Getting in Nepal

Most travelers reach Nepal in one of three ways: flying into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu, crossing overland from India at one of several open border posts, or entering from Tibet through the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung crossing on an organized tour. There’s no direct flight from North America, Europe (apart from Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul route), or Australia, so nearly every long-haul visitor connects through a hub like Doha, Dubai, Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, or Singapore before touching down in Kathmandu. Visa on arrival is available to most nationalities at the airport and at major land borders, and Indian citizens can enter with just a passport or voter ID — no visa needed at all. Since January 2026, all foreign visitors must also complete FNMIS digital registration, a step many older guides haven’t caught up with yet.

This guide walks through every realistic entry option — air, road, and the Himalayan overland route through China — with current visa fees, honest travel-time estimates, and the kind of practical detail that only comes from actually standing in these immigration queues. Whether you’re a first-time trekker booking a flight from London, a family driving up from Delhi for a week in Chitwan, a pilgrim heading to Kailash via Kerung, or a digital nomad weighing budget versus comfort, you’ll find a route and a cost estimate that matches your situation. We’ll also cover what to do the moment you land or cross the border, so the logistics stop being a source of anxiety and start being part of the adventure.

Nepal is reached by air through Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu, Nepal’s only major international gateway, or overland from India via land border crossings such as Sunauli, Raxaul–Birgunj, or Kakarbhitta. Travelers from China/Tibet can enter through the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung border, though this route is normally used only as part of an organized Tibet tour. Most nationalities receive a visa on arrival (USD 30–125, depending on duration), while Indian citizens need no visa at all.

Nepal doesn’t have a single simple “front door.” Depending on where you’re flying from, whether you’re coming from India, and what kind of trip you’re planning — trekking, pilgrimage, safari, or luxury culture tour — your ideal entry point changes. Booking a flight without understanding the visa rules, or planning an overland trip from India without knowing which border matches your route, is one of the most common (and avoidable) mistakes first-time visitors make. Getting this right saves you a day of your itinerary and, at busier border posts, a genuinely stressful few hours.

Nepal’s Main Entry Points at a Glance

How to Enter Nepal by Air

Short answer: Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu — Nepal’s only international airport capable of handling wide-body long-haul aircraft. There are no scheduled nonstop flights from the United States, Canada, mainland Western Europe, or Australia; nearly everyone connects through a hub city.

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA/KTM): What to Expect

Tribhuvan International Airport sits in the Kathmandu Valley and functions as Nepal’s primary gateway, connecting the country to roughly 40 international destinations across the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. It’s home base for Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines, and it’s also the jumping-off point most travelers use before flying onward to Lukla for Everest region treks.

The airport has two separate terminals:

• International Terminal — handles all international arrivals and departures, including visa-on-arrival counters, immigration, baggage claim, and customs.
• Domestic Terminal — a separate, more basic building handling flights to Pokhara, Bharatpur (for Chitwan), Nepalgunj, Biratnagar, Lukla, and other regional airstrips. No immigration procedures here, but expect basic facilities.

Pro tip: If you’re connecting straight from an international flight to a domestic one (for example, flying onward to Lukla for Everest Base Camp), build in at least a half-day buffer. TIA’s congestion, especially in peak trekking season (October–November and March–May), regularly causes delays, and domestic flights to mountain airstrips are also weather-dependent.

Which Airlines Fly Direct to Nepal?

There’s no single carrier that connects Kathmandu directly to North America or most of Europe. Instead, the route network is built around regional and Middle Eastern hubs:

What this means practically:

• From the US or Canada: Expect one stop, most commonly via Doha, Istanbul, or a Gulf hub, with total travel time of 18–24 hours door to door.
• From the UK/Europe: Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is usually the most direct option; Qatar and Emirates-adjacent Gulf carriers are close seconds.
• From Australia: Routes typically connect via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok.
• From India: This is the fastest and cheapest air route into Nepal, often under 2 hours flying time from Delhi.

Nepal Visa Requirements: Everything You Need to Know

Short answer: Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport or major land borders for USD 30 (15 days), USD 50 (30 days), or USD 125 (90 days). Indian citizens don’t need a visa at all. A short list of countries must apply through a Nepalese embassy in advance.

