Getting into Nepal is one of the easiest parts of the trip: most travelers simply land in Kathmandu and pick up a visa on arrival at the airport. Still, a few practical details — cash, photos, queue strategy — can save you an hour of standing in line after a long flight. Here is exactly how it works.
Who can get a visa on arrival
Citizens of almost every country can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu, at Gautam Buddha International Airport (BWA) in Bhairahawa, at Pokhara International Airport, and at official overland border points with India and Tibet/China.
A small list of nationalities is excluded from visa on arrival and must apply at a Nepali embassy beforehand. If your passport is from a country with limited diplomatic ties to Nepal, check the Department of Immigration (immigration.gov.np) before booking flights.
Indian citizens do not need a visa at all.
Current visa types and fees
Nepal keeps it simple — there is one tourist visa, tiered by duration. All tourist visas are multiple entry.
| Duration | Approximate Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 15 days | $30 |
| 30 days | $50 |
| 90 days | $125 |
Fees are payable in cash — US dollars are safest, though major currencies (EUR, GBP, AUD and others) are accepted at the airport counter. Cards are sometimes accepted at the airport but the terminal is unreliable; do not count on it.
Tip: Fees change every few years. Treat the table above as a guide and confirm the current amount on the official immigration website the week before you travel.
Step-by-step: visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport
- Before the trip (optional but smart): fill in the online arrival form at the Department of Immigration website up to 15 days before arrival, and print or screenshot the barcode confirmation. This lets you skip the kiosk queue entirely.
- At the kiosks: if you did not fill the form online, use the touch-screen machines in the arrivals hall. They scan your passport and print a receipt.
- Pay the fee: take the receipt to the payment counter and pay in cash. Keep the payment slip.
- Immigration counter: hand over passport, payment slip, and form receipt. The officer stamps a visa sticker into your passport.
The whole process takes 20–60 minutes depending on how many flights land at once. Flights from Doha, Istanbul, and Delhi often arrive together in the early morning — if you land in that window, head straight for the kiosks.
What you need
- Passport with at least 6 months validity and one empty page
- Cash for the fee (small mix of USD bills; the counter rarely has change for $100 bills on a $30 visa)
- Two passport photos — backup for the kiosk, and you will need photos later for trekking permits
- Hotel name and address for the form (any first-night booking is fine)
Extending your visa
Plans in Nepal have a way of growing — a 10-day trip becomes a three-week trek. Extensions are routine:
- Apply at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan) or Pokhara.
- Cost is roughly USD 3 per day of extension, with a minimum charge of about USD 45 for up to 15 days.
- Maximum total stay on a tourist visa is 150 days per calendar year.
- Start the application online, then bring your passport and payment to the office. Go early in the morning; afternoons get crowded.
Overstaying is taken seriously — fines are charged per day and can complicate future visits. If you are close to the limit, extend before it lapses.
Overland entry points
Coming from India, the busiest crossings are Sunauli/Belahiya (for Lumbini and Pokhara), Birgunj (for Kathmandu and Chitwan), and Kakarbhitta in the east. The visa-on-arrival process is the same but counters are cash-only and photos are mandatory — have everything ready. From Tibet, the Gyirong/Kerung crossing requires being part of an organized tour on the Chinese side.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Relying on cards at the visa counter — bring cash.
- Arriving with a passport about to expire — six months validity is enforced.
- Forgetting the printed/online form barcode — it expires 15 days after submission, so do not fill it in too early.
- Buying a 15-day visa to save $20 when your itinerary might stretch — the extension process costs more time than the difference.
With the visa sorted, the real planning starts: check our 7-day Nepal itinerary and trekking permits guide for next steps.
