Travel Information

This page provides useful travel information for visitors to Nepal. Topics covered are:

• Nepal Visa Information
• Customs Formalities
• Foreign Currency and Credit Cards
• Nepal Business Hours and Holidays
• Electricity in Nepal

Nepal Visa Information

As per the decision of the government of Nepal (GoN) to ease the nationwide/lockdown, the Department immigration, Kathmandu will resume visa and other services. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, the department has decided to carry out its services in a controlled manner as per the following guidelines

• (All) Visa services will resume from 15th June 2020.
• Service seekers are requested to fill up their visa application forms (New Visa/Renewal/Extension) online through apply.nepalimmigration.gov.np/visa-processing and contact at the department with submission (Compulsorily) in stipulated date and time.
• For the renewal of relations Visa, foreign nationals are requested to visit the office in person and need not bring the relatives with them. It is requested to submit copies of all necessary documents along with their originals, during their visit. However, in case of a marriage visa, applicants need to bring their spouse and in case of a New Relation Visa, service seekers need to bring their kin for certifying their identification.
• Service Seekers are requested not to bring any unassociated person(s).
• Children below 10years are discouraged to visit the office for their renewal/extension of Relation Visa. However, their guardians' presence is considered mandatory.
• In an effort to control the spread of the virus, Department of Immigration(DoI) requests service seekers to maintain two meters' social distancing and follow-required health-protocols(wear a mask, sanitize frequently, etc)during their visit to office precinct.·
• In case of visa regulation of foreign nationals with any visa type valid up to 21 March 2020 and departing within 29th June 2020, it will be regulated at the immigration office, Tribhuvan International Airport, at the time of departure.
• For any related queries, please feel free to contact within 8 am to 6 pm at 01-4438862.

Visa can be obtained on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, at border entry points in Kakadvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Gaddachowki on Nepal-India border and Kodari on Nepal-China border. Visa can also be obtained at the nearest Nepal Embassy or Diplomatic Mission. Visa can also be obtained (renewal purposes) at the Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu. A valid passport and one passport -size photo with a light background are required. Immigration Department has not specified the size of the passport-size photo.

Visa can be obtained only through payment of cash in the following currency: Euro, Swiss Franc, Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar and Japanese Yen. Credit card, Indian currency and Nepali currency are not accepted as payment of visa fee.

a. Tourist Visa

Visa Facility Duration Fee

Multiple entry 15 days US$ 30 or equivalent convertible currency

Multiple entry 30 days US$ 50 or equivalent convertible currency

Multiple entry 90 days US$ 125 or equivalent convertible currency

b.Gratis (Free) Visa

Gratis Visa is issued free of cost in case of following categories of Visa applicants:

Children below 10 years except US citizens

Up to 30 days for SAARC Citizen (except Afghanistan) visiting Nepal for the first time in a given visa Year. Afghan citizen is eligible for Gratis Visa on Arrival only upon the recommendation of the Department of Immigration. If you are an Afghan citizen, you can request a concerned institution inviting you to Nepal for necessary paperwork with the Department of Immigration to get you Gratis

Visa 'On Arrival'.

Non Residential Nepalese(NRN) card holder ( issued by MoFA /Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad)

Chinese Nationals

c. For Indian National

Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal.

As per the Nepalese Immigration, Indian Nationals Traveling to Nepal must posses any One of the following documents.

1. Passport
2. Driving License with photo
3. Photo Identity card issued by a Government Agency
4. Ration Card with Photo
5. Election Commission Card with Photo
6. Identity Card issued by Embassy of India in Kathmandu
7. Identity Card with Photo issued by Sub- Divisional Magistrate or any other officials above his rank

Also, please check with your nearest travel agents for documents required by the Indian Immigration for Indians traveling to Nepal.

d. Other Information

Nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Afghanistan will need to obtain visa from Nepal Embassies or Diplomatic Missions in their respective countries, as they do not get visa on arrival at the immigration entry points of Nepal.

e. Visa Extension

Tourists can stay for a maximum of 150 days in a visa year (Jan 1 to Dec 31).
For further information, please contact:
Department of Immigration
Kalikasthan, Kathmandu
Tel: 00977-1- 4429660 / 4438862 / 4438868/ 4433934

E-mail: mail@nepalimmigration.gov.np

Web site: www.nepalimmigration.gov.np

Customs Formalities

Customs:

All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the entry point. Personal effects are permitted free entry. Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel for detailed customs clearance.