Nepal Visa Fees (2026)

Children under 10 receive a free visa regardless of nationality. SAARC nationals (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) get a free 30-day visa once per calendar year. Chinese nationals currently receive a fee-free tourist visa. Indian citizens are exempt entirely under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty, though air travel still requires a valid passport or Election Commission voter ID — an Aadhaar card alone is not accepted for flights.

Nationalities that cannot get a visa on arrival and must apply through a Nepalese embassy before travel include Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Liberia, Somalia, Eswatini (Swaziland), Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Palestine. This list is set by Nepal’s Department of Immigration and can change, so confirm directly with your nearest Nepalese diplomatic mission if you hold one of these passports.

How to Get Your Visa on Arrival (Step-by-Step)

1. Before you fly: Fill out the online arrival form on Nepal’s official Department of Immigration portal — this generates a barcode/receipt that speeds up the airport process considerably.
2. On arrival: Head to the visa kiosks in the International Terminal and complete or retrieve your digital form.
3. Pay the fee: Go to the bank counter before the immigration desks and pay in cash. USD is strongly preferred — card payment machines at TIA are unreliable due to connectivity issues, so carry clean, exact-denomination bills.
4. Get stamped: Present your passport, payment receipt, and barcode at the Visa on Arrival desk.
5. Complete FNMIS registration: As of January 1, 2026, all foreign visitors must register on Nepal’s Foreign Nationals Management Information System (FNMIS), generating a QR code used for identification at hotels and trekking checkpoints. Many independent hotels and teahouses in trekking regions now ask for this, so don’t skip it.

Important note: Passports must have at least 6 months of validity remaining from your date of entry, and you’ll need a passport-sized photo (carry a physical copy as backup even if you upload one digitally).

Extending Your Visa

Tourist visas can be extended up to a combined maximum of 150 days per calendar year. Extensions cost $45 for a minimum 15 days, plus $3 per additional day, and must be arranged at the Department of Immigration office in Kathmandu or the immigration office in Pokhara before your current visa expires. Overstaying carries a fine of roughly $5 per day on top of the extension fee, and repeated or serious overstays can result in detention or a re-entry ban — so treat your expiry date as a hard deadline, not a suggestion.

How to Travel to Nepal from India by Land

Short answer: Indian nationals can cross into Nepal at any open land border with just a passport or voter ID — no visa required. Foreign nationals of other countries can also get a visa on arrival at the same crossings, though queues and facilities vary considerably by border post.

Nepal and India share an open border with several official crossing points. Four are commonly used by tourists:

Sunauli (India) – Belahiya/Bhairahawa (Nepal)

The most popular tourist crossing, reached via Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. It’s the fastest route from Delhi, Varanasi, or Lucknow, and it sits close to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha — a natural first stop for pilgrims and cultural travelers. Expect a chaotic scene of touts and money changers right at the crossing; walk directly to the immigration building and ignore unsolicited “help.” Direct tourist buses to Kathmandu and Pokhara depart from Bhairahawa in the early morning (roughly 7–8 AM); missing this window often means a longer wait or a less comfortable local bus.

• From Gorakhpur to the border: ~3 hours by bus or shared jeep
• Bhairahawa to Kathmandu: 8–10 hours by bus
• Bhairahawa to Pokhara: roughly similar or slightly shorter

Raxaul (India) – Birgunj (Nepal)

Known as the “Gateway of Nepal” because of the volume of freight traffic, this crossing works best for travelers coming from Patna, Bodh Gaya, or elsewhere in Bihar. It’s generally considered the easiest and least touristy of the major crossings, with straightforward immigration formalities on both sides.

• Patna to Raxaul: ~5–6 hours by road, or overnight train
• Birgunj to Kathmandu: 6–8 hours by bus
• Birgunj to Pokhara: ~6 hours

Immigration hours for foreign nationals at Raxaul–Birgunj typically run 6:00 AM–7:00 PM; Indian citizens can generally cross outside these hours, but with more limited services.

Kakarbhitta (Nepal) – Panitanki (India)

This eastern crossing connects Siliguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal with eastern Nepal. It’s the natural choice for travelers combining a Darjeeling/Sikkim trip with Nepal, or heading toward Ilam’s tea gardens and eastern hill stations.

