID card when flying into Nepal.

Can I pay the Nepal visa fee by card?

Yes, at Kathmandu airport and online for the eVisa. Machines sometimes fail, so carry US dollars in cash as a backup. At land borders, bring cash.

What documents do I need for a Nepal visa on arrival?

A passport valid for 6 months with a blank page, the arrival card, the online or kiosk visa form receipt, the fee, and your hotel address. A passport photo is useful but kiosks can take one.

How long does visa on arrival take at Kathmandu airport?

Usually 30–90 minutes in peak season (October–November and March–April), less at quiet times. Filling in the form online before you fly makes it faster.

Which Nepal visa do I need for the Everest Base Camp trek?

Buy the 30-day visa (US$50). The 14-day trek plus arrival, departure and spare days for Lukla flight delays is too long for a 15-day visa.

How do I extend my Nepal visa?

Apply online, then at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or the Immigration Office in Pokhara. The minimum extension is 15 days for US$45, then US$3 per extra day, up to 150 days in a calendar year.

What is the fine for overstaying in Nepal?

US$5 per day plus the extension fee, paid before you leave. Long overstays can affect future visits.

Is the Nepal visa free for children?

Children under 10 get a free visa, except US citizens, who pay the normal fee.

Can I get a visa on arrival at the Nepal–India border?

Yes, at the main crossings such as Belahiya/Sunauli, Kakarbhitta, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi and Gaddachowki. Pay in US dollars cash; Indian rupees aren't accepted for the visa fee.