Travel Guide
Visa & Entry
Verified 16 September 2026 against official sources
Official Nepal tourist-visa, TIMS, park-entry and restricted-area permit figures for Ambition Holidays guests — then India and Bhutan. Fees below are taken from the Department of Immigration and the Nepal Tourism Board. We still re-check them when we file your papers, because governments can update a schedule without notice.
We file the papers. You keep the journey.
Visas and permits are the first practical question on a Himalayan itinerary. Ambition Holidays — sister company of Ambition Himalaya Treks and Expeditions — is a government-registered operator. We obtain TIMS, park tickets and restricted-area permits in Kathmandu as part of a private programme.
This page quotes published government rates, not operator estimates. Always confirm the live schedule on immigration.gov.np and ntb.gov.np before you fly. Your specialist will also confirm the payable amount for your exact route and nationality.
Nepal
Tourist visa
Every foreign visitor except Indian nationals needs a tourist visa to enter Nepal. Visa on arrival is issued at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Pokhara International Airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini, and designated land entry points. You may also apply at a Nepalese diplomatic mission before travel. The most reliable source is the Department of Immigration: immigration.gov.np.
On-arrival tourist visa (multiple-entry)
Complete the online tourist-visa form at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np before you fly (the barcode is valid for 15 days) or use the kiosk on arrival. Bring a passport valid for your stay, a passport-size photograph with a light background, and the fee in US dollars or another convertible currency. International cards are accepted at many counters; cash in USD is still the fastest at peak hours.
Tourist visas issued on arrival are multiple-entry. If you obtained a visa at a Nepalese mission abroad, you must enter Nepal within six months of the issue date; your stay is counted from the day you arrive.
Indian nationals do not need a Nepal visa. Carry a valid Indian passport, Election Commission voter card, or other documents listed by the Department of Immigration. Aadhaar is not accepted as a travel document for Nepal.
Visa on arrival is not available to nationals of Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (Swaziland), Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, or to holders of refugee travel documents. Iran is also listed by several Nepal missions as requiring a visa in advance. These travellers must obtain a visa from a Nepalese diplomatic mission (or the official mission portal) before flying.
Gratis (free) tourist visa: children below 10 years except US citizens; SAARC citizens except Afghanistan for up to 30 days on the first visit in a visa year; Chinese nationals; and NRN card holders issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Nepalese mission. Afghan citizens may receive a gratis visa on arrival only with a Department of Immigration recommendation.
- USD 3015-day multiple-entry
- USD 5030-day multiple-entry
- USD 12590-day multiple-entry
Source: Nepal Tourism Board and Department of Immigration tourist-visa schedule. Extension at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara: minimum 15 days at USD 45, then USD 3 per additional day. Late extension (up to 150 days) adds USD 5 per day as a fine. A tourist visa cannot exceed 150 days in a visa year. Confirm live rates on immigration.gov.np before you travel.
Trekking permits
Most Himalayan routes now require a licensed guide and a TIMS card issued through a government-registered trekking agency (revised TIMS provision, 31 March 2023). You then add the protected-area ticket for each park or conservation area you enter. Restricted valleys also need a Department of Immigration trekking permit, filed in Kathmandu on your passport.
TIMS card
Trekkers’ Information Management System. Nepal Tourism Board: NPR 2,000 per person for non-SAARC nationals; NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals; paid online by the agency. In the Khumbu (Everest) region the rural municipality Trek Card is used at Lukla instead of TIMS: NPR 3,000 for other countries; NPR 2,000 for SAARC countries and China (Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality).
Protected-area entry
National parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas. One entry fee per area, published by the Nepal Tourism Board. Children below 10 years are free. Tickets are issued at the Nepal Tourism Board Tourist Service Centre, Bhrikutimandap, at designated gates, or through your operator. Official table: ntb.gov.np park entry fees.
Restricted-area permits
Border and culturally sensitive valleys. Issued only by the Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu, through a registered trekking agency. Independent travel is not permitted. Carry the permit on the trail and show it to immigration or police on request. Official table: ntb.gov.np trekking permits.
