Nepal Visa — The On-Arrival Guide
Nepal offers visa on arrival to almost all nationalities at Kathmandu airport and land borders — one of the easiest entry processes in Asia. Fill the form (kiosk or online in advance), pay in USD cash, done in 15–30 minutes. The only real rules: passport validity 6+ months, a passport photo (or use the booth), and cash in clean US dollars.
Visa Costs (2026)
| Duration | Cost (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 15 days | $30 | Enough for most short treks |
| 30 days | $50 | Standard for 2-week trek + buffer |
| 90 days | $125 | Long stays, multiple treks |
Multiple entry by default — you can leave and return within the validity period.
The Arrival Process
- Fill the visa form — kiosks at the airport or the online pre-application (saves 10 minutes); bring a passport photo or pay for the booth photo
- Pay at the counter — USD cash strongly preferred (clean, undamaged bills); some counters accept cards but the line is slower and machines fail
- Get the visa sticker + stamp — keep the receipt; you'll need it for extension
- Immigration line — show passport + visa; they stamp you in
Extensions
- Extend at Department of Immigration — Kathmandu (Kalikasthan) or Pokhara office; $3/day for extensions, minimum 15 days
- Max 150 days per visa year — the annual cap for tourist visas
- Overstay penalties — fines + potential detention; don't overstay, extend in advance
- Medical extension — if you're hospitalized or medically unable to travel, extensions are granted with documentation — we provide supporting letters
Practical Tips
- Bring exact-ish USD — change is given in rupees; big bills for small visa fees complicate things
- SAARC nationals — India needs no visa; other SAARC countries get free visa (30 days)
- Chinese nationals — free visa policy applies
- Passport validity — 6+ months required from entry date; renew first if close
- Keep the departure card — losing it complicates exit; keep it with your passport
The Arrival Process
Nepal's visa-on-arrival is genuinely easy — but the queue at Kathmandu airport can take an hour during peak season. The smart move: fill the online application before departure (visa.nepalimmigration.gov.np), have USD cash for the fee, and use the kiosk system on arrival. The paperwork is not the barrier; the patience in line is.
Visa-on-arrival checklist
- Passport valid 6+ months — airline will deny boarding otherwise
- USD cash for fee — $30/15 days, $50/30 days, $125/90 days
- Online application completed — saves 30+ minutes at the airport
- Blank passport pages — at least 2 for visa and entry stamps
- Return/onward ticket — proof of departure may be requested
The Extension Reality
Tourist visas extend up to 150 days/year — generous enough for most purposes. The Immigration Office in Kathmandu processes extensions same-day or next-day. The trap is the overstay: the fine is heavy, the detention possibility is real, and the record follows you. If you are trekking and the visa runs out, the extension happens in Kathmandu before or after the trek — not on it.
The Visa Process
Nepal offers visa on arrival for most nationalities — the airport or land border processing, $30 (15 days), $50 (30 days), $125 (90 days) for the tourist visa. Fill the arrival form, pay at the counter, proceed to immigration. The process is straightforward but can have queues in peak season; the e-visa application before departure can speed it.
Extensions and Duration
Tourist visas extendable at the Immigration Department in Kathmandu — the process requires forms, fees (per day rate), and time. Maximum stay is 150 days per calendar year. For the traveler exceeding their initial visa, the extension is the legal path; the overstay produces fines and complications on departure.
The Arrival Process Detail
Visa on arrival: fill the arrival form (paper or the online pre-arrival form), proceed to the visa fee counter (pay USD or the local equivalent), get the visa sticker, then through immigration. Peak-season arrivals can take 30–60+ minutes in the visa line; the online application before departure speeds it up.
Extension Logistics
Tourist visa extensions at the Department of Immigration (Kalikasthan, Kathmandu) — the process requires the form, the passport photos, the fee (~$3/day per extension day), and the processing time (same day if arriving early). For the trek that exceeds the initial visa, the extension is handled in Kathmandu before departure to the trek.
