Visa FAQ
Nepal visa questions, answered
Clear answers on Nepal visas for tourists, business travelers, students, workers, and NRNs — including visa on arrival, costs, visa-free countries, and how to apply for NRN citizenship. For filing help, start a visa assistance request.
Nepal visa basics
Who needs a visa, costs, visa-free entry, and how to travel.
- What is a Nepal visa and how do I get one?A Nepal visa is permission from the Government of Nepal to enter and stay for a stated purpose and period. Most foreign passport holders need a visa. Indian citizens generally do not. Many other nationalities can get a tourist visa on arrival or complete the Nepal visa on arrival online form before flying.
- Do I need a visa for Nepal?Yes — if you are not an Indian citizen, you almost always need a visa to enter Nepal. The exact visa depends on why you are going (tourism, business, study, work) and which passport you hold. Many travelers use visa on arrival; some must apply at an embassy first.
- Do US citizens need a visa for Nepal?Yes. US citizens need a visa for Nepal. Americans are not visa-free. For tourism, most US passport holders use visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport or a designated land border after completing Nepal’s online arrival form. A US passport does not replace the visa.
- Which countries are visa-free for Nepal?Nepal is not visa-free for most of the world. Indian citizens are the main group who generally enter without a Nepal visa. Almost everyone else needs a visa, though a large number of countries can obtain a tourist visa on arrival instead of visiting an embassy first.
- What is a travel visa?A travel visa is authorization from a country to enter, stay, and leave under conditions printed on the visa (dates, entries, purpose). People often say “travel visa” when they mean a tourist visa. In Nepal, a tourist/travel visa is for visiting — not for taking a job, enrolling as a student, or claiming NRN citizenship.
- How do I travel to Nepal?Most visitors fly into Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu). You can also enter by land from India or China at designated crossings. Get your passport in order, decide the correct visa type, complete the Nepal visa on arrival online form if you are a tourist, and arrange the first nights of accommodation.
Tourist visa
Visa on arrival, online form, duration, and extensions.
- How does Nepal visa on arrival work, and where is the online form?Nepal visa on arrival lets eligible travelers receive a tourist visa at the airport or land border. Fill the official online arrival / visa form before travel, save or print the receipt, then pay the visa fee and give biometrics or photos as instructed at immigration.
- How much does a Nepal visa cost?For most tourists, Nepal visa cost is set in US dollars at the visa-on-arrival counter: commonly USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, and USD 125 for 90 days. Extensions, multiple-entry options, and non-tourist visas use different fee schedules.
- How does a Nepal tourist visa work?A Nepal tourist visa is for leisure, trekking, and visiting — not employment. Eligible travelers usually get 15, 30, or 90 days on arrival, with a combined annual stay cap of around 150 days.
Business visa
Meetings, trade, investment, and company-related stays.
Student visa
Study, research, and university enrollment in Nepal.
Work visa
Employment, work permits, and labour department steps.
NRN
NRN meaning, NRN card, and NRN citizenship.
- What does NRN mean?NRN means Non-Resident Nepali. In Nepal’s legal language it covers Nepali citizens living abroad and, in related rules, people of Nepali origin who have taken foreign citizenship. It is an origin and residency status — not automatically a visa, a passport, or dual citizenship in the political sense.
- What is an NRN card in Nepal and how do I get one?An NRN card is a Government of Nepal identity document for Non-Resident Nepalis. It is used to show origin status for services, property, and investment-related processes. It is not a Nepal passport and it does not by itself replace the correct entry visa if you are a foreign citizen.
- What is NRN citizenship in Nepal?NRN citizenship (non-resident Nepali citizenship) is a constitutional category for people of Nepali origin who acquired foreign citizenship. It is meant to recognize economic, social, and cultural ties to Nepal. It is not the same as residential Nepali citizenship and it does not grant the same political rights.
- How do I apply for NRN citizenship?To apply for NRN citizenship you file a prescribed application with proof that you (or your parent/grandparent) held Nepali citizenship and that you now hold a foreign nationality. Filings go through a Nepali mission abroad or the competent department in Nepal. Exact forms and fees follow the notice in force at the time of application.