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.
Tourist visa for US passport holders
Bring a passport valid for at least six months, passport photos as currently required, and USD cash or a card that immigration accepts for the visa fee. Choose 15, 30, or 90 days on arrival. Extensions are handled inside Nepal at immigration, not at the airport desk.
Americans traveling for other reasons
- Business — use a business visa with invitation or company documents, not a tourist visa, if your purpose is commercial.
- Study — student visa after a Nepali institution issues supporting letters.
- Work — work visa; a tourist visa is not authorization to work.
- Nepali heritage — NRN card or NRN citizenship is separate from the US passport entry visa.
If you are flying from the United States with a connection, complete the Nepal online form for the Nepal sector, not only your first airline’s API data.
Visa fees, eligible nationalities, and forms change. Confirm current rules with the Department of Immigration Nepal or a Nepali embassy before you travel. Lingo and Landscapes helps with documentation and lawyer-guided applications; we do not issue visas.