How much does the Nepal visa on arrival cost?
The Nepal Tourism Board's tourist visa page sets out the fees below. The U.S. State Department's Nepal page and the U.S. Commerce Department's business travel guide quote the same three amounts, payable in US dollars.
| Visa length | Fee on arrival | Entries | Roughly in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 days | US$30 | Multiple | NPR 4,580 |
| 30 days | US$50 | Multiple | NPR 7,630 |
| 90 days | US$125 | Multiple | NPR 19,080 |
The rupee column uses the open-market buying rate of NPR 152.65 per US dollar that Nepal Rastra Bank published for 23 September 2026. It is only a guide to what the dollar amount is worth; the fee itself is set in dollars.
If you apply at an embassy instead, you pay in that country's currency. The Embassy of Nepal in Canberra lists AUD 50, 80 and 200, the embassy in Ottawa lists CAD 45, 70 and 180, and the embassy in New Delhi lists INR 2,500, 4,500 and 10,500 for the same three lengths. Canberra notes that honorary consulates may charge more because of their own service fees.
Who gets a free visa, and who must apply before flying?
Not every passport pays, and not every passport can buy a visa at the airport. The rules below come from the Nepal Tourism Board and the embassies in Canberra and New Delhi.
- Indian citizens do not need a visa. The New Delhi embassy says Indians flying between the two countries must carry a valid Indian passport, a Voter ID issued by the Government of India, or an emergency certificate from the Embassy of India in Nepal.
- Other SAARC nationals get a free visa for up to 30 days on their first visit in a visa year. The Tourism Board excludes Afghanistan from this, and Afghans are also on the apply-in-advance list.
- Chinese passport holders pay no visa fee; the Canberra embassy says this covers up to 150 days.
- Children below 10 are exempt from the visa fee, per the Canberra embassy.
Nationals of Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland (Eswatini), Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria and Iran, plus holders of refugee travel documents, must get a visa from a Nepali mission before travelling, according to the Tourism Board and the Ottawa embassy. The Canberra embassy's list omits Iran, so Iranian travellers should confirm with the nearest embassy rather than rely on the shorter list.
Before you land: forms and NepaliPort
The Tourism Board points travellers to the Department of Immigration's online portal, nepaliport.immigration.gov.np, to fill in the visa application before arriving. The UK Foreign Office says this can be done up to 15 days before arrival, and that forms and terminals are also available at the airport if you have not done it.
The Government of Canada adds that all foreign nationals arriving after 16 September 2025 must register on arrival via the NepaliPort website or mobile app, entering personal details, visa information and travel plans. We could not open the NepaliPort portal itself to confirm the exact steps, so treat Canada's summary as the current requirement and check the app before you fly.
The U.S. State Department warns that getting a visa on arrival at Kathmandu "may take several hours" at busy times. The UK Foreign Office notes that getting the visa in advance from an embassy can shorten the time at immigration, which matters most if you have a same-day domestic connection. Our Kathmandu airport to Thamel guide covers what happens after the immigration hall.
Which visa length should I buy, and when does extending make sense?
Extensions are sold in a way that makes the choice less obvious than the headline prices. The Tourism Board lists a minimum extension of 15 days for US$45, then US$3 for each further day. The Canberra embassy says extensions are done at Department of Immigration offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara up to 120 days in a calendar year, plus a further 30 days from Kathmandu only, for a maximum of 150 days a year.
This table combines the arrival fees with the extension rule for common trip lengths.
| Planned stay | Buy on arrival | Extension needed | Total cost | Better choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 days | 15-day, US$30 | None | US$30 | 15-day visa |
| 20 days | 15-day, US$30 | 5 days, charged as 15 | US$75 | 30-day visa at US$50 |
| 40 days | 30-day, US$50 | 10 days, charged as 15 | US$95 | 30-day plus extension |
| 50 days | 30-day, US$50 | 20 days: 45 + 5 x 3 | US$110 | 30-day plus extension |
| 55 days | 30-day, US$50 | 25 days: 45 + 10 x 3 | US$125 | Either; same price |
| 60 days | 30-day, US$50 | 30 days: 45 + 15 x 3 | US$140 | 90-day visa at US$125 |
The break-even sits at 55 days. Below that, a 30-day visa plus an extension costs less than the 90-day visa; above it, the 90-day visa wins and also saves you a trip to an immigration office. If your plans are uncertain and might run past eight weeks, the 90-day visa removes both the paperwork and the risk of missing the extension deadline.
What if my visa runs out before I leave?
Overstaying is treated as an offence rather than a paperwork slip. The Tourism Board lists a late fine of an extra US$5 per day on top of the extension fee. Canada warns that immigration can detain you until the fine is paid and that a seven-year re-entry ban is possible, and the UK Foreign Office says overstaying can lead to significant fines or imprisonment.
If you realise your visa is about to lapse, act in this order:
- Count the exact days you need, including your departure day.
- Go to a Department of Immigration office in Kathmandu or Pokhara before the expiry date, with your passport and the fee in US dollars.
- If a flight delay or illness has already pushed you past the date, go the same day and bring evidence such as the airline's rebooking notice or a medical note.
- Budget the extension at US$45 for the first 15 days plus US$3 a day beyond, plus the US$5 daily late fine if you are already over.