British citizens do not need to arrange a Nepal visa before travelling. Nepal issues tourist visas on arrival to UK passport holders, at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at the main land borders with India and China. In practice this makes Nepal one of the more straightforward countries in the region to enter.
That said, "visa on arrival" is not the same as "no paperwork". The queue at Kathmandu can be long, the machines are unreliable, and a handful of avoidable mistakes account for most of the trouble people run into. This guide covers what actually happens.
Can UK citizens get a visa on arrival in Nepal?
Yes. British passport holders are eligible for a tourist visa on arrival. There is no requirement to apply in advance through the Embassy of Nepal in London, although you can if you prefer to arrive with the visa already in your passport.
There is one important exception to be aware of in general: Nepal maintains a list of nationalities that must obtain a visa in advance and are not eligible on arrival. The UK is not on that list, but the list does change, so if you hold dual nationality and plan to travel on a non-UK passport, check that passport's status separately.
Duration options
Tourist visas are issued in three lengths, and you choose at the point of application:
| Duration | Best for |
|---|---|
| 15 days | A short trip, a wildlife safari, or a single mid-hills trek |
| 30 days | Most trekking trips, including the buffer days you should be building in |
| 90 days | Long stays, multiple regions, or remote treks in Dolpa and Humla |
The fee rises with duration and is payable on arrival. Fees are set by the Department of Immigration and are revised periodically, so confirm the current amount at the official source rather than relying on a figure quoted on any blog, including this one. Tourist visas can be extended inside Nepal, and the total stay permitted in a single calendar year is capped, so if you are planning a long trip check the current limit before you commit.
Choose longer than you think you need.
This is the single most common regret. Extending a visa inside Nepal means a trip to the Department of Immigration office in Kathmandu, a queue, and a fee that makes the original saving pointless. Mountain flights to Jumla, Juphal and Simikot cancel for weather routinely, and a trek that slips four days is normal rather than unlucky. If you are choosing between 15 and 30 days, take 30.
What to bring to the visa desk
Have these ready before you join the queue and the process takes minutes rather than an hour.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid at least six months beyond your arrival date, with a blank page |
| Cash in USD | The reliable way to pay. Bring clean, untorn notes |
| Passport photo | One spare. The airport photo machines are frequently out of order |
| Address in Nepal | Your first night's hotel is fine. The form asks for it |
| Return or onward ticket | Rarely checked, occasionally asked for |
Two things worth stressing. First, bring cash in US dollars. Card payment at the visa counter exists but the terminals fail often enough that experienced travellers do not rely on them, and there is no reliable ATM before the immigration desk. Second, damaged or heavily worn notes are sometimes refused, so take clean ones from your bank rather than whatever is in the back of a drawer.
The process at Kathmandu airport
On arrival you fill in an arrival form at an electronic kiosk, which prints a receipt. You take that to the payment counter, pay, then join the immigration queue where the visa is issued into your passport. The kiosks are the usual bottleneck: some are broken, and the queue moves at the speed of the slowest machine.
You can complete the arrival form online shortly before you fly, which produces a QR code and lets you skip the kiosk stage. If you are arriving on a busy evening bank of flights, this is worth doing.
Arriving overland
Visas on arrival are also issued at the main land borders. If you are entering from India, the crossings at Sunauli, Birgunj, Kakarbhitta and Nepalgunj all issue tourist visas. Nepalgunj is the relevant one for Western Nepal, since it is the gateway for onward flights to Jumla, Juphal and Simikot.
Land borders keep shorter hours than the airport and are less predictable. Arrive in daylight, and carry cash, since the payment options are more limited than at Kathmandu.
Permits are separate from your visa
This trips people up constantly. A tourist visa lets you enter Nepal. It does not let you trek. Depending on the route you will also need some combination of a TIMS card, a national park or conservation area entry permit, and for restricted areas a separate restricted-area permit.
That last category matters if you are heading west. Upper Dolpa, Humla and parts of Mugu require a restricted-area permit issued per person per week, and by law you must travel with a registered agency and a licensed guide, with a minimum group size. Independent solo trekking is not permitted in those zones regardless of what your visa says. The detail is in our guide to restricted area permits for Dolpa, Humla and Mugu.
Before you book flights
Your visa duration should be decided after your itinerary, not before. Read how long you actually need first, then buy the visa length that covers it with room to spare. If you are still choosing a region, the seasons guide matters more than most people expect, because the monsoon that closes most of Nepal barely touches Dolpa and Humla.
FAQ
Do UK citizens need a visa for Nepal?
Yes, but you do not need to arrange it in advance. British passport holders are eligible for a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport and at the main land borders, issued in 15, 30 or 90 day durations.
How much is a Nepal visa for British citizens?
The fee depends on the duration you choose and is set by Nepal's Department of Immigration, which revises it periodically. Check the current amount on the official immigration website before you travel rather than relying on a figure from a blog. Bring US dollars in cash to pay it.
How long is a Nepal tourist visa valid?
You choose 15, 30 or 90 days at the point of application, and the clock starts on the day you enter. Visas can be extended inside Nepal at the Department of Immigration, subject to an annual cap on total days. Choosing a longer visa at the outset is almost always cheaper and easier than extending.
Can I get a Nepal visa on arrival at the land border from India?
Yes. The main crossings, including Sunauli, Birgunj, Kakarbhitta and Nepalgunj, all issue tourist visas on arrival. Land borders keep shorter hours than the airport and have more limited payment options, so arrive in daylight with cash.
Does my Nepal visa cover trekking permits?
No. A tourist visa permits entry only. Trekking requires separate permits, which vary by route and can include a TIMS card, a park or conservation area fee, and for Upper Dolpa, Humla and parts of Mugu a restricted-area permit that legally requires a registered agency and a licensed guide.
How long does my passport need to be valid?
At least six months beyond your date of arrival, with at least one blank page for the visa sticker.
Last checked: August 2026. Visa rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with Nepal's Department of Immigration or the Embassy of Nepal in London before you travel.