• Siliguri to Panitanki: ~4–5 hours
• Kakarbhitta to Kathmandu: 12–16 hours by bus (a long haul — consider breaking the journey at Chitwan National Park en route)
• Kakarbhitta to Biratnagar/Pokhara: shorter regional connections available

Note for foreign (non-Indian) travelers: This crossing has had periods of restricted access for non-Indian, non-Nepali nationals in the recent past due to local administrative issues. It’s currently reported open, but if you’re not an Indian or Nepali citizen, confirm the crossing’s current status with a local operator or the nearest Nepalese consulate before building your itinerary around it.

Banbasa (India) – Mahendranagar/Bhimdatta (Nepal)

The westernmost crossing, best reached from Bareilly, Rudrapur, or Haldwani in Uttarakhand. It’s the quietest of the four main crossings and the natural route if you’re planning to visit Bardiya National Park, one of Nepal’s best (and least crowded) wildlife destinations, on the way to Kathmandu or Pokhara.

What to Expect at Any Land Border

• Documents: Foreign nationals need a passport, a passport photo, and cash for the visa fee (same fees as airport VOA). Indian nationals need a passport or voter ID card only.
• Facilities: ATMs, currency exchange booths, basic food stalls, and SIM card vendors are available at all four major crossings, though Sunauli and Raxaul have the most developed infrastructure.
• Vehicles: Indian-registered vehicles can be temporarily brought into Nepal for a customs fee (Bhansar), typically valid for up to 30 days, at crossings including Banbasa and Raxaul.
• Best time to cross: Early morning, both to catch direct tourist buses onward and to avoid the worst of the border-town heat and crowding.

How to Travel to Nepal from China (Tibet)

Short answer: The only currently open international crossing between Nepal and China for foreign travelers is Rasuwagadhi (Nepal) – Kerung/Gyirong (Tibet). This route is used almost exclusively by organized Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage groups and Tibet overland tours — it is not a casual walk-in border crossing like the India posts.

The older Kodari–Zhangmu crossing on the Araniko Highway has remained closed to foreign travelers since it was badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake. Rasuwagadhi–Kerung became the primary route instead, opening to international travelers in 2017, and briefly closed again in mid-2025 after a glacial flood damaged the Friendship Bridge — a temporary Bailey bridge restored full operations in January 2026.

What makes this route different:

• No individual visa on arrival. You cannot simply show up with a Chinese tourist visa; Tibet requires a separate group visa arranged by a licensed agency, and it must cover everyone traveling together, entering and exiting China as a single group.
• No solo travel. Independent travel into Tibet isn’t permitted; you must book through an authorized tour operator who arranges your Tibet Travel Permit and assigns a Tibetan guide who meets you at the border.
• Altitude matters immediately. Kathmandu sits at roughly 1,400 m; Gyirong Town, just across the border, is already at about 2,700 m, and the road to Lhasa or Kailash climbs over 5,000 m passes. Reputable operators build in an acclimatization night at Gyirong before continuing.
• Road conditions: The drive from Kathmandu to the Rasuwagadhi border takes roughly 6–8 hours and can be affected by landslides during the monsoon (June–September).

If your goal is Kailash Mansarovar or an overland Tibet extension after your Nepal trip, plan this as a distinct, professionally guided leg of your journey rather than a casual border hop — and book your Nepal-side visa and Tibet group visa paperwork through the same operator to avoid mismatched documentation.

Getting Around After You Arrive

Short answer: From Kathmandu, most tourists use prepaid airport taxis, hire a private car with driver, or book a domestic flight onward to Pokhara, Lukla, or Chitwan. From land borders, tourist buses and shared jeeps connect directly to Kathmandu and Pokhara.

• Prepaid taxi counters are available at TIA’s arrivals hall — fix your fare before leaving the terminal to avoid haggling.
• Domestic flights connect Kathmandu to Pokhara (25 minutes), Lukla for Everest region treks, Bharatpur for Chitwan, and Nepalgunj/Dhangadhi for western Nepal. Buy these in advance during peak season (Oct–Nov, Mar–May), as flights fill up and weather delays are common.
• Tourist buses (Greenline, Buddha Air coach services, and similar operators) connect Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan with air-conditioned, single-ticket comfort — a good middle ground between a private car and a cramped local bus.
• Private car/driver hire is the most comfortable option for families, seniors, and travelers with tight schedules, and it’s widely available through hotels and licensed operators in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Best Time to Visit Nepal

Short answer: October–November (autumn) and March–May (spring) are Nepal’s best seasons — clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and the most reliable trekking and flight conditions. Monsoon (June–September) and winter (December–February) each have narrower use cases.

