Governing Law and Regulations
Following sources of regulations to govern issuance and usage of visa used to travel to Nepal are available:
Immigration Act 2049 (1992)
Immigration Rules 2051 (1994)
Immigration Procedure 2065 (2008)
Regulatory Agency:
Department of Immigration under the instructions from Ministry of Home Affairs.
Types of Visa:
Tourist Visa
This visa used to travel to Nepal is granted to any foreign tourist (not holding Nepalese citizenship or Non-Resident Nepali card) visiting Nepal. The maximum validity period of a Tourist visa is 150 days per year.
Minimum visa fee for this type of visa is USD 30 for validity of 15 days with multiple entry facility.
Tourists are eligible to obtain Tourist Visa upon their arrival in Nepal except in case of nationals of the following countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Refugees with travel document.
Visitors may apply for tourist visa in the web-portal of the Department of Immigration.
Transit Visa
A transit visa shall be granted for one day to the foreigners, whose air
tickets are confirmed and who enter into Nepal to spend a night in the course of visiting any another country through the airport in Nepal or to the foreigners who are traveling by an aircraft which has made an emergency landing at the airport of Nepal owing to any cause.
Non-tourist Visa
This visa used to travel to Nepal shall be granted to the following foreigners and their family members for a maximum period of one year at a time:
- Foreigners involved in such social or economic development activities as approved by the Government of Nepal and financed by governmental institutions of foreign friendly nations;
- Foreigners having obtained recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to serve for organizations run by foreign missions located in Nepal;
- Foreign representatives having obtained recommendation from the Ministry of Information and Communications to serve for foreign newspapers and news agencies;
- Foreigners having obtained recommendation from the concerned Ministry to serve as attendants of the foreigners having obtained diplomatic or official visas;
- Foreigners having obtained permission from the Government of Nepal to work on remuneration basis in any firm/company/ association/industry or enterprise within Nepal;
- Foreigners having obtained recommendation from the concerned Ministry to serve for any international air organization located in Nepal;
- Foreign importers visiting Nepal from third countries on the recommendation of the foreign governmental agencies or federation of commerce and industries or chambers of commerce of foreign countries,
- Foreigners who have marital relation with the citizens of Nepal and furnish the marriage registration certificate;
- Foreigners who are of Nepalese origin, or those who hold foreign passports but are born of Nepalese parents and are coming to visit any relative in Nepal, or the father, mother, brother or sister of foreigners who have marital relation with the citizens of Nepal who come to Nepal to visit the foreign national, producing a recommendation setting out the relation issued by the concerned mission; (Explanation: For the purposes of this Clause, the term “relative” means a person within the three generations of the father or mother).
- Foreigners who come to Nepal to work, on the recommendation of the concerned Ministry, pursuant to an agreement or understanding agreed upon at the governmental or non-governmental level;
- Foreigners having obtained recommendation of the concerned Ministry to conduct feasibility study of any industry or enterprise, for a period not exceeding Six months;
- A Team leader of foreigners making application, accompanied by recommendation of the concerned Ministry, for making group tour of the tourists in Nepal;
- Foreigners who have obtained recommendation of the concerned Ministry and come to work for non-governmental organizations pursuant to agreements concluded with the Social Welfare Council or the concerned Ministry;
- Such foreigners as may be considered fit by the Government of Nepal.
Work permit is generally required in order to obtain Non-Tourist Visa except in case of marriage or family related grounds.
Business Visa
A business visa shall be granted to the following foreigners and their family members on the recommendation of concerned agency for a maximum period of 5 years at a time:
- Foreigners who have obtained a license to make investment in any trade or industrial enterprise in Nepal or an authorized representative of such trade or enterprise;
- Foreigners who have obtained a license to make investment in order to carry on export trade from Nepal;
- Foreigners who visit Nepal from third countries and who purchase and export goods manufactured in Nepal or make a purchase order for exports.
Resident Visa
The residential visa shall be granted to the following foreigners who intend to spend life in Nepal, and their family members:
- Persons who are of international reputation;
- Persons who are capable of rendering outstanding contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of Nepal;
- Persons who make an investment of a minimum of 100,000 US dollars or convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto in an industrial enterprise of Nepal at a time;
- A foreigner who intends to spend life in Nepal without carrying on any business.
Non-residential Nepalese visa
If any foreigner of Nepalese origin residing in a foreign country intends to reside in or carries on trade or business in or carries out study, teaching or research work in any subject in Nepal, the non-residential Nepalese visa may be granted to such a foreigner and his or her family members. This type of visa may be granted for a period not exceeding Ten years at one time, and its term may be extended as per necessity.
Study Visa
The study visa shall be granted to the foreigners and their family members, who, after having obtained the approval of the Government of Nepal, come to study, teach or conduct research works in any educational institution in Nepal for a period of one.
Visa fee my range from USD 30 per month to USD 75 per month depending on the education program (discounts apply to certain selected nationalities)
Diplomatic Visa
This type of visa is granted Diplomats and their family members.
Official Visa
This type of visa is granted to the persons, whom the Government of Nepal considers fit and their family members, and, on the recommendation of the concerned foreign diplomatic mission, to the following foreigners and their family members:
- Administrative, technical and non-diplomatic staff serving in a residential or non-residential diplomatic mission, consulate for Nepal, and incumbent Nepalese honorary consul generals, consuls and their family members.
- Consultant expert staying in Nepal under an agreement concluded with Government of Nepal.
- Employees serving in Nepal based offices of the United Nations or agencies under the United Nations and persons holding the laissez passez issued by the United Nations.
- Employees serving in international institutions or regional organizations situated in Nepal.
- Persons who come to participate in any assembly, conference, training or meeting organized by the Government of Nepal or a body owned by the Government of Nepal, or the United Nations Organization or a regional organization or other agencies thereunder.
Major Conditions:
- Holders of tourist visa or those obtaining visa on account of their family members or relative shall not be allowed to work, whether in consideration for remuneration or not, in any industry, business, enterprise or organization during his or her stay in Nepal.
- A foreigner shall not be allowed to carry out any work other than that for which purpose he or she has obtained the visa.
- Violation of immigration law may result in deportation.
- Using forged passport or visa or providing false information on name, age, nationality or other matters may result in fine of up to NPR 50,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 5 years.
Disclaimer: The contents of this page are for general information purposes only and shall not be construed as legal advice. Please contact our legal professionals for accurate assistance.
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