The Extension Process
Tourist visa extension in Kathmandu: the Department of Immigration in Kalikasthan — the office that processes the extensions. Bring the passport, the photos, the fee (approximately $3/day for the extension days), and the form. Same-day processing is typical for the straightforward extensions.
The Overstay Penalty
Overstaying the visa produces the fines and the potential complications — the daily fine, the detention for the significant overstay, and the entry restrictions that may follow. The visa that is expiring should be extended before the expiry, not after the overstay has occurred.
The Duration Options
Tourist visa durations: the 15-day, the 30-day, the 90-day visas — the length that matches the itinerary. For the trek that is longer than 15 days, the 30 or 90-day visa that covers the extended stay.
The Extension Process
Visa extension at the Immigration Office in Kathmandu — the extension that is possible for the tourist visa (up to the 150 days per year). For the traveler who wants to stay longer, the extension process that is completed before the visa expires.
The Extension
Visa extension at the Department of Immigration — the extension for the tourist visa that is possible up to the 150 days per calendar year. For the traveler who wants to stay longer, the extension that is applied for before the expiry.
The Overstay
Overstay consequences — the fine that is assessed per day, the detention that may occur, and the future entry difficulty. For the visa that is expiring, the extension or the departure that prevents the overstay.
The Extension
Nepal visa extension — the immigration office that processes (the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or the Pokhara). For the visa that needs the extension, the application that is submitted.
The Overstay
Nepal visa overstay — the fine that is charged (the daily rate), the departure that is delayed. For the visa that is expiring, the extension that is applied for before the expiry.
The Extension
Nepal visa extension — the tourist that can be extended (the 150 day annual limit). For the longer stay, the extension that is done.
The Overstay
Visa overstay — the fine that is charged (the daily that accumulates). For the visa that is expiring, the timely extension that is needed.
The Fee
Nepal visa fee — the ~$30 (15-day), ~$50 (30-day), ~$125 (90-day) that is the standard. For the arrival, the USD cash that is prepared.
The Extension Cost
Visa extension cost — the ~$3/day (the minimum 15-day that applies) + the $2/day if late. For the longer stay, the extension that is budgeted.
The Extension Cost
Nepal visa extension — the ~$3/day (the immigration that is charged). For the overstay-avoidance, the extended that is budgeted.
The Overstay Fine
Nepal overstay — the fine + the detention risk (the expired that is the expensive). For the visa, the tracked that prevents.
The Arrival Fee
Visa-on-arrival — the ~$30-125 (the 15/30/90-day that is priced). For the landed, the paid that is the entry.
The Online Pre-Fill
Visa pre-application — the free (the online-form that speeds). For the prepared, the done that is the fast lane.
Do I need a visa for Nepal?
Yes — most nationalities get visa-on-arrival at Kathmandu airport or land borders. Fill the online form beforehand or use airport kiosks. Visa costs: 15 days $30, 30 days $50, 90 days $125 — USD cash preferred. Passport needs 6+ months validity and blank pages. Indian citizens do not need visas.
How long can I stay on a tourist visa?
Tourist visas are extendable up to 150 days per calendar year. Extensions are processed at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu — allow a day, bring passport photos and fee payment. The 150-day cap is strict; overstaying is fined heavily and can affect future entry.
What about trekking permits vs. visa?
Separate systems — the visa covers your stay in Nepal; trekking permits (TIMS, conservation area permits, restricted area permits) cover specific regions. Both are required for trekking. The visa gets you into Nepal; the permits get you onto the trails.
Can I extend my visa in Kathmandu?
Yes — the Immigration Office in Kalikasthan processes extensions, typically same-day or next-day. Bring passport, photos, completed form, and fee (USD or equivalent). Extensions cost ~$2/day plus processing. Do not overstay — the fine is NPR 50,000+ and can include detention.
What documentation should I carry trekking?
Passport original (required at checkpoints), visa copies, trekking permits, insurance details, and passport photos (useful for permits). Keep a photocopy set separate from originals — checkpoints are routine and documents get inspected. Losing your passport on a remote trail is a serious problem.
