Nepal Entry Requirements

Nepal Entry Requirements outline the rules that must be met by every traveler planning to visit Nepal. Among these requirements are mandatory documents that must be prepared before setting off for Nepal.

One document that you will need to hold to enter Nepal is a passport with at least a 6-month validity period. Make sure that your passport will be valid for the entire duration of your planned stay in Nepal.

Another equally important travel document that you will need to visit Nepal is a visa. There is only one country in the world whose nationals can enjoy the freedom of movement to Nepal, i.e., India. Indian nationals can travel to Nepal visa-free for any purpose and stay there for an unlimited period of time.

The Nepalese visa policy states that other countries will need to hold a valid visa to enter Nepal. Most foreigners can obtain a visa on arrival or by applying online. Additionally, there are 12 countries whose citizens need to have a pre-arranged visa before arriving in Nepal.

Nepal is also offering trekking and mountaineering permits for those who plan to explore certain mountainous areas. These permits can be applied for through tour agencies.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Government of Nepal has also introduced some protective measures. The country is now fully open for all international travelers. Nevertheless, they still need to meet some Covid-19 requirements.

Fully vaccinated travelers no longer need to provide a negative PCR test report if they can show valid vaccination proof. In turn, non-fully-vaccinated arrivals are still required to produce a PCR test within 72 hours prior to the departure.

Read on for more information on the current entry requirements in Nepal. Please, however, bear in mind that these rules can change at short notice due to the still-evolving coronavirus situation around the globe.

Who can enter Nepal?

Nepal fully reopened to international visitors on 10th March 2022. The country welcomes all foreigners, no matter their Covid-19 vaccination status.

Documents check-list for entering Nepal

• valid passport
• Nepalese visa
• Covid-19 vaccination proof
• negative PCR test issued 72 hrs prior to departure (only if unvaccinated)
• Online Arrival Form
• Online Departure Form
• trekking permits (if applicable)
• travel insurance

Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements

Testing requirements

Pre-departure testing

Fully vaccinated travelers are exempt from Covid-19 testing requirements as long as they are able to show vaccination proof.

Unvaccinated travelers must submit a negative PCR test certificate issued no earlier than 72 hrs prior to the planned departure time.

The certificate must be issued in English. A certified translation will also be accepted.

Important: The requirements of your airline may differ, and you may need to produce a Covid-19 test before boarding a flight, even if you are fully vaccinated. Remember to contact your airline directly for the most accurate information.

POST-ARRIVAL TESTING

There are no post-arrival testing practices, regardless of a traveler's vaccination status.

Vaccination requirements

Nepal allows entry to both fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals. However, those who will provide vaccination certificates will be exempted from testing requirements.

In order to be recognized as fully vaccinated, one must have received all recommended doses of the Covid-19 vaccine approved in Nepal, i.e.:

• BioNTech Pfizer
• CoronaVac.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Moderna
• Oxford
• AstraZeneca
• Sinopharm BBIBP
• Sputnik
• Covaxin

Moreover, it must have elapsed at least 14 days from receiving the last vaccination dose.

The vaccination certificate must be issued in English. If the document is in another language, a certified English translation will be necessary.

Quarantine requirements

There are no quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated travelers must provide a negative pre-departure test result to avoid quarantine.

Nevertheless, all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, may need to undergo quarantine if displaying Covid-19 symptoms.

Traveling from Nepal

Before leaving Nepal, you will need to complete the Online Departure Form. You should also contact your carrier for information on PCR testing and vaccination requirements for your flight to depart Nepal.

Make sure to obtain all essential information before your departing flight to avoid any issues and be able to make appropriate arrangements in advance of your travel. Do 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 can occasionally occur in Nepal. All travelers should avoid public protests since participating in them could breach visa conditions and may result in being arrested or deported.

Make sure that you are aware of all entry requirements that must be met in order to ensure hassle-free entry to Nepal. Please note that after arriving in Nepal, you may need to undergo health check-ups. If displaying Covid-19 symptoms, you may be asked to take an antigen test at your own expense. If you tested positive, you will need to follow quarantine measures.

