Nepal Visa on Arrival 2026: Fees, Eligibility, and How to Apply at Kathmandu Airport
Complete guide: Nepal Visa and Trekking Permits: Complete Guide
Direct answer: Most international travellers can get a Nepal visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at major land borders by filling out the online form in advance, paying the fee in USD cash, and presenting a passport valid six months beyond entry. As of 2026 the tourist visa costs USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, and USD 125 for 90 days, all multiple entry. The airport process takes roughly 15 to 30 minutes if you pre-registered online and up to an hour or more at peak arrival times. Extensions are handled by the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara. This guide walks you through the entire process counter by counter, so you know exactly what to expect from touchdown to stamp.
Who is eligible for visa on arrival
Nationals of most countries receive a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, including travellers from the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, Canada, Japan, and most of Asia. The main exceptions are:
- Indian citizens, who do not require a visa at all to enter Nepal. They simply carry a valid photo ID such as a passport, voter ID, or Aadhaar card.
- Chinese citizens (including Hong Kong and Macau SAR passport holders), who are eligible for a gratis (free) tourist visa.
- SAARC nationals (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), who generally receive a 30-day gratis visa on their first entry in a visa year.
- A small restricted list, mostly countries in Africa and the Middle East (recently including Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Somalia, Liberia, Cameroon, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan), whose nationals must obtain a visa from a Nepali embassy or seek prior approval before flying.
If your nationality is on the restricted list and you board without a visa, the airline may deny boarding, so confirm your status on the official Department of Immigration site before you book. For a country-by-country breakdown and embassy application routes, see our wider Nepal Tourist Visa Guide 2026.
Current visa fees (2026)
| Duration | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 15 days (multiple entry) | $30 |
| 30 days (multiple entry) | $50 |
| 90 days (multiple entry) | $125 |
| Extension (minimum 15 days) | $45, then $3 per extra day |
| SAARC and Chinese nationals | Gratis (first 30 days) |
Choose the duration that matches your trip. If you plan to trek a long route such as the Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp with buffer days, the 30-day visa usually offers better value than extending a 15-day visa later. Every foreign passport holder needs their own visa, including infants and children, at the same fee. The 15, 30, and 90-day categories are all multiple entry, so you can cross into India or Tibet (with the right Chinese visa) and return on the same visa within its validity.
Confirmed vs expected: These fee bands follow the Department of Immigration’s long-standing schedule. Always reconfirm the exact amount on the official immigration site before travel, as fees are set by government notice and can change.
Documents to have ready
The visa counter checklist is short, but missing one item can send you to the back of the queue:
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with at least one blank visa page and in good physical condition.
- One passport-size photo (or use the photo service at the airport for a small fee if you forgot).
- USD cash in clean, undamaged bills. Small denominations help; torn or very old notes are sometimes refused.
- Your online application receipt if you pre-registered (see the comparison below).
- Proof of onward or return travel and your first night’s accommodation address, occasionally requested by the immigration officer.
The visa on arrival process at Kathmandu airport, step by step
- Submit the online form before you fly. Complete the arrival visa application on the official portal at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np in the days before travel. You receive a submission receipt with a barcode or reference number. Print it or keep it on your phone.
- Disembark and follow the signs. After landing at Tribhuvan International Airport, follow the clearly marked arrival visa and immigration signs through the corridor into the arrivals hall. The visa area sits before the main immigration desks.
- Fill a kiosk form if you did not pre-register. Rows of self-service kiosks host the electronic application form. Enter your passport details, upload or take a photo, and print the confirmation slip. Budget five to ten minutes, longer if several flights land together.
- Queue at the payment counter. Counters are organised by visa duration, with separate lines for 15, 30, and 90-day visas. Pay the exact fee in USD cash. Card terminals exist but are frequently offline, so treat cash as the reliable method. Nepali rupees and some other currencies are accepted at posted exchange rates, but USD is smoothest.
- Complete biometrics. Hand the officer your passport, printed form or pre-registration receipt, photo, and payment receipt. Your fingerprints are scanned and your photo captured at the desk.
- Receive your visa sticker. The officer prints the visa, fixes it to a passport page, and stamps your entry. Check the entry date and duration printed on the sticker before you walk away.
- Clear immigration. Proceed to the immigration booths, where an officer verifies the visa, asks the purpose and length of your visit, and stamps you in. Answer simply: tourism, trekking, or pilgrimage.
- Collect bags and pass customs. Baggage carousels and the customs channel follow. Declare drone equipment, large amounts of cash, or professional camera gear if asked.
