Roof of the World: Himalayas, Temples & Trekking
Citizens of most countries can get a visa on arrival, with some exceptions — notably Indian nationals, who do not need a visa for Nepal at all. Chinese nationals have a separate arrangement. Check the Nepal Immigration website for your nationality.
Technically, working on a tourist visa is not permitted under current rules. In practice, digital nomads working for overseas companies are rarely questioned. Nepal's proposed Digital Nomad Visa (expected 2026) will create a fully legal pathway for remote workers.
Visa on arrival is available at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at most major land border crossings. Pre-applying online (online.nepalimmigration.gov.np) is recommended to avoid queues, but it is not mandatory.
Nepal announced plans in 2025 to launch a 5-year multiple-entry digital nomad visa for remote workers whose income comes from outside Nepal. Requirements are expected to include: proof of remote employment, minimum monthly income of $1,500 (or $20,000 bank balance), and international health insurance. It would allow opening local bank accounts and bringing dependants.
Only if you are a tax resident. As a resident (183+ days in a 365-day window, or a habitual abode in Nepal), your worldwide income is assessable in Nepal. As a non-resident, Nepal taxes only your Nepal-source income, at a flat 25%. If you come from one of Nepal's 11 treaty countries, you can claim relief to avoid being taxed twice on the same income.
39% for FY 2082/83 — that is the 30% base rate plus a 30% surcharge on taxable income above NPR 5,000,000. Income between NPR 2,000,000 and 5,000,000 is taxed at 36% (30% + 20% surcharge). These are marginal rates, so only the income within each band is taxed at that band's rate.
The 1% Social Security Tax applies to the first income band (up to NPR 500,000 single / 600,000 married). It is waived to 0% if you contribute to the Social Security Fund (SSF) through payroll, because your SSF contribution already covers the same social-security obligation.
The annual income tax return is due within three months of the fiscal year-end — by the end of Ashoj, around mid-October. File electronically through the IRD Taxpayer Portal (taxpayerportal.ird.gov.np) using your PAN. Pure-salary earners often have tax fully settled through employer withholding. A short extension (typically up to 3 months) can be requested; missing the deadline triggers penalties and interest.
Yes. Any foreigner earning employment or business income in Nepal needs a Permanent Account Number (PAN) from the Inland Revenue Department. Registration is free through the Taxpayer Portal and usually takes 1–3 working days; from abroad it can be done via a Nepal-based representative under power of attorney. Your employer typically arranges it.
Yes, foreigners can rent property freely. Contracts are typically informal and agreed verbally or with a basic written agreement. Leases are usually 6-12 months. Furnished apartments are widely available in expat areas like Lazimpat, Jhamsikhel, and Sanepa in Kathmandu.
No. Nepali law prohibits foreigners from owning land or real estate. Long-term expats rent, often on informal multi-year arrangements. There is no condo ownership pathway as exists in some other Asian countries.
Lazimpat and Sanepa/Jhamsikhel are the most popular expat areas — quiet, leafy, close to embassies and international schools. Thamel is convenient for short-term stays but noisy. Patan (Lalitpur) offers a more authentic experience with beautiful Newari architecture and good cafes.
Nepal's power grid has improved significantly since the worst load-shedding years (pre-2016). Scheduled cuts are rare in Kathmandu now, but can occur in dry season. Most mid-to-higher-end apartments and guesthouses have backup inverters or generators. Budget apartments may not. Ask about power backup when viewing properties.
Lincoln School (US curriculum, PK-12, highly regarded among expatriates and embassy families), Rato Bangala School (Nepali curriculum with strong academic reputation), Ullens School, and several Montessori-style options. Most charge $3,000-$8,000/year, far less than comparable schools in Southeast Asian capitals.
Yes. Government schools are free but Nepali-medium. Private English-medium Nepali schools offer a good compromise — strong academics, English instruction, affordable fees ($500-2,000/year). Many expat families in long-term situations choose this path.
Kathmandu University and Tribhuvan University are the main institutions. Several colleges offer affiliated programs with Indian and Western universities. For postgraduate international study, most expat families send children abroad.
You can attend interviews and network on a tourist visa, but you cannot legally work or start a job on it. Once you have a written offer, your employer must obtain the Labour Permit (Shram Swikriti) and a line-ministry recommendation, after which you convert to a Non-Tourist (Working) Visa at the Department of Immigration. Do not under-plan this: the Labour Permit alone typically takes ~30–45 working days, and the tourist-to-Non-Tourist visa conversion can take months. Budget roughly 6–10 weeks (often longer) for the full process, and — per official guidance — start at least 2 months before your tourist visa expires so you do not overstay while the paperwork is pending.
No. Nepal offers no freelance or digital-nomad visa, and freelancing locally on a tourist visa is not permitted. The only self-directed legal route is registering a company under FITTA 2019 with the minimum foreign investment of NPR 20 million (~USD 146,000) and sponsoring your own working visa through it. Many foreigners do live in Nepal while working remotely for an overseas employer, but that sits in a grey zone on a tourist visa.
The international development sector — UN agencies and INGOs — is by far the largest legitimate employer of foreigners, followed by international/IB schools and specialist/senior IT and engineering roles. These are exactly the fields where the 'no qualified Nepali available' test is easiest for an employer to satisfy. Generalist office jobs are effectively closed to foreigners.
