Visa / VOA information for Nepal
Jul 2, 14, 12:34 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: MCI
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If you hold a relatively uncommon passport, you might want to bring a copy of the rules as suggested earlier. But in general I wouldn't worry about this.
The advice to bring USD and a passport photo is good. The one time I forgot the passport photo in advance, I was probably delayed about 15 minutes.
Jul 2, 14, 10:32 am
#17
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Won't be an issue. When we flew into KTM, we noticed several different nationalities buying on-the-spot visas. Any major airline that flies to Nepal regularly will know this.
Jul 7, 14, 11:53 am
#19
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As it appears that the Asia forum has a thread on this subject, I'll move this to that forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Sep 10, 14, 11:17 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 710
I had a strange VOA experience in Kathmandu in April. I was not impressed really. Lovely people in the city, but if your flight arrives in a 'sleepy' time of the day then be prepared to wait quite a long time.
I paid in Singapore Dollar I think, and there is about 10 different currencies you could use, including Saudi money but not UAE Dirhams. Or vice versa. I remember standing there in line thinking that was a bit weird to choose one over the other. But I guess it's politics.
If anyone's interested, this was my personal opinion of the whole process: http://backpackerlee.wordpress.com/2...val-nightmare/
I paid in Singapore Dollar I think, and there is about 10 different currencies you could use, including Saudi money but not UAE Dirhams. Or vice versa. I remember standing there in line thinking that was a bit weird to choose one over the other. But I guess it's politics.
If anyone's interested, this was my personal opinion of the whole process: http://backpackerlee.wordpress.com/2...val-nightmare/
Dec 6, 16, 7:22 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
the VOA form and fill it out before hand. Many people had not and they
were searching for one at the arrivals. Length of wait will depend on the
time of the day but it was not bad at all when I was there. It was pretty
smooth if you have exact change, photo and filled out form.
They have installed some machines to capture information but they
did not work so it was manual process after all.
Hope this helps...F.A.
Dec 6, 16, 8:57 am
#24
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I posted this on another Nepal thread, but it might be worthwhile here too since this transaction involves paper cash.
- Common currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, and CAD work well with one caveat: if your country's currency design has changed recently, you might have a problem. I was in Nepal right after Canada redesigned its $20 note, and people didn't recognize it. I used a couple older-style CAD 20's, but not my brand new ones. (It has a different texture than the older cash...that probably didn't help.)
- Bring cash that is in good condition, but not so brand-new that one might suspect it was counterfeit. I had a tattered, taped-up US$10 bill that nobody wanted...plus a brand new, super-crisp US$100 bill that people thought was fake. Whatever currency you use, used-but-fully-intact 20's (for the above four anyway) are probably your best bet.
Nepal definitely cared about the look and condition of the cash more than any other country I've ever visited. Guessing it has something to do with how their local banks, or even their central bank, handle cash operations.
I do remember we brought exact change for the arrival visas. Paid in USD.
- Common currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, and CAD work well with one caveat: if your country's currency design has changed recently, you might have a problem. I was in Nepal right after Canada redesigned its $20 note, and people didn't recognize it. I used a couple older-style CAD 20's, but not my brand new ones. (It has a different texture than the older cash...that probably didn't help.)
- Bring cash that is in good condition, but not so brand-new that one might suspect it was counterfeit. I had a tattered, taped-up US$10 bill that nobody wanted...plus a brand new, super-crisp US$100 bill that people thought was fake. Whatever currency you use, used-but-fully-intact 20's (for the above four anyway) are probably your best bet.
Nepal definitely cared about the look and condition of the cash more than any other country I've ever visited. Guessing it has something to do with how their local banks, or even their central bank, handle cash operations.
I do remember we brought exact change for the arrival visas. Paid in USD.
Dec 21, 16, 1:41 am
#25
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Hi
Just came back from Kathmandu.
1. Download the visa form and fill it in BEFORE you fly to Kathmandu.
2. Do not forget 1 passport photograph & 1 photocopy of your passport
3. I forgot the cost for a 7 day visa but you will have to pay when submitting your visa form upon arrival.
Just to give everyone a bit of a heads up on what to expect when you land at Kathmandu Airport:
1) You will need to board a bus to the main terminal from your aircraft after landing.
2) Disembark and follow the herd into the arrival hall
3) As you arrive at the arrival hall through the passage way, TURN LEFT and go straight to the counter for visa's and line up to submit your completed visa form/photograph/photocopy of your passport and have cash ready.
4) They will issue you a visa.
5) There is a currenxy exchange counter right next to the visa counter.
6) Once finished, turn RIGHT and line up in the FOREIGNERS line for immigration clearance. I took only 3 minutes and the officers were very friendly and worked fast.