With a pre-filled online form and cash in hand, the whole sequence runs 15 to 30 minutes. At peak windows, typically afternoons and evenings when multiple international flights land together, allow 45 to 90 minutes. Morning arrivals usually clear fastest. If you are flying into Kathmandu from a regional hub or arriving overland, our How to Get to Nepal 2026 guide covers every route and border.
On arrival vs online pre-registration
Pre-registering does not issue the visa. It simply records your application so you skip the kiosk step. You still pay at the counter and complete biometrics on arrival. Here is how the two paths compare:
| Factor | Airport kiosk only | Online pre-registration |
|---|---|---|
| Where you fill the form | At a kiosk after landing | At home via the official portal |
| Time saved | Baseline | 10-20 minutes per traveller |
| Payment | USD cash at counter | Still paid at the counter on arrival |
| Biometrics | Required at airport | Required at airport |
| Guarantees entry? | No | No, it is an application record only |
The takeaway: pre-registration is free, takes ten minutes, and removes the most annoying queue of the process. There is no downside, so treat it as a mandatory part of trip preparation, alongside reading our know before you go guide.
Common reasons visas get refused at the counter
Refusals are rare for eligible nationalities, but they happen. The usual triggers are avoidable:
- Passport validity under six months or a damaged passport that the scanner rejects.
- No blank visa page for the sticker.
- Form details that do not match the passport, such as a misspelled name or wrong passport number.
- No onward ticket or funds when the officer asks, suggesting an unclear travel plan.
- Previous overstay in Nepal, which can require clearance before a new visa is issued.
- Restricted nationality without prior embassy approval.
Fix the passport and paperwork issues before flying, carry your itinerary in print or on your phone, and you will sail through. If you intend to trek, remember the visa is only half the paperwork: TIMS cards and park permits are covered in our Nepal Trekking Permits Guide.
Visa on arrival at land borders
The same visa on arrival is available to most nationalities at designated land crossings, including Kakarbhitta in the east, Birgunj and Belahiya (Sunauli) on the India border, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi in the west, and the northern crossings to Tibet such as Rasuwagadhi, where the Tatopani crossing recently reopened on the Araniko Highway. Expect a slower, more manual process at land borders: bring two printed passport photos, exact USD cash, and patience. Offices keep limited hours, typically daylight only, so plan to cross in the morning. Arriving at a land border late in the day without the right photos or cash is the single most common overland mistake we see.
Extending your visa from inside Nepal
If your plans grow, extend the visa before it expires at the Department of Immigration in Kalikasthan, Kathmandu, or the Immigration Office in Pokhara. The process:
- Fill the extension form at the office or online before your visit.
- Submit your passport, one photo, and the extension fee: a minimum 15-day block costs USD 45, with USD 3 per additional day beyond that.
- Pay at the bank counter inside the immigration office and collect your receipt.
- Return the same day or the next working day for the stamped extension.
Tourist visas can be extended up to a total stay of 150 days in any visa year. Overstaying, even by a day, incurs a daily fine and must be settled before departure at the airport, which risks missing your flight. If you are planning a long itinerary, our best time to visit Nepal guide helps you match your visa length to trekking windows and festivals.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay the visa fee by card?
Cash in USD is the reliable method. Card terminals exist but are not guaranteed. Carry clean bills in small denominations.
Do Indian citizens need a visa?
No. Indian nationals enter Nepal without a visa; carry a valid photo ID such as a passport or voter ID.
Can I extend my visa?
Yes, at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara, in person, before expiry. The minimum 15-day extension costs USD 45, plus USD 3 per additional day.
Is a visa needed for children?
Yes, every foreign passport holder, including infants, needs their own visa at the same fee.
How long does the whole process take?
Fifteen to 30 minutes pre-registered, and up to an hour or more when several flights land at once. Mornings move fastest.
Is online pre-registration a visa approval?
No. It records your application only. You still pay and give biometrics at the airport.
Can I work on a tourist visa?
No. Volunteering, paid work, and journalism require separate permits arranged in advance.
Key takeaways
- Visa on arrival is available to most nationalities at Kathmandu airport and designated land borders.
- Fees: $30, $50, or $125 for 15, 30, or 90 days, all multiple entry, payable in USD cash.
- Pre-register on the official portal to skip the kiosk queue, then pay and complete biometrics on arrival.
- Indian citizens are exempt, Chinese and SAARC nationals get gratis visas, and a short restricted list needs an embassy visa.
- Extend before expiry at the Department of Immigration: USD 45 for a 15-day block plus USD 3 per extra day.
Published by the TravellingNepal Editorial Desk. Fee and eligibility information summarized from the Department of Immigration, Nepal; verify current details on the official site before travel.
Related guides
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- how-to-get-to-nepal-2026-flights-airports-overland
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