Locally-payrolled salaries are modest: the national average is roughly NPR 25,000–40,000/month, mid-level INGO roles NPR 60,000–120,000, and senior/PM roles NPR 200,000+. Foreigners earning well are usually paid by a foreign or remote employer, where NPR 200,000–500,000+/month equivalents are common. Nepal's low cost of living substantially widens the gap in your favor.
For professional roles in the INGO/UN sector, international schools, tourism and IT, English is enough to be hired and to function day-to-day — Nepal ranks first in South Asia for English proficiency. That said, basic conversational Nepali is genuinely valued, builds trust with colleagues and communities, and is often expected for field-based or community-facing development roles.
Grab does not operate in Nepal — but Uber and Bolt both do. Bolt entered the Nepali market in 2023, and Uber launched in the Kathmandu Valley in June 2026. They join the widely used local and regional apps Pathao, inDrive and Yango. It's worth installing several, since availability and pricing vary by time and area, and inDrive lets you name your own fare — handy for avoiding being over-quoted.
Only for a short tourist stay, and only if you carry your original foreign licence together with a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) — the IDP alone is not valid. Exactly how long that window lasts is not clearly defined and sources disagree badly: figures range from about 15 days or the duration of your visa (most commonly cited) up to a year on some issuer pages, so treat any specific number as unverified. Once your short visitor window ends, or once you become a resident, you should obtain a Nepali licence through the DOTM.
Yes. Nepal uses dual pricing on domestic air routes: foreign nationals are quoted in USD and pay a higher fare than Nepali citizens for the same seat. Expect roughly USD 60–120 one-way Kathmandu–Pokhara depending on airline, season and how early you book.
For most foreigners, no car. Vehicle import taxes push total cost far above the sticker price (200%+ on petrol cars), and valley/mountain driving is stressful. Ride-hailing, hired cars with drivers, and self-drive rentals cover almost every need. Multi-year residents who drive daily — especially those buying a low-tax EV — are the main exception.
Sajha Yatayat buses are the most foreigner-friendly — clean, safe and route-consistent — but stops and destination boards are in Devanagari and there's no English journey-planner or travel card. Rely on ride-hailing apps at first, then learn one or two Sajha routes near home. The Kathmandu Valley minimum bus fare is Rs 24 for trips up to 5 km (Bagmati Province gazette, effective 12 April 2026).
Partly, yes. Foreign Visa cardholders can scan Fonepay merchant QR codes and pay via a Visa-enabled app (mVisa) at Fonepay's ~600,000 merchants. But to load and use a local wallet like eSewa or Khalti fully, you'll need a Nepali mobile number and a local bank account for KYC — until then, keep cash for small shops, taxis and tea stalls.
Not commercially as of 2026 — only limited trial signals in central Kathmandu. You should plan around reliable 4G, which covers cities, valleys, main highways and the popular Annapurna/Everest trekking corridors. Nepal Telecom (NTC) has the widest reach into remote and high-altitude areas.
By phone. Nepali addressing is landmark-based (tole + ward + a nearby landmark), and couriers — from Daraz to DHL to the postman — call you for live directions before delivering. Always include your mobile number and a well-known nearby landmark on every order; leaving the number off is the top reason deliveries fail.
A foreigner may hold up to two SIMs, and registration is real-name and mandatory. Bring your original passport, a copy of the passport photo page and your Nepal visa/entry stamp, plus one passport photo. Register at the airport (TIA) counter or any official Ncell/NTC store for on-the-spot activation.
Using your left hand to give money, food or gifts, or offering someone food you've already bitten/sipped (jutho). Eat and hand things with the right hand, remove your shoes entering homes and temples, don't touch people's heads or point your feet at shrines, and always ask before photographing at religious sites.
Most nationalities (180+ countries) can get a tourist visa on arrival at Nepal's international airports and land borders. Fees are USD 30 (15 days), USD 50 (30 days), or USD 125 (90 days), payable in cash. Indian nationals need no visa; a few nationalities must apply in advance. Pre-filling the form on the Immigration portal speeds things up.
October–November (autumn) is the top window — crisp, clear skies, the year's best mountain views, and festival season. March–April (spring) is a close second, warmer with blooming rhododendrons. Monsoon (June–August) obscures the peaks and slows travel, while winter suits lower treks and cultural touring.
Nepal is generally very safe for tourists, with low violent crime and English-speaking Tourist Police (dial 1144). However, since 1 April 2023 foreign trekkers must hire a licensed guide on TIMS-permit routes, so fully independent solo trekking on those trails is no longer allowed. Always insure for helicopter rescue and respect altitude.
Nepal has four inscribed UNESCO World Heritage properties: two cultural (the Kathmandu Valley and Lumbini) and two natural (Sagarmatha and Chitwan national parks). The Kathmandu Valley property is made up of seven distinct monument zones — the three Durbar Squares plus Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, and Changu Narayan — which is why you'll often see '7 sites' referenced for the valley alone.
The local currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). Bring USD cash for your visa fee (cards aren't accepted at the visa counter) and use ATMs in cities to withdraw rupees. Cards work in upmarket hotels and shops, but Nepal is largely cash-based — and trekking trails have no ATMs, so carry enough small notes.