Before visiting Nepal, remember to check the latest travel advice. After arriving in the country, follow all local advice throughout the entire duration of your stay.

Entry Rules for Children

Children aged 5 and younger

Children aged 5 years and younger do not need to provide either Covid-19 vaccination proof or a negative test to enter Nepal.

Children over 5 years

Unvaccinated minor travelers need to follow the same health protocol as adult travelers.

Transit through Nepal

International flights to Nepal are operated in a limited way.

If planning a transit stop in Nepal before reaching your final destination, you will need to have ready the following documents:

• a negative RT-PCR test certificate issued within 72 hours before the first departure flight (only if unvaccinated);
• a visa or prior document proving the onward travel;
• travel insurance proof covering health, immediate crisis, or rescue for the whole duration of planned stay in Nepal;
• a barcode issued upon completion of the Online Arrival Form.

Important: The above-listed requirements apply to all transit passengers, including airside - those passengers who will not be leaving the airport transit zone.

Visa requirements

Freedom of movement

Only one country in the world can enjoy travel freedom to Nepal - India. It means that in most cases, Indian nationals are allowed to stay in Nepal without any limitations on their planned duration of stay or performed activities.

Indian nationals can also reside permanently and work there with no restrictions under the Art. 7 of the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

A citizen of India can use one of the following documents to enter Nepal visa-free:

• Indian passport
• Voter ID card with a photograph
• Ad hoc/temporary ID card issued by the embassy of India to the Indian national in case of emergency
• Registration certificate issued by the embassy of India to the Indian national residing in Nepal

Pre-arranged visa

Before arriving in Nepal, passport holders from 12 different countries are required to obtain a visa at their corresponding Nepalese consulate or embassy.

The complete list of these 12 countries includes:

• Afghanistan
• Cameroon
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Iraq
• Liberia
• Nigeria
• Palestine
• Somalia
• Syria
• Zimbabwe

Please note: Additional travel conditions, for example, visas to other countries, can waive the pre-arranged Nepalese visa requirement.

Nepal eVisa

Nepal introduced the eVisa service in 2017, offering an online visa application for travelers from most countries around the world. Eligible travelers can apply for single-entry visas for tourism purposes and stay in Nepal for either 15, 30, or 90 days.

There is also a transit eVisa which a traveler must use within 24 hours from the date of issue.

In order to apply for an electronic visa for Nepal, an applicant needs to fill out a short online form, cover the processing fee and receive the approved eVisa via email.

Read more here and check your eligibility for Nepal eVisa.

Visa on arrival

According to the Nepalese visa policy, nationals of most countries in the world can obtain a tourist visa upon arrival in Nepal. Multiple entry visas are issued for a stay of 15, 30, or 90 days.

The following entry ports in Nepal issue the Visa on Arrival:

• Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
• Birganj (India border)
• Bheemdatta (India border)
• Dhangadhi (India border)
• Kodari (China side: Zhangmu Port, which is currently available for cargo transactions only)
• Kakarbhitta (India border)
• Nepalgunj (India border)
• Siddharthanagar (India border)

Important: A holder of a temporary passport isn't eligible for the VOA unless it is issued by an EU member state.

Trekking permit

Apart from a valid visa, a traveler who plans trekking expeditions in Nepal is required to obtain a special trekking permit issued by the Nepalese authorities enabling staying in designated mountain areas.

A trekking agency is a body that can obtain the permit on behalf of a traveler. Depending on the selected trail covered by the permit, different permit fees may apply. For more information, check here.

Passenger Locator Form

Both fully vaccinated and non-vaccinated travelers must complete the Passenger Locator Form before arriving in Nepal. The separate form must also be completed before exiting the country.

The Online Arrival Form and Online Departure Form are available online.

Travel Insurance

Access to medical facilities in Nepal is very limited, particularly outside Kathmandu. Medical treatment costs can be really high.

Every traveler planning to visit Nepal must have a comprehensive travel policy covering the costs of medical treatment, hospitalization, and evacuation. It's best to take out travel insurance that also has Covid-19 coverage.