Planning a visit to Nepal? Then, it’s essential to obtain the necessary documents before finalizing your travel plans, including Nepal visa. Luckily, applying for permission to enter the Nepalese border is relatively simple. This article will guide you through the step-by-step process.
How to Get a Nepal Visa?
Nestled between the borders of India and China lies Nepal, a breathtaking country in South Asia celebrated for its towering mountains, majestic temples, and vibrant culture. Unsurprisingly, Nepal draws crowds of visitors for leisure and various other purposes.
To enter the country, you require only one type of visa: the tourist Nepal visa. However, upon arrival, you must adjust the type of permit based on the purpose of your visit and duration of stay. All foreigners except Indian nationals need a visa to enter Nepal.
There are two avenues to obtain a tourist visa. Firstly, you can secure a permit from the Nepalese Embassy in your home country. Alternatively, the most common method is obtaining your visa upon arrival in the nation.
The Nepalese government has streamlined the process of obtaining a visa upon arrival, especially at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
What to Consider Before Getting a Nepal Visa?
Before applying for an entry permit, it’s essential to consider several Nepal visa requirements to ensure a seamless and hassle-free application process from start to finish.
1. Make Sure Your Country is on The List
Before delving into the application process details, ensure that your country is eligible for either a visa on arrival or if your only option is to obtain the permit at Nepal’s embassy in your country beforehand. You can find the complete list on the official website of the Nepalese Immigration Department.
Similarly, if you’re traveling for diplomatic purposes, verify whether your country qualifies for a visa exemption during your stay duration. This exemption allows certain nationalities, traveling for diplomatic missions, to enter and stay without a visa for a specified number of days.
You can also obtain your authorization permit at no cost if you meet specific eligibility requirements. This no-cost visa is exclusively issued to individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Children under the age of ten who are not citizens of the United States.
- Nationals from other SAARC countries visiting the country for the first time within a visa year, excluding citizens of Afghanistan. However, Afghan citizens may still be eligible if they possess a letter of recommendation and relevant paperwork from the Nepalese Immigration Department.
- Chinese citizens staying for up to one hundred and fifty days.
- Non-residential Nepalese cardholders (applicable only to citizens of Nepali origin or nationality residing elsewhere).
Please note that all these visas fall under the tourist visa category. If eligible and necessary, you must visit the Immigration Department to extend or change your Nepal visa types accordingly.
2. Decide Your Purpose of Visit
Once you’ve entered the nation using the tourist permit, the next step is to arrange a specific type of visa tailored to your purpose of visit. Generally, Nepalese visas fall into three categories:
Tourist Visa
Given that Nepal is a popular tourist destination, this type of visa is highly sought-after. Mountain climbing and hiking are particularly popular activities due to the nation’s renowned landmark, Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain.
This visa permits a stay of up to 150 days and necessitates documents such as a valid passport and any prior visas, if applicable, along with additional supporting documentation.
Aside from the basic permit, other visas falling under this category include:
- Diplomatic Visa: Granted to diplomatic ambassadors and their families or individuals with diplomatic privileges, allowing entry and a 30-day stay in the country.
- Official Visa: Intended for individuals on official visits to Nepal and their relatives, also valid for 30 days.
Both diplomatic and official visas necessitate a special diplomatic passport and a letter of recommendation from the Nepalese consulate, along with other required documents.
Non-Tourist Visa
If you’re staying in the country for purposes other than tourism or official missions, you must apply for a specific visa category. These visas cannot be obtained upon arrival and must be acquired from the Immigration Department.
- Working Visa: Only available to those who possess a letter of recommendation from the Department of Labor and relevant parties for employment purposes.
- Press Visa: Reserved for press representatives and journalists, valid for up to four months.
- Study Visa: Intended for students visiting Nepal for research and educational purposes.
- Business Visa: Granted to investors and individuals planning to establish a business in Nepal.
- Relation Visa: Designed for foreigners with familial ties to Nepalese citizens, whether direct relations or through marriage to a Nepalese national.
- Marriage Visa: Applicable for foreigners who married a Nepalese.
- Non-Resident Nepalese Visa: For Non-Residential Nepal cardholders only.
- Residential Visa: Issued to immigrants and their families, as well as other eligible individuals seeking residency in Nepal.
Reciprocity Visa
This category specifically applies to U.S. citizens. Visitors eligible for this type of permit must pay an additional issuance fee in addition to the standard Nepal visa fees.
- Tourist Reciprocity: Applicable for U.S. citizens visiting for tourism. The visa is valid for five years with an annual provision of a 180-day stay.
- Working Reciprocity: Intended for U.S. nationals and their dependents coming to Nepal for work purposes. The visa is valid for three years, with the working period serving as the visa’s stay limit.
- Study Reciprocity: Reserved for U.S. nationality students and their families, valid for five years. The stay limit corresponds to the duration of the study.
- Press Reciprocity: Eligible for U.S. journalists and their dependents, valid for five years.
3. Visa Application Fees
When applying for a travel visa, the fees you must pay are contingent upon the duration of your stay. See the breakdown below:
- 15 days: NPR 3980 (USD 30)
- 30 Days: NPR 6634 (USD 50)
- 90 days: NPR 16585,89 (USD 125)
If you require an extension, the fee is NPR 5970.92 (USD 45) for a minimum of fifteen days, with an additional NPR 398.06 (USD 3) for each extra day.
Ensure a timely extension of your visa to avoid a penalty of NPR 663.44 per day (USD 5). Penalties may increase if the delay extends beyond 150 days after visa expiration.
For more details, please consult the official website.
Applying for a Nepal Visa
Now that you understand the Nepal visa application process, here’s a clear step-by-step guide to obtaining yours. This method specifically applies to acquiring a Nepalese visa on arrival:
- Upon landing, proceed to the immigration office to obtain an arrival card. Complete the necessary details.
- Then, access a Nepal visa application form online from this link. Ensure all required information is accurately filled out. Alternatively, you can complete the form using the kiosk available in the immigration area at the airport.
- Pay the visa fee based on the duration of your stay.
- Keep the receipt safe and submit it along with your passport and completed application form at the immigration desk. Your permit will be issued once the processing is complete.
If you’re applying for a Nepal visa from your country, refer to your local immigration office’s website to schedule your Nepal visa appointment.
Once you’ve completed the necessary arrangements for your Nepal visa, it’s time to plan the remainder of your travel itinerary. If you haven’t yet booked your hotels or tickets, we’re here to help. Secure the best deals on flights and accommodation today by booking your trip through Airpaz!
