How to Get a Visa on Arrival for Nepal (Easy Step-by-Step Guide 2024)
Looking for information on how to get a Visa on Arrival for Nepal?
You’ve come to the right place as I have been visiting and periodically living in Nepal since 2015. So, I have had my fair share of visa applications in Nepal.
Overall, getting a Visa on Arrival for Nepal is fairly easy and available to almost all nationalities (check your eligibility here).
You can get the tourist visa on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu) after landing. The process can be completed quickly, if the airport is not too busy at the time.
How to Get a Visa on Arrival for Nepal
1. Fill in the Nepal Visa Application Form
- Option 1: Fill in the Visa on Arrival form at home and save time at the airport! After filling in the form, just bring a digital copy with you to the airport (it can be a photo/screenshot on your phone). If you fill it in beforehand, it can save you time and get through immigration much faster. The form has a validity of 15 days, so only fill it in within 15 days of arrival. You will have to pay for the visa at the airport and not online.
- Option 2: Fill in the Visa on Arrival form at the airport. There are machines at the airport where you can fill in the form. There are only a few machines so if there are a lot of people filling in the form at the airport, it can take a long time. (The machines will be to your right hand side as you enter the immigration hall)
2. Pay for Your Visa
Take the copy/photo/screenshot of your ‘Visa on Arrival’ application form to pay for the visa fees. All major currencies are accepted to pay for the visa fees (including USD, EUR, GBP).
The counter to pay for the visa fee is on the left side of the immigration hall (next to the currency exchange desk).
3. Get the Visa in Your Passport
After you pay for the fees, you will finally go to queue to the immigration officers in the centre of the hall. Take your payment slip, visa application form and passport to the immigration officer and you will get the visa in your passport.
The process can take up a long-time if there are a lot of travellers arriving at the same time. If you have a chance to pre-fill the visa on arrival form before arriving in Nepal, it can help you to get through the visa application process much faster.
Nepal Visa on Arrival Price (as of 2024)
Nepal has the following prices for tourist visas as of 2024:
- 15 days: 30 USD
- 30 days: 50 USD
- 90 days: 125 USD
Extending the Tourist Visa
The tourist visa can be easily extended at the Immigration Office in Kathmandu or Pokhara. The visa extension costs USD 3/day. You can extend the visa for up to 150 days per calendar year.
💡 The calendar year restarts every 1 January. It means that if your visa is valid until the end of December, then you can apply for a new visa in January. From January, you are again eligible for a visa up to 150 days per year.
FAQ: How to Get a Visa on Arrival for Nepal?
Is Nepal visa on arrival or online?
You can get a visa on arrival after landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. It is a fairly quick and easy process.
If you want to save time at the airport, you can fill in the visa application form at home. Even if you fill in the form at home, you will have to pay for the visa at the airport and that’s where you will also get your visa in your passport.
If you don’t have time to fill in the form before arriving to Nepal, then there are machines at the airport where you can fill in the form. Basically, if you fill in the form before arriving it will save you time at the airport.
How long does it take to get a Nepal visa?
After landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the process of getting a Visa on Arrival takes about 30 minutes.
It can take longer if the airport is busy and there are a lot of passengers. If you want to save time, fill in the visa application form before landing in Nepal.
How much does a Nepal visa cost?
As of 2024, the Nepal tourist visa costs are as followed:
- 15 days: 30 USD
- 30 days: 50 USD
- 90 days: 125 USD
How to get a visa on arrival for Nepal?
The process of applying for a Visa on Arrival for Nepal is fairly quick. You can pre-fill your visa application form online or do so at the airport after landing.
Then, take a screenshot of your online application form to the payment counters at the airport and pay for your visa. You will have to pay for your visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport even if you filled in your form at home.
After you pay for your visa fees, you will proceed to the final counter where you will receive the visa in your passport.
Conclusion
In conclusion, getting a Visa on Arrival for Nepal is quick, easy and is available to almost all nationalities.
You can pre-fill your visa application form online or at the airport after landing. If you fill it in beforehand, it will save you time at the airport (but you will still have to pay your visa fees at the airport and not online).
Then, take a screenshot of your visa application form to the payment counters at the airport and pay for your visa.
After paying for the visa fees, you proceed to the final counter where you will receive the visa in your passport.
Plan Your Trip to Nepal
Book your flight to Nepal: Check out Skyscanner or Kiwi.com to find the best flights deals!
Book Your Accommodation for Nepal: Are you looking for accommodation? Booking.com has everything from budget to luxury accommodation. For the cheapest places, check out Hostelworld.com.
Book Tours and Activities for Nepal: GetYourGuide and Viator have a vast number of tours and day trip activities all around the world. Check out their website and book your activity!
Get Travel Insurance for Nepal: It is always good to be on the safe side when travelling. SafetyWing is one of the most affordable international travel insurance and you can book it even after you have already started your trip.
Get Your Travel Cards: Whenever I am abroad, I always use travel cards Wise and Revolut. They have multiple currencies available, you can use it in shops and restaurants. The great thing is that they have the best exchange rates!
Looking for other tips to make travel easier? Check out my complete list of travel resources that have been my go-to companies when abroad or planning a trip.
Nepal Quick Guide
1. Can I get a Visa-on-Arrival for Nepal?
Yes, almost all nationalities can get a ‘Visa-on-Arrival’ once landing at the Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu (Check eligibility here). Getting a Visa-on-Arrival for Nepal is quick and easy. Read here my full guide on getting a Visa-on-Arrival for Nepal.
2. Should I get a Nepali SIM card?
Yes, once you arrive in Nepal, it is recommended to get a Nepali SIM card. SIM cards in Nepal are cheap and easy to get. There are daily, weekly or monthly data plans – all at an affordable cost. For more information, check here how to get a SIM card in Nepal.
3. Are there some useful mobile apps I can use in Nepal?
Yes, there are a couple of mobile apps that come handy when travelling in Nepal, including taxi apps, offline maps for trekking, booking accommodation and travel cards. Check out my list of the most useful mobile apps to have in Nepal.
4. Can I exchange money in Nepal? What about ATMs?
Yes! Thamel (where most tourists stay) has many money exchange shops as well as ATMs. There is also a currency exchange shop at the airport but the rates are better in Thamel. Read here all about currency exchange and ATMs in Nepal.
5. Is it safe to travel by bus in Nepal?
Yes (but travel by a tourist bus): I would say road travel in Nepal is generally dangerous due to the road conditions. The roads are narrow and go through mountainous areas. The tourist buses in Nepal have the best safety, so if possible, make sure to book tourist buses when travelling in Nepal. Overall, the roads might look dangerous but the drivers are used to the road conditions in Nepal so the tourist buses are a safe choice. Here is everything you need to know about bus travel in Nepal.
6. Can I book bus tickets online in Nepal?
Yes, it is possible to book bus tickets online in Nepal however, I recommend it for those staying in Nepal for 3+ months. It is not possible to book bus tickets online using an international bank card but only through registering on a Nepali digital payment app eSewa. If you are staying long-term in Nepal, read here my step-by-step guide on how to book bus tickets online using eSewa.
7. Do they speak English in Nepal?
You might wonder “Do they speak English in Nepal?” It depends on where in Nepal you are. In big cities (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha/Chitwan) or trekking routes (Annapurna, Everest) that have many tourists, you will easily get by speaking English. If you are in remote Nepal where not many tourists go, people usually will have little or no English. Here is a quick list of useful Nepali phrases to know while travelling in Nepal.
