Nepal Visa Guide

Visa Information 

Visa Requirements: Visa required.

Requirements for Indian National

Below mentioned is the list of identity documents which are considered valid for travel to and from Nepal

1. Valid National passport
2. Photo Identity card issued by the Government of India/State Government/UT Administration in India to their employees or Election ID card issued by Election Commission of India
3. Emergency Certificate issued by Embassy of India, Kathmandu
4. Identity Certificate issued by Embassy of India, Kathmandu
5. Persons in the age of group of above 65 years and below 15 years would be exempted from the requirement of approved identity documents mentioned in point 1, 2, 3 and 4. However, they must have some documents with photograph to confirm their age and identity.
6. Children between the age group of 15 to 18 years are allowed to travel between India and Nepal on the strength of Identity certificate issued by the principal of the school in the prescribed Performa.
7. If family members (husband, wife, minor children, and parents) are travelling together, the approved identification documents at points 1, 2, 3, and 4 will not be required of all family members if one of the adult members of the family possesses one of the prescribed identification documents at points 1, 2, 3, and 4. Other family members, on the other hand, must have proof of their identity with a photograph and their family relationship, such as a CGHS card, Ration card, driving license, school/college ID card and so on.

Note: Only the original documents are valid for Indian Nationals travelling between India and Nepal.

Warning:

1. Aadhaar (UID) card is not an acceptable travel document for travel to Nepal/Bhutan.
2. Downloaded or online print containing details is not acceptable as travel document.
3. Certificate of Registration issued by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Nepal to Indian nationals is not an acceptable travel document for travelling between India and Nepal. 
4. The Emergency Certificate & Identity Certificate issued by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu will be valid for single journey for travelling back to India

Additional Information:

1. Military: Nepal has no sea harbour, therefore Merchant Seamen cannot be travelling on duty to Nepal.
2. TWOV (Transit with VISA): Holders of confirmed onward tickets transiting. (Indigo does not accept any TWOV as we don’t have any agreement with OAL.)
3. If a Nepali passport holder is travelling out of India on an international flight to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, U.A.E. Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Libya and Lebanon (Only if his / her port of boarding is from India). They must carry this NOC letter from Nepal embassy.
4. If they are through checked-in from Nepal (KTM) and are connecting as Direct Transit customer then they do not need the same.
5. Prohibition to VISA on Arrival
   Foreign Nationals (except officials and diplomat passport holders) of following 12 countries are required to obtain Tourist visa from Nepalese diplomatic mission (Embassies and Consulates) prior to their departure to Nepal.
   1. Nigeria
   2. Ghana
   3. Zimbabwe
   4. Swaziland
   5. Cameroon
   6. Somalia
   7. Liberia
   8. Ethiopia
   9. Iraq
   10. Palestine
   11. Afghanistan
   12. Syria
   13. Refugees with Travel document

Passport Information

Passport Requirement: Passport required

Document validity: Passport accepted for entry must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date

Nepal is famous for Mount Everest and other snow-capped ranges such as Annapurna. Although the country boasts of culture, festivals, food, and traditions, it is the mountain climbing, trekking, and other adventure activities that make Nepal so special.

To get here, a Nepal visa is necessary, which can be taken either online or on arrival. However, citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Palestine, Iraq, and Syria need to apply for the Nepal visa before the trip.

But fortunately, Indian citizens do not need to apply for the Nepal visa since it is a visa free country for Indian citizens. If you are planning a Nepal trip from India, all you need is an identity proof like your Election Card that is issued by Election Commission or passport to enter Nepal. Let us read more about the Nepal visa below.

To apply for a Nepal visa, you need to submit an online application through the portal of the Department of Nepal Immigration. The steps you need to keep in mind are as follows:

• If you are applying through Nepal missions abroad, click here
• If you are applying online, before arriving in Nepal, through Nepal Immigration, click here
• For online application after arriving in Nepal, from Nepal Immigration, click here and apply from the Visa-on-Arrival section
• After submitting, you can track your application online at the official website
• Remember to submit the printed copy of the visa, generated online, at the Embassy along with the hard copy of all travel documents
• Once the process is completed, your documents will be sent back through a registered courier service

You can check your visa application on the official website by adding your visa application number and travel document number. The Nepal visa process is simple, and it has a user-friendly website to check the application status.