How Ambition Holidays files your permits
We complete TIMS on the official agency portal, conservation-area tickets (ACAP, MCAP, GCAP and others) at the Nepal Tourism Board or NTNC e-permit desk, Sagarmatha and Langtang park tickets at Bhrikutimandap or the trail gate, and restricted-area permits at the Department of Immigration. You need a clear passport scan and your dates. Incomplete files are rejected; we do not send you to the counter.
Useful official links: immigration.gov.np · nepaliport.immigration.gov.np · ntb.gov.np · epermit.ntnc.org.np.
Protected-area entry fees
Per person, per entry, as published by the Nepal Tourism Board (figures provided by the concerned department). Children below 10 years: free. Some field counters add 13% VAT — we confirm the exact payable amount when we issue your ticket.
| Area | Nepali | SAARC | Foreign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chitwan National Park | NPR 150 | NPR 1,000 | NPR 2,000 |
| Sagarmatha National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 1,500 | NPR 3,000 |
| Banke National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 750 | NPR 1,500 |
| Bardia National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 750 | NPR 1,500 |
| Khaptad National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 1,500 | NPR 3,000 |
| Langtang National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 1,500 | NPR 3,000 |
| Makalu-Barun National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 1,500 | NPR 3,000 |
| Parsa National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 750 | NPR 1,500 |
| Rara National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 1,500 | NPR 3,000 |
| Shey-Phoksundo National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 1,500 | NPR 3,000 |
| Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 600 | NPR 1,000 |
| Shuklaphanta National Park | NPR 100 | NPR 750 | NPR 1,500 |
| Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve | NPR 100 | NPR 750 | NPR 1,500 |
| Api Nampa Conservation Area | NPR 100 | NPR 500 | NPR 2,000 |
| Annapurna Conservation Area | NPR 100 | NPR 1,000 | NPR 3,000 |
| Blackbuck Conservation Area | NPR 100 | NPR 500 | NPR 2,000 |
| Gaurishankar Conservation Area | NPR 100 | NPR 1,000 | NPR 3,000 |
| Kanchenjunga Conservation Area | NPR 100 | NPR 500 | NPR 2,000 |
| Manaslu Conservation Area | NPR 100 | NPR 1,000 | NPR 3,000 |
| Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve | NPR 100 | NPR 1,500 | NPR 3,000 |
Restricted-area trekking permits
Department of Immigration fees via a registered agency, as published by the Nepal Tourism Board. Amounts are per person. A “week” is seven days. We file the exact wards your itinerary enters — walking outside the permitted route is a legal offence.
- Upper MustangUSD 50 per person per dayLomanthang RM wards 1–5; Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda RM wards 1–5; Baragung Muktichetra RM ward 3 and Satang village of ward 5.
- Upper DolpoUSD 50 per person per dayDolpo Buddha RM wards 4–6; Shey Phoksundo RM wards 1–7; Charka Tangsong RM wards 1–6.
- Gorkha — Manaslu areaSep–Nov: USD 100 per person per week, then USD 15 per person per day. Dec–Aug: USD 75 per person per week, then USD 10 per person per dayChumnubri Rural Municipality wards 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- HumlaUSD 50 per person per week, then USD 10 per person per daySimikot RM wards 1, 6 and 7; Namkha RM wards 1–6; Changkheli RM wards 3–5.
- Taplejung — Kanchenjunga areaUSD 20 per person per week for the first 4 weeks, then USD 25 per person per weekPhaktanglung RM wards 6 and 7; Mikwakhola RM ward 5; Sirijunga RM ward 8.
- Lower DolpoUSD 20 per person per week, then USD 5 per person per weekThulibheri and Tripurasundari municipalities; listed wards of Dolpo Buddha, Shey Phoksundo, Jagdulla, Mudkechula and Kaike rural municipalities.
- Dolakha (listed wards)USD 20 per person per weekGaurishankar RM ward 9; Bigu RM ward 1.
- Gorkha — Tsum ValleySep–Nov: USD 40 per person per week, then USD 7 per person per day. Dec–Aug: USD 30 per person per week, then USD 7 per person per daySirdibas–Lokpa–Chumling–Chekampar–Nile–Chule; Chumnubri RM wards 3, 6 and 7.
