Nepal Visa Guide 2026: Everything Trekkers Need to Know

Nepal Visa Guide 2026: Everything Trekkers Need to Know

Nepal is one of the easiest countries in Asia to enter. Almost every nationality can get a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, the fees are reasonable, and the process is genuinely fast once you know the steps. The flip side is that the small details — duration choices, multiple entry, extensions, where to pay, what currency is accepted — trip up first-time visitors every season. This is our 2026 visa explainer written for trekkers who want zero friction between the plane door and the trailhead.

Who needs a visa

Every foreign visitor needs a tourist visa to enter Nepal with one exception: Indian citizens, who can enter visa-free. Everyone else, regardless of nationality, needs either a visa on arrival, an e-Visa (ETA) obtained online before flying, or a visa stamped at a Nepali embassy abroad.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of entry and must contain at least one blank page for the visa stamp.

Where you can apply

Tourist visas are available at:

• Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu (by far the most common option)
• Land borders: Kakarbhitta (east, India), Mahendranagar (west, India), Dhangadhi, Birganj/Raxaul, Sunauli, Nepalganj, and Rasuwagadhi (north, China/Tibet)
• Nepali embassies and consulates worldwide

For 99% of trekkers flying into Kathmandu, the airport is where you will get your visa.

The on-arrival process at Kathmandu airport

It is a three-step routine and usually takes 30-60 minutes depending on queue length.

Step 1 — Fill in the forms. You can do this in advance at the official immigration portal at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np within 15 days of your arrival. Print the resulting barcoded receipt and bring it. Alternatively, use the kiosk machines in the arrivals hall — they ask the same questions, take a photo, and print a barcode.

Step 2 — Pay the fee. Go to the bank desk in the arrivals hall and pay the visa fee in cash. They accept USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, CAD, HKD, SGD. They do not accept Nepali rupees or Indian rupees for visa fees at the airport. Credit cards are not accepted for visa payments. Have small-denomination US dollar bills if possible — change can be slow.

Step 3 — Get the stamp. Take your barcode, payment receipt, passport and one passport-size photo to the immigration counter. They stamp your visa, and you are in.

e-Visa / Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

If you want to bypass the airport queue, Nepal now offers an Electronic Travel Authorisation. Apply online before flying, get approval within one to three days, print the ETA, and present it at immigration on arrival. Fees are identical to on-arrival visas. Lose the printout? Show it on your phone or the immigration officer can pull up your record from your passport number.

Visa fees (2026)

Standard tourist visa rates for most nationalities:

• 15-day single entry: USD 30
• 30-day single entry: USD 50
• 90-day single entry: USD 125

Special rates:

• US citizens: USD 25 / USD 40 / USD 100 respectively
• Children under 10: visa is required but no fee charged
• SAARC nationals (except India) and Chinese citizens: free single-entry visa once per calendar year
• Multiple-entry upgrade: add USD 20 at the Central Immigration Office in Kathmandu

For trekkers, our standard recommendation is the 30-day visa unless you are doing a long expedition (Dolpo, Kanchenjunga, Three Passes) in which case grab the 90-day.

The nine visa categories

While the tourist visa is the only one most trekkers will encounter, here is the full list for completeness:

1. Tourist Visa — leisure, trekking, mountaineering, sightseeing
2. Student Visa — academic enrolment, requires Ministry of Education recommendation
3. Non-Tourist Visa — work, press, marriage to a Nepali citizen, family of citizens
4. Business Visa — investors and entrepreneurs, fees scale with investment
5. Residential Visa — long-term residence for recognised individuals
6. Non-Residential Visa — for NRNs (Non-Resident Nepalis), comes with free tourist visa rights
7. Diplomatic Visa — diplomatic passport holders, based on reciprocal agreements
8. Official Visa — state visits and accompanying family
9. Transit Visa — maximum 24 hours, emergency landings only

Visa validity and overstay

Your tourist visa is valid for entry within three to six months of issuance. Once you enter, the clock starts ticking on your stated duration. Overstay penalties:

• 1-30 days overstay: USD 3 per day plus USD 2 daily extension fee
• 31-90 days overstay: USD 5 per day plus extension fee
• More than 150 days in one calendar year: not permitted regardless of payment

You can pay overstay fines at the airport on departure, but we strongly recommend sorting it at the Central Immigration Office in Kathmandu beforehand to avoid flight delays.

Visa extensions

If you decide to stay longer, you can extend at immigration offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara only. Same-day service is standard, usually within two hours, and there is an express option for 10-minute service at an extra NPR 300.

• Minimum 15-day extension: USD 30
• 30-day extension: USD 50
• Per-day extension beyond visa: USD 2
• Multiple-entry add-on: USD 20

You will need your passport, fee in cash (rupees only for extensions), one photo, and a completed online application (filled in beforehand on the immigration portal). The form requires a Nepali street address — if your hotel does not have a building number (most do not), estimate one. Trekking agencies (including us) will handle extensions for guests for a small fee to save you the trip across town.

You can extend your stay up to a total of 150 days per calendar year. Past 60 days, it becomes more economical to buy a 90-day visa upfront than to keep extending.

What documents to bring

Pack these in your carry-on for the visa process:

• Passport, valid 6+ months from entry, with one blank page
• 2-4 passport-size photos (you will need extras for trekking permits)
• USD cash in small bills for the visa fee
• Completed online application barcode (if you pre-filled)
• Onward flight ticket (occasionally requested)

We also recommend a printed copy of your hotel reservation in Kathmandu for the first night, in case immigration asks for an address.

Tips that save time

1. Pre-fill the online form at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np within 15 days of arrival to skip the kiosk queue.
2. Bring USD cash in small bills. Visa fees are USD 30 / 50 / 125 — having exact change makes the bank desk much faster.
3. Get multiple entries if you are side-tripping to Bhutan, India or Tibet during your trip.
4. Bring 8-10 passport photos. Trekking permits, SIM cards, hotel registration and visa applications all demand them. You can also get 8 digital photos printed for about NPR 250 in Thamel if you run out.
5. Avoid overstaying. The fines are not huge but the airport delay on departure is real and missed flights happen.

SIM cards and Wifi while you sort visas

Once through immigration, grab an NTC or Ncell SIM card at the kiosks just before exit — bring your passport and one photo. NTC gives the best rural Himalaya coverage, Ncell is faster in Kathmandu and Pokhara. A 30-day data package runs USD 5-10.

Plan your Nepal trip with us

We handle airport pickup, hotel registration, SIM cards, trekking permits and visa extensions for every guest. Land in Kathmandu and we take it from there. Browse our trek packages or contact our team to plan your 2026 Nepal trip end-to-end.