Nepal Entry and Travel Requirements
Nepal's entry requirements outline the rules that any traveler planning to visit Nepal must follow. Among these requirements are mandatory documents that must be prepared before leaving for Nepal.
One document you need to bring to enter Nepal is a passport with a validity of at least 6 months. Make sure your passport will be valid for the entire time you plan to stay in Nepal.
Another equally important travel document that you need when coming to Nepal is a visa. There is only one country in the world whose citizens can benefit from freedom of movement to Nepal: India. Indian citizens can travel to Nepal without a visa for any reason and stay there without time limit.
Nepal's visa policy states that other countries will need to have a valid visa to enter Nepal. Most foreigners can apply for a visa upon arrival or by applying online. Additionally, there are 12 countries whose citizens must have a visa before traveling to Nepal. Nepal also issues trekking and climbing permits to those planning to explore some mountainous areas. These permits may be required from tour companies.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Nepal government has also taken several protective measures. The country is now fully open to all international visitors. However, they still must meet certain requirements related to Covid-19. Fully vaccinated travelers no longer need to provide a negative PCR test report if they can present valid proof of vaccination. In return, arrivals who are not fully vaccinated must still present a PCR test within 72 hours before departure.
Read on for more information about Nepal's current entry requirements. However, please note that these rules are subject to change at short notice as the Coronavirus situation continues to evolve around the world.
Who can enter Nepal?
Nepal fully reopened to international visitors on March 10, 2022. The country welcomes all foreigners, regardless of their Covid-19 vaccination status.
Document checklist for entry into Nepal
- valid passport
- Nepal visa
- Proof of Covid-19 vaccination
- Negative PCR test taken 72 hours before departure (only if unvaccinated)
- Application forms come online
- Online departure form
- hiking permit (if applicable)
- travel insurance
Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements
Check before departure
Fully vaccinated travelers are exempt from Covid-19 testing requirements as long as they can show proof of vaccination.
Unvaccinated travelers must present a negative PCR test certificate issued no earlier than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time.
The certificate must be issued in English. A certified translation will also be accepted.
Important:
Your airline's requirements may vary and you may be asked to take a Covid-19 test before boarding your flight, even if you are fully vaccinated. Remember to contact your airline directly for the most accurate information.
AFTER CHECKOUT CAME
There is no post-arrival testing, regardless of a traveler's vaccination status.
Vaccination required
Nepal allows entry for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people. However, those who provide a vaccination certificate will be exempt from the testing requirement.
To be considered fully vaccinated, you must have received all recommended doses of approved Covid-19 vaccines in Nepal, specifically:
- BioNTech Pfizer
- CoronaVac. Johnson & Johnson
- Modern
- Oxford
- AstraZeneca
- Sinopharm BBIBP
- Sputnik
- covaxin
In addition, there must be at least 14 days between the last dose of vaccine.
Vaccination certificates must be issued in English. If documents are in another language, a certified English translation will be required.
Quarantine required
There is no quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated people. Unvaccinated travelers must provide a negative test result before departure to avoid quarantine. However, all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, may be required to quarantine if they have symptoms of Covid-19.
Traveling from Nepal
Before leaving Nepal, you need to fill out the online departure form. You should also contact your carrier for information about PCR testing and vaccination requirements for flights from Nepal.
Make sure you get all the necessary information before your flight departs to avoid any problems and be able to make appropriate arrangements before your trip. Also, remember to familiarize yourself with the entry requirements of the country you will be traveling to from Nepal.
Traveling to Nepal
Some political protests and strikes may take place in Nepal from time to time. All visitors should avoid public demonstrations as their participation could violate their visa conditions and result in their arrest or deportation.
Make sure you know all the entry requirements that need to be met to ensure hassle-free entry into Nepal. Please note that upon arrival in Nepal, you may be required to undergo a health check. If you have symptoms of Covid-19, you may be asked to have an antigen test at your own expense. If you test positive, you will need to follow quarantine measures.