Estimated Travel Costs and Time

Sample First-Day Itineraries

Flying in from abroad: Day 1 — Land at TIA, clear visa/immigration (allow 45–90 minutes in peak season), prepaid taxi to Thamel, rest and acclimatize, evening walk through Thamel’s markets and a first dal bhat dinner.

Overlanding from India via Sunauli: Day 1 — Cross the border early morning, catch the direct 7–8 AM tourist bus, arrive Kathmandu by early evening; alternatively, break the journey with a night in Lumbini before continuing.

Overlanding from India via Raxaul: Day 1 — Cross at Birgunj, take a shared jeep or tourist bus, arrive Kathmandu or Pokhara same evening given the shorter road time.

Practical Travel Tips

• Cash first, cards second. Carry USD in clean, non-torn bills for visa fees; ATMs are reliable in Kathmandu and Pokhara but scarce at remote border posts.
• SIM cards: Ncell and Nepal Telecom (NTC) kiosks are available at the airport and most land borders; SIMs cost roughly NPR 100–200, with data packages from NPR 300–600. Ncell tends to have stronger coverage in cities, NTC often performs better in remote mountain areas.
• FNMIS registration is now mandatory — don’t skip it even if your hotel doesn’t ask for the QR code immediately, since trekking region checkpoints increasingly do.
• Altitude awareness: Even Kathmandu’s popular day-trip viewpoints and any onward trekking route can involve rapid elevation gain — build in acclimatization days rather than rushing straight into high-altitude activity.
• Photography: Early morning light in the Kathmandu Valley and at mountain viewpoints is dramatically better than midday haze; carry a lens cloth, as dust is constant in the dry season.
• Responsible tourism: Support locally owned teahouses and guides, avoid single-use plastic where possible (many trekking regions now restrict it), and always ask before photographing people or ceremonies.
• Accessibility: Kathmandu’s older neighborhoods and most trekking regions have limited infrastructure for travelers with mobility challenges; luxury operators can arrange accessible transport and lodging in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan, but remote treks are not realistic for wheelchair users.
• Family travel: Chitwan safaris, Kathmandu Valley culture tours, and Pokhara’s lakeside area are the most family-friendly, low-altitude options.
• Senior travelers: Lower-altitude cultural circuits (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lumbini, Chitwan) offer the richness of Nepal without the physical demands of high trekking routes.
• Digital nomads: Pokhara and Kathmandu both have a growing number of coworking cafés with reliable Wi-Fi; the 90-day visa, extendable to 150 days per year, comfortably supports a longer working stay.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Booking a 15-day visa for a trek that has any realistic chance of weather delays — the 30-day visa costs only $20 more and removes that risk entirely.
• Assuming Aadhaar alone is enough for Indian nationals flying to Nepal — carry a passport or voter ID.
• Skipping online FNMIS pre-registration and the visa pre-registration form, then being surprised by the airport queue.
• Trying to use an individual Chinese tourist visa to cross into Tibet at Rasuwagadhi — it isn’t valid; you need the group visa arranged through a licensed operator.
• Underestimating road time on the Kakarbhitta–Kathmandu route and arriving exhausted with no buffer day before a trek or tour begins.

Who Should Use Which Entry Route?

• First-time international visitors, families, luxury travelers: Fly into Kathmandu; the airport process is the most predictable and comfortable.
• Budget backpackers already in India: Sunauli or Raxaul overland, depending on which Indian city you’re starting from.
• Wildlife-focused travelers: Consider Banbasa if Bardiya National Park is on your list.
• Spiritual travelers heading to Lumbini first: Sunauli puts you closest to the Buddha’s birthplace before continuing to Kathmandu or Pokhara.
• Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims: Book a licensed Tibet tour operator well in advance; your entry point is Rasuwagadhi–Kerung, not Kathmandu airport alone.
• Digital nomads and long-stay travelers: Fly in, apply for the 90-day visa upfront, and plan your extension timeline before you land.

Ready to Plan Your Nepal Trip?

Whether you’re flying in for a two-week trek, driving up from India for a family holiday, or arranging a Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through Tibet, getting the entry logistics right from day one sets the tone for the whole trip. A local Nepal-based travel operator can confirm current visa rules for your specific nationality, book your domestic connections, and build an itinerary around the entry route that actually fits your plans — worth a quick conversation before you book that first flight.