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Guide · Before you go

Arriving in Kathmandu: visa, SIM card, money and the ride into town

Your first hour in Nepal made simple: the visa on arrival, what to have ready, a local SIM card, cash and getting to your hotel.

Written 12 October 20262 min readBy Rujan Neupane

Landing in Kathmandu can feel busy: many people, many forms, a lot of noise outside. With a few things ready, your first hour is calm. Here is what to expect at Tribhuvan International Airport.

The visa on arrival

Most visitors can get a tourist visa on arrival. In 2026 the fees were:

  • 15 days: US$30
  • 30 days: US$50
  • 90 days: US$125

Choose the length that covers your whole stay, with a few spare days for delayed flights. Citizens of India do not need a visa. Citizens of a few countries must get a visa before they travel: check the Department of Immigration website if you are unsure.

Step by step

  1. Fill in the online form on the Department of Immigration website before you fly, and print the page with the barcode. It is valid for 15 days. If you could not do it, there are kiosks in the arrivals hall.
  2. Pay at the bank counter in the arrivals hall and keep the receipt. Bring the fee in US dollars cash, in clean notes; do not count on paying by card there.
  3. Go to the immigration desk with your passport, the form and the receipt. The officer puts the visa in your passport.

Bring two passport photos as well. They are not always asked for, but they save time when they are.

A local SIM card

Nepal has two mobile networks, and both sell tourist SIM cards with data, at counters in the arrivals area and in shops in town. You need your passport. A local SIM is cheaper than roaming and works in many trekking villages, though not everywhere in the high mountains.

Money

Nepal runs on the Nepali rupee and on cash. There are cash machines at the airport and many in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Take out enough for your first days and, if you are going trekking, for the whole trek: there are few machines on the trails and cards are rarely accepted there. More in money on a Nepal trek.

The ride into town

Thamel, where many visitors stay, is a short drive from the airport, but traffic can make it slow. If your hotel offers a pick-up, take it. Otherwise use the taxi counter inside the arrivals hall, or agree the price with the driver before you get in.

The first evening

Do not plan much. Drink water, eat something simple, sleep. If you are starting a trek, the first day in Kathmandu is for collecting permits, checking your gear and resting.

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Written by Rujan Neupane

A freelance guide in Kathmandu, trained, with a deep interest in photography and in Nepal's photography history. I walk these routes and write these pages myself.

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