Nepal Visa on Arrival 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Visitors

Most nationalities can get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, or apply online through the e-visa portal before departure. It's one of the simplest visa processes in Asia — but knowing exactly what to expect prevents a chaotic, disoriented arrival after a long flight.

This guide covers everything: who qualifies, current 2026 fees, the step-by-step airport process, what documents to carry, and how to extend your stay if Nepal pulls you in for longer than planned. For the full reference, see our Nepal visa guide.

Who Can Get a Nepal Visa on Arrival?

Nepal grants tourist visas on arrival to nationals of more than 170 countries. For the vast majority of travellers — whether arriving from Europe, North America, Australia, Southeast Asia, or most of Africa — the answer is simply yes, you can get your visa at the airport.

A few important exceptions:

• Indian nationals — No visa required. Indians can enter Nepal freely and stay without restriction under a bilateral agreement.
• Chinese nationals — Eligible for a tourist visa, but under a separate bilateral arrangement with different procedural steps. Check with the Nepal Embassy in Beijing or your nearest consulate before travel.
• A small list of restricted nationalities — A handful of countries are not eligible for on-arrival visas and must apply through a Nepal embassy in advance. The official and current list is maintained by the Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs at mofa.gov.np — always verify before booking flights.

If your nationality is eligible (and it almost certainly is), read on.

Three Ways to Get a Nepal Tourist Visa

1. Visa on Arrival at Kathmandu Airport — Most Common

This is how the majority of trekkers and tourists arrive. You land at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), fill in the immigration arrival form, queue at the visa counter, pay the fee, and get your passport stamped. The whole process takes anywhere from 30 minutes on a quiet winter morning to 90 minutes during peak October–November season when the airport is flooded with Everest and Annapurna trekkers.

No pre-arranged appointment or pre-printed forms are needed. Everything is handled at the airport. The process is genuinely straightforward — the only variable is queue length.

2. Nepal e-Visa (Apply Online Before You Travel)

Nepal's official e-visa portal is nepalimmigration.gov.np. You complete the application online, upload a digital passport photo, pay the visa fee online (card payment), and receive an approval letter to print and carry. At the airport, e-visa holders use a dedicated, faster-moving queue separate from the on-arrival crowd.

The e-visa is strongly recommended for travel between October and November, when peak trekking season creates the longest airport queues. It's also a better option if you're the type of traveller who prefers to have every document sorted before leaving home.

3. Nepal Embassy in Your Home Country

If you have a Nepal embassy or consulate in your city and prefer to handle the visa before departing, this is a completely valid option. Processing times and requirements vary by location — contact the relevant embassy directly. Most travellers find on-arrival or e-visa simpler, but this route suits those with complex itineraries who want certainty well ahead of departure.

Nepal Tourist Visa Fees 2026

Fees have remained stable in recent years. The following are the current 2026 tourist visa rates:

The 30-day visa ($50) is by far the most popular choice for trekkers. Standard trek packages — Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Langtang — fit comfortably within 30 days including arrival, acclimatisation days, and a few nights in Kathmandu or Pokhara on either side.

If you're planning an extended trip combining multiple treks, cultural travel, and time in the mountains, the 90-day multiple-entry visa offers the best value and flexibility.

Step-by-Step Airport Arrival Process

Here is exactly what happens when you land at Tribhuvan International Airport and need a visa on arrival:

1. Land at KTM. The immigration forms are sometimes distributed on the plane during descent. If not, pick them up at the form-filling kiosks inside the terminal just before the immigration hall.
2. Fill in the arrival form. You'll need your passport details, your Nepal address for the first night (hotel name and address), and your onward travel information. Have a pen ready — airport kiosks run out.
3. Use the free photo booth if needed. There are passport photo booths inside the airport near the visa counters — they're free to use. You do not need to bring pre-printed passport photos. The system captures your photo digitally as part of the visa process.
4. Join the visa on arrival queue. There are separate counters for on-arrival visas and for e-visa holders. If you have a pre-approved e-visa, use the e-visa lane — it is faster.
5. Pay the visa fee. USD cash has traditionally been the standard payment method. Credit cards are now accepted at Kathmandu airport, but USD cash remains the most reliable option — bring the exact amount if possible ($30 or $50) to avoid change complications.
6. Fingerprint scan and photo. The immigration officer will take a fingerprint scan and digital photo at the counter. This is standard procedure.
7. Receive your visa stamp. Your passport is returned with a visa sticker and entry stamp. Check the duration stamped matches what you paid for.
8. Proceed to baggage claim and exit. Collect your luggage and pass through the final customs and exit checkpoint. Your trek or journey begins here.

What to Have Ready at Immigration

Keep the following accessible — not buried in a checked bag — as you approach immigration:

• Passport — Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date from Nepal. Immigration officers do check this.
• Completed immigration arrival form — Filled in clearly in block capitals.
• Hotel booking confirmation for your first night — A printed or on-screen confirmation works. Budget guesthouses in Thamel are fine; you just need to name a specific address.
• Onward or return flight ticket — You may be asked to show proof that you're leaving Nepal. A return ticket or onward booking to another country satisfies this.
• USD cash or credit card — For the visa fee. USD is the standard currency for visa payment; bring the correct denomination if possible.
• Travel insurance documentation — Immigration does not routinely check this, but it's a legal requirement for trekking in certain areas (especially above 3,500m with helicopter rescue coverage). Have it on your phone or in your bag.

Extending Your Nepal Visa

Nepal is an easy country to extend your stay in if plans change or the mountains simply won't let you leave. Visa extensions are processed at the Department of Immigration offices in:

• Kathmandu — Kalikasthan, Kathmandu (the main immigration office)
• Pokhara — Immigration office near the lakeside area

Extension cost: NPR 3,000 per 15-day extension (approximately $22–25 USD at current rates). Extensions are processed in person; bring your passport, a passport photo, and the fee in Nepali rupees.

Common Problems — and How to Avoid Them

Nepal immigration is generally smooth, but these issues do come up:

• No return ticket or onward travel proof. Rare, but some immigration officers will ask for evidence you're leaving Nepal. Having a return flight or any onward booking removes the problem entirely.
• Passport validity too short. Six months validity beyond your Nepal departure date is the requirement. A passport expiring in three months when you arrive will be flagged. Renew before you travel if there's any doubt.
• Incorrect or missing hotel address on the arrival form. Any Kathmandu hotel name works — if you're staying with a friend or haven't booked, use the name of a well-known guesthouse in Thamel as a placeholder. Immigration is checking that you have a plan, not verifying the reservation.

e-Visa vs On-Arrival: Which Should You Use?

Both options are valid and both result in the same visa. The practical difference comes down to timing and queue management.

Get the e-visa if:

• You're arriving October through November (peak trekking season — queues at KTM immigration can stretch to 90 minutes for on-arrival, while e-visa holders move through a dedicated counter)
• You prefer to have every document confirmed before leaving home
• You dislike filling in paper forms after a long-haul flight

On-arrival is perfectly fine if:

• You're travelling December through September (quieter immigration queues)
• You've booked your trip at short notice and don't have time to process an e-visa (standard e-visa processing takes 2–3 working days)
• You're already comfortable with the airport process

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Start Planning?

The Nepal visa process is genuinely one of the simpler entry procedures you'll encounter anywhere in Asia. Prepare your documents, carry USD cash, and if you're arriving during October or November, take the 10 minutes to apply for the e-visa before you fly. Beyond that, the hard part is choosing which trail to walk first.

Browse our Nepal trekking packages, read our full Nepal visa guide, or check the trekking permits overview for further detail on documents, extensions, and route requirements.