Nepal Visa on Arrival 2026: Fees, Process & Extensions

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Nepal is one of the easiest countries in Asia to get a visa for. Most nationalities can simply land at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), fill in a form, pay and walk through. You can also pre-fill the form online to save time in the queue. This guide covers the official 2026 visa-on-arrival fees, the exact steps at the airport, who gets a free visa, how extensions work, and the mistakes that slow people down.

Coming to trek? After the visa, your next costs are trekking permits. Our Nepal trek permit cost calculator adds up the official fees for Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu and Mustang.

Nepal visa on arrival fees 2026

These are the official tourist visa fees from the Department of Immigration and the TIA Immigration Office. All tourist visas are multiple entry.

You can pay in US dollars or an equivalent convertible currency, and the Nepal Tourism Board says international cards are also accepted. In practice, card machines can be slow or down, so carry the exact amount in clean, untorn US dollar notes as a backup. Nepal’s embassies explicitly refuse notes that are torn, stained or marked, and the airport bank counter may do the same.

Who gets a free Nepal visa?

• Children under 10 are listed by the TIA Immigration Office and Nepali embassies as eligible for a gratis (free) visa.
• Citizens of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka get their first visit of up to 30 days in a visa year free (per Nepal’s embassy guidance).
• Indian nationals do not need a visa to enter Nepal.

Some nationalities are not eligible for visa on arrival and must apply at a Nepali embassy in advance. If your passport is from a country with a special arrangement, check the Department of Immigration site or your nearest Nepali embassy before booking flights.

Where you can get a visa on arrival

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, visas on arrival are issued at:

• Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
• Pokhara International Airport
• Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa (Lumbini)
• Official land entry points

Most international arrivals still use Kathmandu, which is what the steps below describe.

Step by step: visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport

1. Fill in the online Tourist Visa form. Use the official portal at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np before you fly, or one of the kiosk machines in the arrival hall (the hall has free Wi‑Fi). If you fill it in at home, print or save the submission receipt with barcode. The pre-filled form is only valid for 15 days, so don’t submit it too early.
2. Fill in the Arrival Information form at the tables in the lobby.
3. Pay the visa fee at the bank counter for the length you need (15, 30 or 90 days) and keep the payment receipt.
4. Go to the immigration counter with your passport, the payment receipt, the visa form receipt, the arrival form and your boarding pass. The officer issues the visa sticker in your passport.
5. Collect your bags and head out.

Choose your visa length carefully. You pay for the one you pick at the bank counter, and adding days later means an extension fee (see below).

Documents checklist

• Passport valid for at least six months (embassies use this standard)
• Passport photo with a light background. Kiosks take one, but carry a spare.
• Visa form submission receipt, if you pre-filled online
• Exact fee in USD cash, or a card as a backup
• Boarding pass

Applying before you travel (embassy visa)

If you prefer certainty, Nepali embassies and consulates issue the same 15/30/90-day tourist visas in advance at the same USD fees (local-currency equivalents vary). Processing usually means an online form first, then an embassy visit. The Embassy of Nepal in Moscow, for example, quotes two working days. An embassy visa generally expires six months after issue, and the stay counts from the date you arrive.

Extending your Nepal tourist visa

You can extend in Kathmandu (Department of Immigration) or Pokhara (Immigration Office). The official rules:

• The minimum extension is 15 days, for USD 45, then USD 3 per extra day.
• If you overstay before extending, there is a late fine of USD 5 per day on top.
• Re-entry: the tourist visa is multiple entry, so it already covers short trips out to India or Tibet and back within its validity.
• You can stay a maximum of 150 days per visa year (January to December) as a tourist.

Example: you arrived on a 30-day visa and want 10 more days. The minimum extension is 15 days, so you’d pay USD 45. That’s often cheaper than buying the 90-day visa up front if you’re unsure, but it costs a morning at the immigration office.

Which visa should you buy?

• A week in Kathmandu and Pokhara, or a short trek like Poon Hill: the 15-day visa (USD 30).
• Everest Base Camp: the 30-day visa (USD 50). The trek itself takes about 12–14 days, and Lukla flight delays are common. See our EBC permits guide for the full paperwork.
• Annapurna Circuit, Manaslu or a combined trip: the 30-day visa, or 90 days if you’ll be in Nepal for more than about six weeks.

Not sure EBC is for you? Read Is the Everest Base Camp trek worth it?

How much to budget for a Nepal trip’s paperwork

The visa is usually the first official fee you pay, but it’s rarely the only one. Here’s how the official charges stack up for a typical two-week trekking trip, using only government-published figures:

Other regions use different permits. Annapurna and Langtang have their own entry fees, and restricted areas such as Upper Mustang and Manaslu charge special permits and require a licensed guide. Our permit cost calculator totals them for your route and group size, so you know how many rupees to withdraw in Kathmandu.

Arriving by land or at another airport

If you’re coming overland from India, or flying into Pokhara or Bhairahawa (Lumbini), the visa fees are the same and the process is similar: complete the online form, pay, then present your documents to immigration. Land border posts have fewer kiosks and less reliable card payment, so pre-filling the form online and carrying US dollar cash matters even more there. Border opening hours also vary, so plan to arrive during the day. Lumbini makes a natural first stop if you’re travelling from northern India, and Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna treks.

After immigration: getting into Kathmandu

Thamel, where most travellers stay, is a short drive from the airport, but traffic can be slow. Prepaid taxi counters operate at the terminal. If you’d rather have a driver waiting with your name after a long flight, you can pre-book a fixed-price transfer with Kiwitaxi.

Two more things worth sorting before you land:

• Mobile data: a travel eSIM like Airalo works as soon as you switch on your phone, handy for messaging your hotel or guide from the visa queue.
• Travel insurance: if you plan to trek, make sure your policy covers the altitude you’ll reach and helicopter evacuation. You can compare options via Insubuy.

Common mistakes that slow you down

• Submitting the online form weeks early. It expires after 15 days.
• Carrying damaged US dollar notes. Torn or marked notes may be refused.
• Buying 15 days for a two-week trek. One delayed flight and you’re paying an extension.
• Using unofficial “visa service” websites. The only official portal is nepaliport.immigration.gov.np.
• Forgetting the arrival form. It’s separate from the visa form.

FAQ: Nepal visa on arrival

How much is a Nepal visa on arrival in 2026?

USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days and USD 125 for 90 days, all multiple entry. A 24-hour transit visa is USD 5.

Can I pay the Nepal visa fee by card?

The Nepal Tourism Board says international cards are accepted, but carry clean US dollar cash as a backup in case the machines are down.

Can I apply for a Nepal visa online?

You can pre-fill the application online at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np, but the visa itself is issued on arrival, or by an embassy if you apply in advance.

How long can I stay in Nepal as a tourist?

Up to 150 days in a calendar year, using an initial visa plus extensions.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for Nepal?

No. Indian nationals don’t need a visa to enter Nepal.

Sources

• Department of Immigration, visa fees and documents: immigration.gov.np
• TIA Immigration Office, on-arrival tourist visa process: tia.immigration.gov.np
• Nepal Tourism Board, tourist visa: ntb.gov.np
• Embassy of Nepal, Riyadh, and Embassy of Nepal, Moscow, visa pages (SAARC gratis rule, note condition, processing time)

Fees checked on 22 October 2026. Always confirm on the official sites before you travel.