Nepal eVisa/ETA application guide: requirements, fees and photo rules for 2026
Starting September 2026, eligible foreign travellers can apply for a Nepal eVisa, officially called an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), before arrival.
The new Nepal ETA route differs from completing the older NepaliPort visa-on-arrival form, which prepares the arrival paperwork but does not issue the new pre-arrival eVisa.
This guide explains the current Nepal visa requirements, who needs a visa, which online route to use, how much a tourist visa costs, what documents to upload and how to prepare a Nepal visa photo.
Table of contents
- What is Nepal's new eVisa/ETA system?
- Who needs a Nepal visa?
- Nepal tourist visa fees and validity
- Nepal visa extensions
- Nepal eVisa requirements and documents
- How to apply for a Nepal eVisa/ETA online
- Nepal visa photo requirements
- Get your Nepal visa photo online with Visafoto
- What is the Nepal ETA Submission ID?
- Nepal visa on arrival vs eVisa
- Indian citizens: do they need a Nepal visa?
- Nepal visas for non-tourist purposes
- Frequently asked questions
What is Nepal's new eVisa/ETA system?
Nepal now has three online-assisted routes that travellers often confuse with one another. A "Nepal visa online" application may refer to any of these routes, although they do not produce the same result. The correct route depends on the applicant's nationality, travel document and eligibility for a visa on arrival.
Nepal eVisa/ETA from the Department of Immigration
Eligible travellers can apply before departure through the Department of Immigration's eVisa/ETA service. You should complete the form, upload the requested files, pay the visa fee and receive the approved ETA by email. The issued document should be printed or saved and presented when entering Nepal.
The official service uses both "eVisa" and "Electronic Travel Authorization" for this route. It offers 15-day, 30-day and 90-day tourist visas.
Nepal visa through an embassy or mission
Travellers who are not eligible for the direct ETA route or visa on arrival must apply through a Nepalese embassy, consulate or diplomatic mission. The application starts online, but the responsible mission sets its own payment method, supporting-document requirements and delivery or collection procedure.
This route is mandatory for specified nationalities and holders of refugee travel documents. Other travellers may also choose a mission application when it suits their travel plans.
NepaliPort visa-on-arrival form
The visa-on-arrival option remains separate. Travellers use the official NepaliPort portal to complete the arrival form before travelling or at a terminal in Nepal. A Nepal visa on arrival is issued only after the traveller presents the application and payment receipt at the immigration desk and completes the arrival checks.
Completing this form online is not the same as obtaining the new pre-arrival Nepal eVisa. A visa-on-arrival applicant still completes the issuance process at the port of entry.
Who needs a Nepal visa?
Most foreign nationals need a tourist visa to enter Nepal. Indian citizens do not need a Nepal visa and can enter with an accepted Indian travel or identity document.
Many passport holders can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and other designated entry points. Eligible travellers may instead apply for the Nepal ETA before departure. The portal checks the applicant's passport-issuing country when the application begins.
Some nationalities cannot obtain a visa on arrival and must secure a visa through a Nepalese diplomatic mission before travelling. Holders of refugee travel documents should also contact the responsible Nepalese mission and obtain the required advance approval rather than relying on the arrival route.
Countries with restricted visa-on-arrival access
According to current Nepalese visa rules, ordinary-passport holders from the following countries must obtain a visa before travelling:
- Afghanistan
- Cameroon
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Palestine
- Somalia
- Eswatini, listed as Swaziland in Nepalese government sources
- Syria
- Zimbabwe
The restriction does not apply to Iranian diplomatic or official passport holders under the relevant arrangements. Applicants should confirm the correct mission procedure before booking travel.
Nepal tourist visa fees and validity
Nepal issues visas for tourism for 15, 30 or 90 days. The Nepal visa fee depends on the selected duration, and all three standard options allow multiple entries.
| Visa duration | Fee |
|---|---|
| 15 days | US$30 |
| 30 days | US$50 |
| 90 days | US$125 |
The permitted stay starts on the date the traveller enters Nepal, not the date the visa or ETA is issued. An issued visa generally must be used within six months of its issue date. Tourist stays cannot exceed a combined total of 150 days in one visa year, which runs from 1 January to 31 December.
