Immigration Law in Nepal 2082/83 (2026)

Up to 150 days within a single visa year, with visa-on-arrival fees broadly USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days and USD 125 for 90 days. Confirm current fees with the Department.

No. Work requires a labour permit from the Department of Labour plus a non-tourist (work) visa. Working on a tourist visa is a violation.

The Immigration Rules 2051 provide tourist, business, non-tourist (including work), residential, study, marriage/dependent, diplomatic, official, transit, and gratis NRN visas. Each category has its own conditions, duration and renewal rules, and the visa must match the holder's actual purpose in Nepal. Using a visa for an activity it does not cover — most commonly working on a tourist visa — is a violation of the Immigration Act 2049.

The Department of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, administers immigration in Nepal — issuing and extending visas, enforcing visa conditions, and handling entry, overstay and deportation under the Immigration Act 2049. Visa-on-arrival is processed at Tribhuvan International Airport and other designated entry points, while extensions and category changes are handled at the Department. The Department of Labour separately handles work permits for foreign employees.

The visa-on-arrival fee is broadly USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days and USD 125 for 90 days, with SAARC nationals receiving a gratis allowance. These figures are set by the Department of Immigration and are revised periodically, so a figure in an older article may be out of date. Confirm the current fee on the Department of Immigration's visa-fee page before travelling, especially if you plan a longer or extended stay.

Apply to the Department of Immigration before your current visa expires, within the 150-day annual limit. There is a minimum extension period and a daily rate — broadly a minimum of around USD 45 for 15 days plus roughly USD 3 per additional day, subject to the current schedule. Extending late or staying beyond the permitted period becomes an overstay with a daily fine, so apply in good time and confirm the current extension fees with the Department.

Overstaying attracts a daily fine, and a serious or prolonged overstay can lead to detention, deportation and a ban on future entry under the Immigration Act 2049. The exact daily fine is set administratively and is revised from time to time, so confirm the current amount with the Department of Immigration. Because overstay is checked at departure, it is far better to extend the visa in time than to pay accumulated fines and risk an entry ban.

A non-tourist visa is for foreigners staying for employment or other approved economic, social or professional activity, and it is the category through which work (employment) visas are issued. For employment, it is granted alongside a work permit from the Department of Labour and the relevant recommendation. It is distinct from a tourist visa, which does not permit work, and from a business visa, which is tied to an approved foreign investment. The right category depends on the actual purpose.

A residential visa allows longer-term residence and is generally available to substantial investors, recognised contributors, or qualifying retirees, subject to approval and conditions set by the authorities. It sits above the ordinary business and non-tourist visas in terms of stay length. Because the qualifying thresholds and conditions are specific and can change, anyone considering a residential visa should confirm the current eligibility — including any investment requirement — with the Department of Immigration before applying.

Yes. A foreign national married to a Nepali citizen can obtain a marriage (non-tourist) visa, typically renewed periodically with the Nepali spouse present and proof of the subsisting marriage. This allows the foreign spouse to live in Nepal, though it is distinct from citizenship, which has its own separate process and conditions. Because documentation and renewal requirements apply, it is worth confirming the current process with the Department of Immigration or a lawyer.

Holders of a non-resident Nepali (NRN) card — foreign citizens of Nepali origin — are issued a visa on a gratis (no-fee) basis, allowing extended stays linked to their NRN status, with the card itself valid for a multi-year period. This reflects the special status the law gives the diaspora. The exact duration and privileges attach to the NRN framework, so an NRN should confirm the current entitlement, and our NRN rights guide explains the broader rights that accompany NRN status.

Visa on arrival is the tourist-visa facility available to most nationalities at Tribhuvan International Airport and other designated air and land entry points, where the visa is issued on payment of the fee for 15, 30 or 90 days. Some nationalities are excepted and must obtain a visa in advance. Visa on arrival is for tourism only and does not permit work or business, so travellers coming for other purposes must obtain the correct category instead.

A foreign employee needs a work permit from the Department of Labour, supported by the employer and the relevant line-ministry recommendation, and then a non-tourist (work) visa from the Department of Immigration tied to that employment. The two run together — the labour permit authorises the work, the visa authorises the stay. Employing a foreigner without this combination, or working on a tourist visa, is a violation, so the permit and visa should be secured before the work starts.

It is per visa (calendar) year, not per entry. The 150 days is the total a tourist may spend in Nepal across the year on a tourist visa, whether in one visit or several, so multiple trips count toward the same annual cap. A traveller who has used the allowance cannot simply re-enter on a fresh tourist visa to reset it within the same year. Those needing to stay longer must look at a different, appropriate visa category.

You generally cannot simply continue on a tourist visa for work or business; you need to obtain the correct category through the proper process — a labour permit and non-tourist visa for employment, or an investment approval and business visa for an investor. Depending on the situation this may require leaving and re-entering or applying through the Department with the supporting approvals. Because the route is fact-specific, take advice rather than assuming a tourist visa can be informally upgraded.

For a tourist visa on arrival, a valid passport, the fee and a photo are the basics. Other categories require supporting documents — an investment approval and recommendation for a business visa, a labour permit and recommendation for a work visa, a marriage certificate and spouse's citizenship for a marriage visa, and enrolment proof for a study visa. Because each category has its own checklist and the requirements can change, confirm the current document list with the Department of Immigration.

Yes. The Immigration Act 2049 empowers the authorities to expel a foreigner who enters or stays unlawfully, breaches visa conditions, or otherwise violates the Act, and deportation can be accompanied by a ban on re-entry for a period. Serious cases — such as using fake documents — can also involve a fine and imprisonment. Because deportation leaves a record that affects future travel to Nepal, a foreigner facing removal should take immediate legal advice on their options.

Indian nationals have long enjoyed special entry arrangements with Nepal and are generally not treated like other foreign tourists for visa purposes, reflecting the open border and bilateral relationship. However, for activities such as employment or investment, the relevant permit and approval requirements still apply. Because the precise position depends on the purpose of stay and current policy, an Indian national coming for work or business should confirm the applicable requirements rather than assume no formalities apply.

Before choosing a visa, hiring a foreign worker, or once an overstay or violation has occurred. A lawyer matches the visa category to the purpose, arranges the work permit and non-tourist or business visa, handles residential, marriage and dependent visas, and represents a person facing an overstay fine, deportation or entry ban. Getting the category right at the start is far cheaper than untangling a violation later, which is when the fines and bans accumulate.