Nepal Visa & Arrival
Everything you need to know about getting your visa, clearing immigration, and what happens the moment you step off the plane in Kathmandu.
Simple, fixed, paid in cash
Nepal's tourist visa is issued on arrival at Kathmandu airport in minutes. There are three duration options, and the fee is fixed regardless of your nationality (with a small number of exempt countries).
Most Camping Trek itineraries of two to three weeks are comfortably covered by the 30-day visa. Longer expeditions or multi-trip stays should consider the 90-day option to avoid a mid-trip extension.
What to bring
Passport
Valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with at least one blank page.
Passport photo
One recent passport-sized colour photo (taken within the last 6 months) if applying on arrival.
Visa fee in cash
USD cash is the most reliable option at the airport counter - card payment machines are inconsistent.
Return/onward ticket
Immigration occasionally asks to see proof of onward travel, though it's rarely enforced strictly for tourists.
From landing to leaving the airport
The whole process - visa counter to arrivals hall - typically takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on how many flights land at once. Here's exactly what to expect, in order.
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)
All international flights arrive at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. Follow signage for "Visa" or "Immigration" immediately after disembarking - don't follow the domestic transfer signs by mistake.
Fill the arrival form (or complete it online first)
Paper arrival forms are available in the immigration hall, or you can complete Nepal's online arrival form in advance at the official immigration portal to save a few minutes of queueing.
Use the visa fee payment kiosk
Self-service kiosks near the immigration counters accept cash and card to generate a payment receipt, which you then present at the visa counter along with your form and photo.
Visa counter - passport stamped
Present your passport, payment receipt, arrival form, and photo. An officer verifies everything and stamps your visa directly into your passport - no separate visa sticker or card.
Immigration checkpoint
A second, separate counter checks your freshly stamped visa and passport before letting you through to baggage claim - keep your passport out and accessible.
Baggage claim & customs
Collect your luggage and pass through customs. Most tourists pass through the green (nothing to declare) channel without inspection.
Meet your Camping Trek representative
Our team will be waiting just outside the arrivals hall with a name board, ready to transfer you to your hotel and brief you on the days ahead.
The details that actually matter
Who needs a visa
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival in Kathmandu. A short list of countries are visa-exempt or must apply through a Nepali embassy in advance - check your specific nationality against the official list before travelling.
Multiple entry, single price
All Nepal tourist visas - 15, 30, and 90 day - are multiple-entry by default, so a short side trip to India or elsewhere and back doesn't require a new visa, provided you're still within your visa's validity window.
Extending your stay
Visas can be extended at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Extensions cost roughly US $3/day plus a fixed processing fee, and a minimum 15-day extension applies each time.
Overstay penalties
Overstaying is taken seriously - fines accrue per day of overstay and increase the longer it continues, on top of the extension fee owed. Extend before your visa expires, not after.
SIM card & connectivity
Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell counters are both inside the arrivals hall, past immigration. Bring your passport and one passport photo - tourist SIM registration requires both.
Currency exchange
ATMs and currency exchange counters are available in the arrivals hall. Rates are generally better in Thamel than at the airport, so exchange only what you need for the first day or two.
Land border entry
Visas on arrival are also issued at major land border crossings with India (Kakarbhitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj) - the same fee structure and document requirements apply as at the airport.
Travel insurance reminder
Nepal doesn't require proof of travel insurance for visa issuance, but it's mandatory for any trek or expedition we run - including emergency helicopter evacuation coverage. See our Travel Insurance guide for full details.
You're not doing this alone
A Camping Trek representative meets every client at arrivals, regardless of flight time. If anything about the visa process feels unclear before you fly, reach out to our team and we'll walk you through it in advance.