Visa fees are non-refundable once the visa has been issued. A Nepalese mission may collect the equivalent fee in local currency and may use a mission-specific payment process. Check its instructions before paying.
These are the standard Department of Immigration tourist-visa fees. A Nepalese mission may state the equivalent amount in the currency it accepts.
Nepal visa extensions
Tourist visa extensions are handled by the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu and the Immigration Office in Pokhara. The minimum extension is 15 days and costs US$45. Additional days cost US$3 per day.
If a traveller applies late, an additional US$5 per day is charged as a late-stay penalty. An extension cannot take the traveller beyond the overall limit of 150 tourist-visa days in the same visa year.
Nepal eVisa requirements and documents
Prepare the required documents before starting the Nepal eVisa application. The passport biographical-page scan and the applicant's photograph are separate uploads and should not be combined into one image.
What you need
- A passport valid for at least six months from the expected date of travel
- A clear scan or photograph of the passport biographical page
- A recent passport-style photograph saved as a separate file
- Expected arrival and departure dates
- The purpose of the visit
- An address or hotel details in Nepal
- A payment card accepted by the official portal
- An active email address that you can check during the application process
A Nepalese mission may request additional supporting documents. Follow the instructions issued by the mission responsible for your application if you are not using the direct Department of Immigration route.
How to apply for a Nepal eVisa/ETA online
Apply only through a Nepalese government website ending in .gov.np. The Department of Immigration warns travellers not to submit personal information or visa payments through unauthorised third-party websites.
- Open the official Nepal ETA portal.
- Select New Application.
- Choose your passport nationality and select Tourist Visa.
- Enter your personal and passport details exactly as they appear in your passport.
- Enter your travel dates, purpose of visit and address or hotel details in Nepal.
- Upload a clear scan of the passport biographical page.
- Upload the recent passport photograph as a separate file.
- Review the complete application and correct any errors before submitting it.
- Pay the applicable 15-day, 30-day or 90-day visa fee online.
- Save the Submission ID and payment receipt.
- Check your email, including the spam folder, for the decision or a request for more information.
- Download the approved ETA/eVisa.
- Print the approved document and keep a digital copy as a backup.
- Travel with the same passport used for the application.
If you apply through a Nepalese mission, select the relevant embassy or consulate in the mission application system and follow that mission's instructions for payment, supporting documents and delivery.
Important: Check every passport detail before submission. A mistyped passport number, incorrect expiry date or change of passport can prevent the ETA from matching the document presented for travel and may require help from the Department of Immigration or the responsible Nepalese mission.
Nepal visa photo requirements
The new Department of Immigration eVisa/ETA guidance asks applicants to upload a recent passport-size photograph with a white background. Broader official tourist-visa guidance describes a passport-size photo with a light background. For a direct Nepal ETA application, follow the instructions displayed by the portal when you upload the file.
The photograph should:
- Be recent and passport-style
- Show the applicant facing the camera
- Show the face clearly and without obstruction
- Have even lighting, without strong shadows across the face
- Use a plain white or light background, as required by the selected application route
- Be uploaded separately from the passport biographical-page image
The public instructions for the new route do not state one universal pixel dimension or file-size limit. Do not reuse technical specifications from the older visa-on-arrival form unless the current ETA portal displays the same values for your application.
Get your Nepal visa photo online with Visafoto
You can prepare a Nepal visa photo online with Visafoto using a picture taken with a phone or camera. The starting background does not need to be perfect because Visafoto can replace it with the background required for the selected document.
Upload the picture, select Nepal and the relevant visa or document type, and let Visafoto adjust the crop, framing, background and image size. You can then download the digital Nepal eVisa photo and upload it as the photograph file in your ETA application.
First, take a photo of yours under daylight like this one:
You will have two types of photos: a digital one for electronic applications and another one suitable for printing.
Before submitting, check that the face is sharp and fully visible, the background matches the portal instruction and the file opens correctly. If you have questions about the prepared image, Visafoto support is available 24/7.
If a government authority rejects a Visafoto image because it does not meet the stated photo requirements, you can request a full refund under Visafoto's money-back guarantee.
What is the Nepal ETA Submission ID?
The Submission ID is the reference number connected to the Nepal ETA application. It is used to identify the application when checking its status, confirming payment or contacting the immigration authority about a problem.
