Except for citizens of India and children under the age of ten, everyone who travels to Nepal must have a valid visa. It is best that you get yours in advance of your trip from the Nepal embassy or consulate nearest you. (Note that a Nepal visa is valid for three months from its issue date, so take this into account when you are applying for yours.) While a visa can be issued to you when you arrive in Nepal, any lack of the necessary documentation (e.g. a photo ID) might disallow its issuance and prevent your entry into the country. Once the visa is issued, it will not be revised or revalidated and visa fees will not be refunded. The cost for a single-entry visa (meaning entering Nepal once) is US $30.

Visas are valid for 60 days. If you decide to stay in Nepal longer than this, you will need to get a visa extension from the immigration department. Necessary documents include your passport, photos, payments, and completed application form. Once granted, your visa extension is usually available the next business day, unless it is high season, in which case the wait can be up to three business days. The extension allows you to stay in Nepal for a total of 150 days, the maximum allowed for visitors to Nepal in any calendar year.

If you stay in Nepal up to six days beyond your visa’s expiration date without a visa extension, you will have to pay a fine of US $2 for each of these days at the airport. However, if you stay seven or more days without the extension, it is possible that you will not be permitted to board your flight and instead be sent to the immigration office to get things straightened out.

Also, if your travel plans include going from Nepal to India or Tibet and then returning to Nepal within 30 days, you should get the double-entry visa (US $55) instead of the single-entry one to keep things simple. The other option is to get a re-entry permit before you leave Nepal, which is obtainable from the immigration office for US $25. Without the double-entry visa or re-entry permit, you will have to pay a visa fee of US $50 upon your return to Nepal. For multiple trips in and out of Nepal, India and/or Tibet, the best thing to do is get the triple-entry (US $70) or multiple-entry ($US 90) visa.