There are various types of Nepal visas based on your purpose of travel - tourism, business, emergencies, and transit.

1. Tourist visa
2. Business visa
3. Student visa
4. Transit visa

This is the most popular Nepal visa that will enable travellers to explore the country. This visa is issued to all foreign nationals entering Nepal for tourism and leisure activities.

Eligibility for tourist visa

• An identity proof
  
• A confirmed return ticket
  
• Proof of the accommodation
  
• Bank statement

Tourist visa validity

Indian passport holders do not require a Nepal visa; however, for other nationals, the Nepal visa is valid for six months once it is issued. This means that the visa holder must enter the country within six months of receiving the visa.

Stay duration of tourist visa

The duration of a Nepal tourist visa is up to 15 days, 30 days, or 90 days from the date of entry. The length of time you can stay in Nepal depends on the type of tourist visa you apply for.

Processing time for tourist visas

The processing time for a Nepal tourist visa may take up to a week, except for weekends and national holidays in Nepal. However, remember that the process for a Nepal visa may take longer if the information provided by you is not correct or incomplete.

If you’re travelling to Nepal for meetings or to conduct business, you will need to apply for a business visa.

Eligibility for business visa

• An identity proof
• A confirmed return ticket
• Proof of the accommodation
• A letter from the local company stating the purpose of your visit
• Bank statement

Business visa validity

A business visa is issued for at least a month and up to one year from the date of issue. It also depends on the purpose and intent of your work, as specified by the local company in Nepal.

Stay duration of business visa

A business visa with a shorter duration or multiple entries grants a stay of up to five years, as per the requirement. Based on the nature of your business, the concerned authorities will decide on the duration of your visa.

Processing time for business visas

The processing time for a Nepal business visa may take up to a week, except for weekends and national holidays in Nepal. However, remember that the process for a Nepal visa may take longer if the information provided by you is not correct or incomplete.

Several students travel to Nepal for higher education. Indian students only need an acceptance letter from the university, payment receipts for education, and proof of funds.

Eligibility for a student visa

• An identity proof
• Online application form
• Printed Nepal study visa application
• Proof of the accommodation
• Acceptance letter from the university
• Receipt of payment made to university  
• Bank statements

Student visa validity

The Nepal visa is valid for one year. It depends on the period of study in Nepal.

Stay duration of study visa

The Nepal visa for study is issued for a maximum of one year, as per the duration of the course.

Processing time for student visa

The processing time for a Nepal visa may take up to a week, except for weekends and national holidays in Nepal. However, remember that the process for a Nepal visa may take longer if the information provided by you is not correct or incomplete.

When travelling to a new city, flights often have a layover. So, if you are transiting through Nepal, you can apply for a transit visa, which allows you to exit the airport and explore the city. This is for those passport holders who require a Nepal visa. Nepal transit visas are available on arrival for up to 24 hours.

Eligibility for transit visa

• An identity proof
• Printed transit visa application form
• Flight ticket from Nepal to a third country
• Photocopies of your passport
• A copy of the latest visa
• Bank statements

Transit visa validity

The Nepal transit visas are valid for up to 24 hours.

Stay duration of transit visa

The Nepal visa for transit is issued for 24 hours.

Processing time for transit visas

The processing time for a Nepal visa for transit may take up to a week, except for weekends and national holidays in Nepal. However, remember that the process for a transit visa may take longer if the information you provide is not correct.

• Nepal allows visa on arrival for passport holders of select countries. If you are travelling by air from one of the aforementioned countries, you can get your visa on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu.
• If you are travelling to Nepal by road, you can get a visa on arrival at the following land border crossings: Kakarbhitta, Birgunj, Belahiya, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi, Mahendranagar, and Kodari.
• The Nepal tourist visa is issued for 15, 30, or 90 days. The fees depend on the number of days you remain in the country.
• Your Nepal visa, both tourist and non-tourist, can be extended at the headquarters of the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu.
• The Immigration Office in Pokhara only authorises the extension of tourist visas.