What does Nepal’s Department of Immigration say about transit visas?
Nepal’s Department of Immigration says foreign nationals in transit can get a transit visa to enter the country and spend up to 24 hours, on showing an air ticket as proof of transit. The fee is US$5. We read this on the department’s visa page on 5 November 2026. The page gives no effective date.
The department lists three steps:
- Fill in the online visa form, choosing the transit category.
- Pay the US$5 fee at the bank counter on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport.
- Go to the transit visa desk and show your air ticket and documents to the immigration officer.
The same page says people arriving by accident, such as an emergency or forced landing, can get a tourist visa if they wish to leave the airport.
Rules can change without much notice. Treat this page as a starting point, and confirm with your airline and the department before you travel. Our Kathmandu layover page covers the time you’d need.
What we couldn’t confirm about transit
Several things a layover passenger needs to know aren’t settled by anything official that we could read. Don’t assume the friendly answer to any of these.
- The department’s own pages conflict. Its visa page describes a transit visa issued at the airport. Its FAQ says visas issued at entry points are all tourist visas, and no other kind is issued there. The Nepal Tourism Board also says the tourist visa is the only entry visa, and World Travel Guide says Nepal has no separate transit category. Which applies in practice is a question for the department.
- Staying airside. We found no official statement on whether you can wait inside the airport without a visa. Mosaic Adventure, a tour operator, says Kathmandu has no airside transit zone. OnlineKhabar in 2022 and World Travel Guide say passengers who stay inside the airport need no visa. These sources conflict, and none is a current official statement.
- Excluded nationalities and transit. The published exclusion lists are about visas on arrival. They don’t say whether those passengers can get a transit visa. If your passport is on the list below, assume you can’t until the department or a Nepali embassy tells you otherwise.
- Your second airline. We don’t know how your airline treats a passenger who leaves the airport, or what happens to your checked bags. Ask before you book.
How much is a Nepal tourist visa on arrival?
A Nepal tourist visa on arrival costs US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days. These are the Department of Immigration’s figures, read on 5 November 2026. If a transit visa doesn’t suit you, this is the usual alternative for leaving the airport.
| Visa | Fee | Stay allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Transit | US$5 | Up to 24 hours |
| Tourist, on arrival | US$30 | 15 days |
| Tourist, on arrival | US$50 | 30 days |
| Tourist, on arrival | US$125 | 90 days |
The steps are similar. Fill in the arrival card and the online tourist visa form, either before you travel or on a kiosk at the airport. The printed receipt with its barcode is valid for 15 days. Pay at the bank counter, then go to the immigration desk with your form, receipt and passport.
The department also lists free (gratis) visas. A free visa is still a visa, so you must still go through the process:
- Children under 10, for up to 30 days. The department’s visa on arrival page, the Nepal Tourism Board and the embassy in Bangkok all exclude US citizens from this, though the department’s main visa page doesn’t mention it. US families should budget for the fee and ask.
- SAARC citizens, except Afghans, for up to 30 days on a first visit in a visa year
- Afghan citizens, on the department’s recommendation
- Non-resident Nepali card holders
- Chinese nationals
Queues are a real factor. The department’s own FAQ answers a question from someone who doesn’t want to stand in a long line at the airport, and suggests getting a visa at a Nepali embassy before travel. Mosaic Adventure gives 15 to 30 minutes for processing. We found no official waiting time.
Which nationalities can’t get a visa on arrival?
Nationals of 13 countries can’t get a Nepal visa on arrival and must apply at a Nepali embassy first. The Nepal Tourism Board lists all 13. The department’s visa on arrival page lists 12 and doesn’t show Iran, which a March 2026 newspaper report quoting the department adds.
| Country | Listed by |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur; Himalayan Times |
| Cameroon | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
| Eswatini (listed as Swaziland) | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies. See the note below |
| Ethiopia | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
| Ghana | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
| Iran | Nepal Tourism Board; Himalayan Times, 13 March 2026. Not on the department’s page or the older embassy pages |
| Iraq | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
| Liberia | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
| Nigeria | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
| Palestine | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
| Somalia | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
| Syria | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
| Zimbabwe | Department; Nepal Tourism Board; Embassies; Himalayan Times |
Three details matter:
- The sources differ. The department’s visa on arrival page and the embassy pages we read list 12 countries and are undated. The Himalayan Times reported Iran’s addition on 13 March 2026, making 13, with exceptions for government and diplomatic passports. It printed “Switzerland” where the Nepal Tourism Board and the embassies say “Swaziland”. Switzerland isn’t on the board’s list.
- Other travel documents. The embassy in Kuala Lumpur says refugee travel document holders can’t get a visa on arrival, and the Himalayan Times reports the same. The embassy in Bangkok says the same for temporary travel documents and emergency passports.
- The list may be longer. We can’t rule out changes after March 2026.
The embassy in Bangkok says these nationals need a reference letter from their own embassy to apply. If your nationality or document is listed, contact a Nepali embassy before you buy a ticket with a stop in Kathmandu.
What do Indian citizens need to fly into Nepal?
Indian citizens don’t need a visa to enter Nepal, according to the department’s visa on arrival page and the Nepal Tourism Board. Those flying in must show an Indian passport or a voter ID card from the Election Commission, according to the department’s FAQ. Children under 18 with a parent or guardian show a school ID or birth certificate. The board says an Aadhaar card isn’t accepted, and its list of accepted ID is longer than the FAQ’s. Carry your passport if you have one, and ask your airline if you don’t.
What else should you check before you travel?
Check your passport’s validity, the online registration rule and your airline’s connection terms. These come from other governments’ advice, and they’re worth confirming for your own passport.
- Passport validity: the UK says at least 6 months after your date of entry. Canada says at least 6 months beyond your planned departure. Use the longer one.
- Registration: Canada says all foreign nationals must register through the NepaliPort website or app on arrival.
- Flight disruption: the UK reports that Nepal’s immigration department offers a free extension, arranged at the airport, to foreign nationals whose visas expire because of travel disruption. This was in its advice updated 1 October 2026.
- Overstaying: Canada warns this can lead to a fine, detention and a 7-year re-entry ban. A transit visa is capped at 24 hours, so a missed connection is worth thinking about in advance.
Who should you contact for a final answer?
Contact the Department of Immigration and your airline, in that order, and keep any written reply. The department is at Kalikasthan, Kathmandu, on +977 1 4529660 or info@immigration.gov.np, Monday to Friday. Its website is immigration.gov.np, and the NepaliPort portal at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np handles online forms.
Send them your nationality, your flight numbers and your layover length, then ask whether you may leave the airport. Don’t book anything that depends on leaving the airport until you have that answer. A clear reply also helps at the desk, and it’s useful evidence when you plan what a stop in Kathmandu will cost.