Nepal issues tourist visas on arrival to citizens of most countries, at Tribhuvan International Airport and at the main land borders. It is a genuinely easy entry compared with much of Asia. The difficulty is not eligibility, it is that the process at the airport is slower and more cash-dependent than people expect.
Who can get a visa on arrival
Most nationalities are eligible, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the EU member states. Nepal does maintain a list of nationalities that must obtain a visa in advance from a Nepali diplomatic mission and cannot get one on arrival. That list is revised, so check your own passport's current status with a Nepali embassy or consulate rather than assuming.
If you hold two passports, check the one you intend to travel on. Eligibility follows the document, not the person.
The three durations
| Duration | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 15 days | Short trip, safari, or a single short trek |
| 30 days | The default for most trekking itineraries |
| 90 days | Multiple regions, or remote treks needing weather buffer |
Fees rise with duration, are set by Nepal's Department of Immigration, and are revised from time to time. Confirm the current figure at the official source. The days are counted from your date of entry, not from issue.
What actually happens at Kathmandu airport
The sequence is: arrival form at an electronic kiosk, then payment counter, then the immigration desk where the visa goes into your passport.
The kiosks are the bottleneck. Several are usually out of service, and a full flight arriving at the same time as two others produces a long, slow queue. You can fill in the arrival form online in the days before you fly and arrive with a QR code, which lets you skip that stage entirely. If your flight lands in the evening bank, do this.
Bring US dollars in cash.
There is a card terminal at the payment counter. It works often enough that people recommend it and fails often enough that you should not depend on it. There is no reliable ATM before immigration, so a failed card leaves you stuck in a place with no way to pay. Carry the fee in clean, undamaged US dollar notes. Worn or torn notes are sometimes refused.
What to have ready
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | Six months validity beyond arrival, one blank page |
| US dollars, cash | The dependable payment method |
| Passport photo | Bring a spare; airport photo booths are often broken |
| Nepal address | First night's hotel is sufficient |
Land borders
Tourist visas are issued at the main crossings from India, including Sunauli, Birgunj, Kakarbhitta and Nepalgunj, and at Kodari on the Chinese border when it is open. Land crossings run shorter hours and have fewer payment options than the airport, so cross in daylight and carry cash.
Nepalgunj matters if you are heading to Western Nepal, since it is the hub for onward flights into the Karnali hills.
Extending your stay
Tourist visas can be extended at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu, with a minimum extension period and a cap on the total number of days permitted in a single calendar year. Extending is more expensive per day than buying the longer visa at the outset, and it costs you a day in a queue in Kathmandu.
Given that mountain flights in Western Nepal cancel for weather with some regularity, buying more days than your itinerary strictly needs is cheap insurance.
Your visa is not a trekking permit
Entry and trekking are separate systems. Depending on route you may need a TIMS card, a national park or conservation area entry fee, and for restricted areas a permit that also legally requires a registered agency, a licensed guide and a minimum group size. See restricted area permits and the trip planning guide.
FAQ
Can I get a Nepal visa on arrival?
Most nationalities can, including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and EU countries. Nepal maintains a list of nationalities that must apply in advance instead, and that list changes, so verify your own passport's status with a Nepali embassy before travelling.
How long does the visa on arrival process take at Kathmandu?
Between fifteen minutes and well over an hour, depending on how many flights landed at the same time and how many arrival kiosks are working. Filling in the arrival form online beforehand and arriving with the QR code removes the slowest stage.
Can I pay the Nepal visa fee by card?
Sometimes. There is a card terminal but it fails frequently, and there is no reliable ATM before immigration. Bring the fee in clean US dollar cash and treat the card as a backup rather than the plan.
Do I need a passport photo for a Nepal visa on arrival?
Bring one. The arrival kiosks capture a photo and the automated booths are meant to cover it, but they are often out of service, and having a spare passport photo turns a problem into a non-event.
Can I extend a Nepal tourist visa?
Yes, at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu, subject to a minimum extension period and an annual cap on total days. It costs more per day than buying a longer visa initially, so choose generously at the outset.
Last checked: August 2026. Confirm current rules and fees with Nepal's Department of Immigration before travelling.