Import:

Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty: cigarettes (200 sticks) or cigars (50 sticks), distilled liquor (one 1.15 liter bottle), and film (15 rolls). You can also bring in the following articles free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when you leave: binoculars, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer, and portable music system.

Export

The export of antiques requires special certification from the Department of Archeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu. It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old, such as sacred images, paintings, manuscripts that are valued for culture and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are Nepal’s cultural heritage and belong here.

For more information on customs matters,
Please Click on http://www.customs.gov.np
(official Web site of the Department of Customs)
or Please Contact the Chief Customs Administrator, TIA Customs Office at 4470110, 4472266.)

Foreign Currency and Credit Cards

Payment in hotels, travel agencies, and airlines are made in foreign exchange. Credit cards like American Express, Master and Visa are accepted at major hotels, shops, and restaurants. Remember to keep your foreign exchange encashment receipt while making foreign exchange payments or transferring foreign currency into Nepali rupees. The receipts may be needed to change left-over Nepali currency into hard currency before leaving the country. However, only 10 percent of the total amount may be converted by the bank. ATM is widely in use in Kathmandu. Major banks, hotels and exchange counters at Tribhuvan International Airport provide services for exchanging foreign currency. Exchange rates are published in English dailies such as The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times. Nepali currency notes are found in denominations of Rupees 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are found in denominations of Rupees 5, 2 and 1. One rupee equals 100 paisa.

Nepal Business Hours

Business hours within the Valley:

Government offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday in summer and from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. in winter. On Fridays Government, offices open from10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most business offices including travel, trekking, and tour agencies are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday. Embassies and international organizations are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most shops open after 10 a.m. and close at about 8 p.m. and are usually closed on Saturdays.

Business hours outside the Valley:

Government offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday in summer and from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. in winter. On Fridays Government offices open from10 a.m. to 3p.m. Banks are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays, banks remain open until 12 p.m. only. Business offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday. Recently many private banks have re-organized to have different branches open at various different times making banking hours longer. If one branch is closed another will be open.

Holidays:

Nepal observes numerous holidays most of which have cultural or religious significance. Visitors wishing to partake in the holidays or observe local festivals should contact our Kathmandu office and inquire about up-coming festivals that may fit within your intended travel itinerary. The longest holiday in Nepal is during the Dashain festival in late September or October. Government offices and banks observe most of the national holidays. Private business offices observe major holidays only. The following is a list of public holidays in Nepal during 2019.

• Basant Panchami and Martyr's Day
• Maha Shivaratri
• Holi on Hilly Region including Kathmandu
• Holi on Terai Region
• International Women’s Day in Nepal
• Nepali New Year’s Day – Bisket Jatra
• Buddha Jayanti (Buddha’s Birthday) 
• Janai Purnima & Gosainkunda Festival
• Haritalika Teej – Festival of Woman
• Ghatasthapana
• Fulpati Saptami
• Maha Ashtami
• Maha Navami
• Bijaya Dashami
• Dipawali & Laxmi Puja – Festival of Lights
• Bhai tika and Goru Pooja – Festival of Brother
• Chhat Parva
• Tamu Lhosar
• Christmas Day

Electricity in Nepal

The electricity voltage and frequency in Nepal are the same as in the UK, 230 V, 50 Hz. A range of power sockets formats is used in Nepal. The most commonly encountered socket and plug designs are Type C, D, and M. You may need to obtain a power socket adaptor that will accommodate one or more of these formats. Most hotels can provide adaptors and adaptors are readily available in Kathmandu and larger towns, such as Pokhara, that are frequented by overseas visitors.

Most electrical power in Nepal is produced by small scale hydro-power stations. The capacity of these systems is limited and demand for power is high and growing annually. As a result, power is generally not available 24/7 in Nepal. Load shedding timetables are imposed on Kathmandu and regional Nepal. While some hotels provide power from small capacity generators, you can expect to encounter set times each day when power is either limited or not available at all. Hotels can give you the daily load shedding timetable so that you can plan your usage of electrical goods.