Nepal Visa, Passport & Money Advice
When you’re planning a trip to Nepal, it’s important to have up to date information before your journey begins. From passports and visas to useful money tips, we’ve compiled some information to give you a helping hand.
Visa & Passports
All foreign tourists travelling to Nepal will need a visa and a valid passport that is valid for six months after departure from Nepal. You can apply for the visa for Nepal in advance at the consulate in your home country, but you can also arrange your Nepal visa upon arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan airport (or other major arrival points in Nepal). It’s quite simple, however you should expect to queue during peak tourist season.
You can complete the on-line visa application in advance here: Online Services immigration.gov.np. Payment can be made online by card, or on arrival by cash only, and this cash payment needs to be in USD. The cost of a 15 day visa is USD30 per person, a 30 day visa is USD50 and a 90 day visa is USD125.
For more details visit the Nepal Department of Immigration website
Trekking Permits
If you’re venturing out into the mountains on a trek during your Nepal holiday, you’ll need to apply for a trekking permit. By issuing these permits, the Nepalese immigration office can monitor the number of people out on a trek at any given time. Permits are arranged by our local partners and the costs are included in your itinerary.
Local Currency
The currency in Nepal is the Nepali Rupee. We recommend taking some US dollars and Rupees in small denomination notes so you can use them in the smaller towns where you can’t use your credit card.
Credit and Debit Cards
The main banks in Kathmandu and Pokhara all have cash machines and almost all of them accept major credit and debit cards. Of course when you’re off trekking you won’t find any cash points! Smaller banks such as the Himalaya Bank also have cash machines, though we would recommend only using theses machines during bank opening hours so as not to run the risk of losing your card if the system crashes.
Tips and Haggling
While travelling in Nepal, tipping is customary and much appreciated. In the cheaper hotels 5% or some loose change is sufficient, in more up-market establishments 10% is customary. Please use your discretion for good service.
