Getting to Nepal and Visas
Nepal makes entry straightforward for most travelers.
- Arrive by air at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu
- Arrive by land at the Indian or Tibetan border
- Get a visa on arrival at any of these points, or arrange one in advance through a Nepali embassy or consulate
There are three ways to get a visa:
- Visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport
- Visa on arrival at a land border, if entering via India or Tibet
- Visa in advance, through a Nepali embassy or consulate abroad
Tourist Visa Fees
- 15 days: USD 30 (or the equivalent in another major currency), multiple entry
- 30 days: USD 50, multiple entry
- 90 days: USD 125, multiple entry
Visa for SAARC Countries
- SAARC nationals, except Afghan citizens, get one free 30-day visa per calendar year
- Afghan citizens can get a gratis visa only with prior approval from the Department of Immigration
- Indian nationals don't need a visa at all, just a passport or a government-issued Indian ID
- Children under ten traveling with a parent don't need to show ID
Tourist Visa Extension
- Handled at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or the immigration office in Pokhara
- Minimum 15-day extension: USD 45
- Each additional day: USD 3
- Late fine, if extending after your visa has already expired: USD 5 per day
- Maximum stay: 150 total days in Nepal per calendar year (January to December), extensions included
Transit Visa
- Applies if Nepal is only a stopover and you need to stay overnight at TIA
- Requires a valid onward ticket
- Check the current fee with the Department of Immigration before you travel, since this figure isn't consistently published
To learn more about Nepali visas or apply online in advance, visit the Department of Immigration's website.
Flights to Consider if You're Traveling to Nepal by Air
Nepal Airlines, the national flag carrier, connects Kathmandu with:
- Delhi
- Doha
- Kuala Lumpur
- Bangkok
Other international airlines currently serving Kathmandu:
- Qatar Airways (Doha)
- Turkish Airlines (Istanbul)
- flydubai (Dubai)
- Air Arabia (Sharjah)
- Air India and Air India Express (Delhi, Mumbai, and other Indian cities)
- IndiGo (Delhi)
- Biman Bangladesh (Dhaka)
- China Eastern (Kunming)
- China Southern (Guangzhou)
- Air China (Chengdu)
- Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong)
- Korean Air (Seoul)
- Singapore Airlines (Singapore)
- Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur)
- SriLankan Airlines (Colombo)
- Thai Airways (Bangkok)
- Bhutan Airlines (Paro)
Airline routes change with the seasons, so check a live flight search tool for current schedules. Carriers that used to serve Kathmandu but no longer do:
- Jet Airways
- Jet Lite
- Dragonair
- GMG Airlines
- Bahrain Air
- ArkeFly
- RAK Airways
Entry Points if You're Traveling to Nepal by Road
You can enter Nepal overland from India or from Tibet (China). The main crossings:
- Birgunj, in Parsa, on the Nepal-India border (central Nepal)
- Nepalgunj (Jamunaha), on the Nepal-India border (mid-western Nepal)
- Kakarbhitta, in Jhapa, on the Nepal-India border (eastern border)
- Belahiya, Bhairahawa-Rupandehi, on the Nepal-India border (western Nepal)
- Mohana, Dhangadhi-Kailali, on the Nepal-India border (far-western Nepal)
- Gaddachowki, Mahendranagar-Kanchanpur, on the Nepal-India border (far-western Nepal)
- Rasuwagadhi, near Timure, on the Nepal-China border, crossing to Kerung (Gyirong) on the Tibetan side
A few notes on the China crossing:
- The old Kodari crossing (Tatopani-Zhangmu) has been closed to foreign travelers since the 2015 earthquake and hasn't reopened for tourist crossings
- Rasuwagadhi is now the working route into Tibet
- It has closed periodically in recent years for flood and bridge damage, so confirm it's open before planning around it
- Crossing into Tibet isn't something you can do independently. It requires a group visa arranged through a China-based travel agency, on top of Nepal's own exit formalities
Visa requirements by nationality:
- All foreign nationals except Indians need a visa to enter Nepal, either arranged in advance through a Nepali embassy or consulate, or on arrival at the entry point
- SAARC nationals qualify for the free 30-day visa described above
- Chinese nationals need a standard paid tourist visa, the same as most other nationalities
- Citizens of the following countries can't get a visa on arrival and need to apply through a Nepali embassy or consulate before traveling: Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Eswatini (Swaziland), Cameroon, Somalia, Iran, and Syria