Before visiting Nepal, be sure to check the latest travel advice. Once you arrive in the country, follow all local advice throughout your stay.
Entry Rules for Children
Children 5 years old and under
Children aged 5 and under do not need to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative test to enter Nepal.
Children over 5 years old
Unvaccinated minor travelers must follow the same health protocols as adult travelers.
Transit through Nepal
International flights to Nepal are operated in limited numbers.
If you plan to make a transit stop in Nepal before arriving at your final destination, you will need to prepare the following documents:
- negative RT-PCR test certificate issued within 72 hours before the first departure flight (only if not vaccinated);
- visa or prior documentation evidencing continued travel;
- proof of travel insurance covering health, emergency crisis or rescue for the entire planned stay in Nepal;
- Barcode is issued after completing the online arrival form.
Important:
The requirements listed above apply to all transit passengers, including aircraft passengers, i.e. those who will not leave the transit area of the airport.
Visa requirements
Freedom to travel
There is only one country in the world that enjoys freedom of movement in Nepal: India. This means that in most cases, Indian citizens are allowed to stay in Nepal without any restrictions on the expected length of stay or activities to be undertaken.
Indian citizens can also permanently reside and work there without any restrictions under Art. 7 of the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Indian citizens can use any of the following documents to enter Nepal without a visa:
- Indian passport
- Voter card with photo
- Special/Temporary ID card issued by the Indian Embassy to Indian citizens in case of emergency
- Registration certificate issued by the Indian Embassy to Indian citizens residing in Nepal
Pre-arranged visa
Before arriving in Nepal, passport holders from 12 different countries must apply for a visa from the respective Nepalese consulate or embassy.
The full list of these 12 countries includes:
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iraq
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Palestine
- Somalia
- Syria
- Zimbabwe
Please note:
Additional travel requirements, such as visas for other countries, may waive the previous Nepal visa requirement.
Electronic visa for Nepal
Nepal introduced the eVisa service in 2017, providing online visa application services to tourists from most countries around the world. Eligible travelers can apply for a single-entry visa for tourism purposes and stay in Nepal for 15, 30 or 90 days.
There is also a transit eVisa that travelers must use within 24 hours of issuance.
To apply for an e-visa to Nepal, applicants must fill out a short online application form, pay the processing fee, and receive the approved eVisa via email. Read more here and check if you are eligible for Nepal e-Visa or not.
Visa on arrival
According to Nepal's visa policy, citizens of most countries in the world can apply for a tourist visa upon arrival in Nepal. Multiple-entry visas are issued for stays of 15, 30 or 90 days.
The following ports of entry in Nepal issue visas on arrival:
- Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
- Birganj (Indian border)
- Bheemdatta (Indian border)
- Dhangadhi (Indian border)
- Kodari (Chinese side:
- Zhangmu Port, currently only for cargo trading)
- Kakarbhitta (Indian border)
- Nepalgunj (Indian border)
- Siddharthanagar (Indian border)
Important:
Holders of temporary passports are not eligible for VOA unless the passport is issued by an EU Member State.
Hiking permit
In addition to a valid visa, travelers planning mountaineering expeditions in Nepal must have a special mountaineering permit issued by the Nepali government authorizing stays in designated mountainous areas. A trekking agency is an organization that can apply for permits on behalf of tourists. Depending on the chosen route included in the permit, different permit fees may apply.
Passenger Locator Form
Fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers must complete a Passenger Locator Form before arriving in Nepal. A separate application form must also be completed before leaving the country.
Travel Insurance
Access to medical facilities in Nepal is very limited, especially outside Kathmandu. The cost of medical treatment can be very high.
Any traveler planning to travel to Nepal should have a comprehensive travel policy that covers the costs of medical treatment, hospitalization, and evacuation. It's best to buy travel insurance that covers Covid-19.
