About Nepal

VISA INFORMATION

NEPAL VISA (ENTRY PROCEDURES)

All tourists/travelers of foreign nationality (apart from India*) must obtain Tourist Visa to enter Nepal for tourism purpose. On Arrival Tourists Visa** may be obtained from Department of Immigration (DOI) at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and Entry Points of Nepal. Tourist Visa may also be obtained from Diplomatic Mission of Nepal in respective country or nearest one, prior to arrival. Essentials for Tourist Visa are :-

Valid passport and passport size photo with light background.
Visa fees in US Dollars or convertible foreign currency; international credit cards are also accepted.
One may be able to fill Online Visa Application before arriving in Nepal through the link https://www.immigration.gov.np/page/visa-on-arrival

2) Tourist Visa

Visa Facility	Duration	Fee
Multiple Entry	15 Days	US$ 30 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple Entry	30 Days	US$ 50 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple Entry	90 Days	US$ 125 or equivalent convertible currency

3) Visa extension

Can be done by the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara
Tourist Visa extension for minimum 15 days with US$ 45 and US$ 3 per day for additional days
In case of delay for visa extension up to 150 days, additional charge of US$ 5 per day as late fees

4) Gratis Visa (Free Visa in case of categories of visa applicants below)

Children below 10 years except US citizens
Up to 30 days for SAARC citizens (except Afghanistan) visiting Nepal for the first time in a given visa year.
Afghan citizen are eligible for Gratis Visa on Arrival only upon the recommendation of Department of Immigration (DOI).
Non Residential Nepalese (NRN) card holder (issued by MoFA /Nepal's Diplomatic Missions abroad)
Chinese Nationals

5) No Provision of On Arrival Tourist Visa for Following **

As per Nepal Government policy, nationals of following countries are requested to acquire Visa to Nepal prior to arrival from the nearest Diplomatic Missions of Nepal: Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria. The same applies to refugee from abroad with travel documents.

Customs

All baggage must be identified and have to pass through customs inspection at the port of entry. Personal effects are allowed in duty free. Goods that are free of duty include: cigarettes (200 sticks) or cigars (50 sticks), tobacco up to 250 grams, one distilled liquor bottle (1 litre) or 12 cans of beers, and 15 pieces of film for still camera and 12 pieces of film for movie camera, Medicine up to the value of Rs. 1000/ (except the medicine banned to import into Nepal); Food stuff up to the value of Rs 5000/ (including tin pack food); Fresh fruits up to the value of Rs. 2000/.

You can also bring in the following articles free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when you leave: binoculars, tablet, laptop computer, movie or video camera, still camera and portable music system, bicycle, watch, cellular mobile phone set.

Import

Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty: cigarettes (200 sticks) or cigars (50 sticks), tobacco up to 250 grams, one distilled liquor bottle (1 litre) or 12 cans of beers, and 15 pieces of film for still camera and 12 pieces of film for movie camera, Medicine up to the value of Rs. 1000/ (except the medicine banned to import into Nepal); Food stuff up to the value of Rs 5000/ (including tin pack food); Fresh fruits up to the value of Rs. 2000/.

You can also bring in the following articles free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when you leave: binoculars, tablet, laptop computer, movie or video camera, still camera and portable music system, bicycle, watch, cellular mobile phone set.

Export

The export of antiques requires special certification from the Department of Archeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu. It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old, such as sacred images, paintings, manuscripts that are valued for culture and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are Nepal’s cultural heritage and belong here.

Permits and Fees [Tour, trekking and mountaineering]

Heritage Sites / Museums / Zoo

Entrance fees must be paid before touring: -

Heritage sites around Kathmandu Valley like Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bouddhanath, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan Temple.
Lumbini Gardens, the sanctuary of the Mayadevi Temple, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, in Lumbini, Rupandehi.
Entrance fees must be paid before touring the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, and museums in Kathmandu Valley.
Local museums in different parts of Nepal.

Trekkers’ Information Management Systems (TIMS)

Trekkers must acquire Trekkers’ Information Management Systems (TIMS) Card before the onset of their trek. TIMS Card has been mandatory to control illegal trekking operations and ensure the safety and security of the trekkers in the general trekking areas. TIMS Card helps to store the database of trekkers recording their would-be whereabouts for the safety of tourists. Fees, passport copy, two passport size photographs and detailed itinerary are required to obtain TIMS Card from Tourist Service Center, Bhrikutimandap, and Trekking Agencies’ Association Nepal (TAAN) Office in Maligaon and Government registered trekking companies in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Each visitor who goes trekking through a trekking company must pay US $ 10 and each free individual trekker (FIT) must pay US $ 20 per trekking route per person per entry in equivalent Nepali Rupees only. Part of the collection will go into maintaining the trekkers’ database and in the rescue of trekkers in need of emergency services.

Trekking Permit

Special trekking permit must be acquired from the Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu, for trekking to areas that fall under the Restricted Zone.

Mountaineering

Mountaineering royalties must be paid at the Tourism Industry Division, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu or at the Nepal Mountaineering Association at Naxal, Kathmandu, before starting on a mountaineering expedition.

National Parks/ Wildlife Reserves/ Conservations

Entry fees must be paid to enter the 20 Protected Areas in Nepal that have been divided into National Parks, Wildlife Reserves, Conservation Areas and Hunting Reserve. One must also obtain hunting license to hunt in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. Please note that Dhorpatan is the only protected area where hunting is licensed.

Cultural Etiquette

Some tips on the common etiquette practiced by Nepali people should be useful to visitors.

The form of greeting in Nepal is “Namaste” performed by joining both palms together. It literally means “the divine in me salutes the divine in you”.
As a mark of respect Nepalese usually take their shoes off before entering someone’s house or place of worship.
Food or material that has been touched by another person’s mouth is considered impure or “jutho” and, therefore, is not accepted unless among close friends or family.
Touching something with feet or using the left hand to give or take may not be considered auspicious.
Women wearing skimpy outfits are frowned upon especially in the rural parts of the country.
As a part of the tradition some Hindu temples do not allow non Hindus to enter.
Leather articles are prohibited inside some temple areas.
Walking around temples or stupas is traditionally done clockwise.
To avoid conflict photography is carried out after receiving permission from the object or person.
Public displays of affection are considered scandalous.
Nodding of head means “Yes” while shaking of head means a “No”. A slight dangling of head from left to right means “OK”.

Responsible Tourism

Please be a responsible tourist. Like someone said, we request you to, “Leave only footprints, and take only photographs.”

Use designated routes, campsites and resting places to reduce trampling and other negative environmental impacts.
Respect local culture & traditions and must not indulge in any activity that goes against the established norms & culture of the society.
Use homestays, locally owned hotels/ lodges or campsites as much as possible to support the local livelihood.
Avoid/ minimize using firewood. Use common space for heating. Opt for alternatives to minimize deforestation.
Maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Use the litter box locally available. Carry back your own garbage while traveling through ecologically sensitive areas.
Encourage to place mobile toilets at a considerable distance from sources of water, river banks and springs while camping along the river sides.
Use the services of local guides and porters as much as possible to explore more about local environment and culture.
Money spent here will contribute directly to the local livelihood, women’s empowerment and environmental conservation.

Before you begin your journey we request you to abide by the above guidelines in order to safeguard the nature and culture of the area and be a responsible tourist.