- Sankhuwasabha (listed wards)USD 20 per person per week for the first 4 weeks, then USD 25 per person per weekBhotkhola RM wards 1–5; Makalu RM ward 4.
- Solukhumbu — Khumbu Pasang Lhamu RM ward 5USD 20 per person per week for the first 4 weeks, then USD 25 per person per weekThis is the Immigration restricted-area fee for the listed ward only. It is separate from the Khumbu Trek Card charged at Lukla for the main Everest trails.
- Rasuwa — Gosaikunda RMUSD 20 per person per weekGosaikunda Rural Municipality ward 1 and part of ward 2.
- Manang — Nar / PhuSep–Nov: USD 100 per person per week, then USD 15 per person per day. Dec–Aug: USD 75 per person per week, then USD 15 per person per dayNarpa RM wards 1–5; Nasho RM wards 6 and 7.
- Bajhang — SaipalUSD 90 per person for the first week, then USD 15 per person per daySaipal Rural Municipality wards 1–5.
- Mugu — Mugum KarmarongUSD 100 per person per week, then USD 15 per person per dayMugum Karmarong Rural Municipality wards 1–9.
- Darchula — Byas RM ward 1USD 90 per person per week, then USD 15 per person per dayByas Rural Municipality ward 1.
Arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport
Visa on arrival is straightforward; queues grow in October and April. Your Ambition Holidays host waits landside with your nameboard. The sequence below follows Department of Immigration practice.
- 01
Online form or kiosk
If you completed nepaliport.immigration.gov.np, bring the printed barcode. Otherwise fill the tourist-visa form on the arrival kiosk. Choose 15, 30 or 90 days and keep the ticket.
- 02
Pay the visa fee
Pay USD 30, 50 or 125 (or equivalent convertible currency) at the bank counter. Card is accepted when the terminal is working; USD cash is the reliable backup. Keep the receipt.
- 03
Immigration desk
Present passport, visa form or kiosk ticket, and payment receipt. The stamp is multiple-entry for the duration you paid.
- 04
Baggage and exit
Collect checked bags, complete any customs declaration, and walk out to the arrivals forecourt.
- 05
Meet your host
Your driver waits with the hotel and agency pick-ups. Prepaid taxis and SIM desks are by the door if you have asked us not to meet the flight.
A quiet extra: embassy or Himalayan Rescue Association
Leave your name, passport number, emergency contact and itinerary with your embassy in Kathmandu, or with the Himalayan Rescue Association (himalayanrescue.org). Include your hotel and the Ambition Holidays office numbers +977 1 4518413 and +977 9851148898. It speeds any medical evacuation should you ever need one.
India
Visa and inner-line permits
Apply only on the Government of India website: indianvisaonline.gov.in. Do not use third-party visa shops. Most leisure travel uses an e-Visa; some nationalities must apply at a mission. High Himalayan districts that sit on an inner line (parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and the far north-east) need a separate Inner Line Permit or Protected Area Permit issued in India. Those papers are arranged with a local partner against original passports, photographs and a day-by-day itinerary — not at the airport on a holiday morning.
Bhutan
Visa, SDF and licensed travel
Independent tourist travel and independent trekking are not permitted. A visa is processed in advance through a licensed Bhutanese operator (visit.doi.gov.bt). The visa fee is USD 40 per person, non-refundable. In addition, USD-paying visitors pay a Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per person per night (a 50% incentive on the USD 200 rate, published by Bhutan Immigration as valid through 31 August 2027). Children aged 6–12 pay half; children under 6 are exempt. Indian passport holders use an entry permit and pay SDF of BTN/INR 1,200 per person per night. When you book Bhutan with Ambition Holidays, visa clearance and SDF are built into the hosted itinerary.
Let us file it
Send your dates and the ranges you wish to walk. Ambition Holidays prepares the correct Nepal TIMS, park tickets and restricted-area permits, briefs you on visa on arrival, and coordinates Bhutan (and, where relevant, Tibet) paperwork with licensed partners.
Ask a specialist