There were staff on hand to also direct passengers to the visa counter/immigration counters so don't panic.
Go down a level to the baggage arrival carousel.
Beware, you need to show your bag tag for your luggage as you exit the baggage carousel area to the security staff.
Exit the baggage area and into the open area and tour guides/hotel pick ups will be lined up across the road to your left waiting with signages.
Airport to Thamel took at least 45 minutes during NON PEAK HOUR.
Just came back from Kathmandu.
1. Download the visa form and fill it in BEFORE you fly to Kathmandu.
2. Do not forget 1 passport photograph & 1 photocopy of your passport
3. I forgot the cost for a 7 day visa but you will have to pay when submitting your visa form upon arrival.
Just to give everyone a bit of a heads up on what to expect when you land at Kathmandu Airport:
1) You will need to board a bus to the main terminal from your aircraft after landing.
2) Disembark and follow the herd into the arrival hall
3) As you arrive at the arrival hall through the passage way, TURN LEFT and go straight to the counter for visa's and line up to submit your completed visa form/photograph/photocopy of your passport and have cash ready.
4) They will issue you a visa.
5) There is a currenxy exchange counter right next to the visa counter.
6) Once finished, turn RIGHT and line up in the FOREIGNERS line for immigration clearance. I took only 3 minutes and the officers were very friendly and worked fast.
There were staff on hand to also direct passengers to the visa counter/immigration counters so don't panic.
Go down a level to the baggage arrival carousel.
Beware, you need to show your bag tag for your luggage as you exit the baggage carousel area to the security staff.
Exit the baggage area and into the open area and tour guides/hotel pick ups will be lined up across the road to your left waiting with signages.
Airport to Thamel took at least 45 minutes during NON PEAK HOUR.
Oct 31, 22, 3:44 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: Enrich
Posts: 449
Anyone has been visit Nepal since early this year? While I understand that now we can fill the VOA via online, but I'm just confused about the exiting part. Do we need to fill another department via online?
I assumed that we still can pay the VOA fee at arrival counter. But hey, the fee increased significantly
I assumed that we still can pay the VOA fee at arrival counter. But hey, the fee increased significantly
Oct 31, 22, 8:53 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo, SK Gold
Posts: 927
I went in September on a Finnish passport and flew into KTM. I didn't apply for the visa in advance, but took the visa on arrival. I filled the application form for the visa on arrival online before the trip and took a hard copy of it with me. The process in KTM upon arrival was quick and easy. I didn't have to do anything online when leaving.
Last edited by r2d2; Oct 31, 22 at 11:23 am
Sep 23, 23, 6:00 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Boston's north shore
Programs: AS MVP Gold, DL Silver Medallion
Posts: 218
My spouse and I flew into KTM in November 2022. I did the Visa on arrival online data entry for both of us and printed out the resulting receipt.
On arrival, my data was found immediately in the system, but they had no record of my spouse's information.
I'll admit, I was so tired, I'm not sure what exactly happened, but eventually they sorted it out and we were allowed into Nepal. I don't believe my husband had to re-submit any paper forms. Maybe someone was waiting for a bribe (which we didn't offer, nor did that occur to me in the moment as a possibility!), or maybe someone fixed a keystroke and the record was found in the computer after all? At any rate, we paid (in US$) the rate stated on the Nepal government website and we were admitted to the country. It just wasn't quite as seamless as I'd expected things to be when I'd pre-submitted all required paperwork.
Landing at 2 am (or so), my recollection was of moderate lines and a fair amount of chaos, but I had wheelchair assistance, so I didn't have to physically navigate the lines myself.
I searched out this thread today wondering if anyone else had their pre-submitted VOA paperwork disappear like my spouse did. Anyone?
On arrival, my data was found immediately in the system, but they had no record of my spouse's information.
I'll admit, I was so tired, I'm not sure what exactly happened, but eventually they sorted it out and we were allowed into Nepal. I don't believe my husband had to re-submit any paper forms. Maybe someone was waiting for a bribe (which we didn't offer, nor did that occur to me in the moment as a possibility!), or maybe someone fixed a keystroke and the record was found in the computer after all? At any rate, we paid (in US$) the rate stated on the Nepal government website and we were admitted to the country. It just wasn't quite as seamless as I'd expected things to be when I'd pre-submitted all required paperwork.
Landing at 2 am (or so), my recollection was of moderate lines and a fair amount of chaos, but I had wheelchair assistance, so I didn't have to physically navigate the lines myself.
I searched out this thread today wondering if anyone else had their pre-submitted VOA paperwork disappear like my spouse did. Anyone?