Save the Submission ID as soon as the form is submitted. Download the receipt or take a screenshot rather than relying on the browser page remaining open. Keep the Submission ID, payment receipt and confirmation email until the trip is complete.
Nepal visa on arrival vs eVisa
The Nepal ETA/eVisa provides approval before departure, while a visa on arrival is issued at a Nepalese port of entry. The online arrival form may be completed before travel, but that does not turn it into a pre-arrival eVisa.
| Feature | ETA/eVisa | Visa on arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Apply before travel | Yes | No. The arrival form can be completed early, but the visa is issued after arrival. |
| Online application | Yes, as a pre-arrival application | Online form for the arrival process |
| Approval before departure | Yes | No |
| Passport photo | Uploaded online | Follow the arrival procedure |
| Main advantage | Prepare the visa before the trip | Apply after arrival |
The current Nepal immigration portal lists Visa On-arrival, Visa From Nepalese Mission and Electronic Travel Authorization as separate services. The older NepaliPort arrival form must therefore not be described as the new pre-arrival ETA route.
Indian citizens: do they need a Nepal visa?
Indian citizens do not need a visa to enter Nepal. The Tribhuvan International Airport Immigration Office accepts a valid Indian passport or an original voter ID card with a photograph issued by the Election Commission of India. Indian minors who do not have a passport may obtain entry permission using a birth registration certificate.
The airport authority recommends travelling with a valid passport where possible because it can make the arrival check quicker. Aadhaar is not accepted as a travel document for Nepal. PAN cards and driving licences are also not accepted in place of a passport or voter ID.
Nepal visas for non-tourist purposes
The tourist ETA or visa-on-arrival route is not the correct final immigration category for employment, study, volunteering, business, journalism or other non-tourist activities. Nepal has separate working, study, business, press and other non-tourist visa categories, each with its own supporting-document and approval requirements.
Some travellers enter Nepal with a tourist visa and then apply to the Department of Immigration to change to the appropriate category. For example, only a person holding a working visa may legally accept employment. Do not begin work, study, volunteering, journalism or business activity until the required status and permissions have been granted.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a Nepal eVisa if my passport expires in less than six months?
The passport should be valid for at least six months from the expected date of travel. Renew the passport before applying if it does not meet that requirement, then use the new passport details throughout the application.
Can I leave Nepal and re-enter while my tourist visa is still valid?
Yes. The standard 15-day, 30-day and 90-day Nepal tourist visas allow multiple entries. Each entry must take place while the visa remains valid, and the traveller must stay within the maximum permitted period.
Can I correct my Nepal ETA application after submitting it?
The portal allows applicants to review and correct details before final submission. If you notice an error afterwards, contact the Department of Immigration or the Nepalese mission handling the application and quote the Submission ID. Do not submit duplicate applications unless the authority instructs you to do so.
What should I do if I entered the wrong passport number on my Nepal ETA application?
Contact the issuing authority immediately and provide the Submission ID, the incorrect number and a clear copy of the correct passport page. Do not travel on an ETA that shows a different passport number from the passport you will present at the border.
How long can I stay in Nepal on a tourist visa?
The initial tourist visa permits a stay of 15, 30 or 90 days. Extensions may be available, but the combined tourist stay cannot exceed 150 days in one visa year, from 1 January to 31 December.
What photo do I need for a Nepal eVisa?
Use a recent passport-style photo that clearly shows your face, has even lighting and uses the plain white or light background requested for your application route. Upload it separately from the passport biographical-page scan.
What size should a Nepal visa photo be?
The public instructions for the new ETA route do not give one universal pixel dimension or file-size limit. Follow the values displayed by the current portal and do not automatically apply specifications from the older visa-on-arrival form.
Can I get a Nepal visa on arrival?
Many nationalities can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at a designated Nepalese entry point. Nationals on the restricted list and holders of refugee travel documents must arrange a visa through a Nepalese mission before travelling. Indian citizens do not need a visa.
Can I apply for a Nepal visa before arrival?
Yes. Eligible travellers can use the Department of Immigration's ETA/eVisa route before departure. Travellers who must use a mission can start the application online and then follow the selected embassy or consulate's instructions.
Last updated: September 15, 2026