Nepal Entry Rules for Indians in 2026: Visa-Free Travel + Required Documents
By Ananya Singh (Ananya Singh writes step-by-step first-international-trip guides for Indians — passport rules, visa cascade timing, immigration walkthroughs, and the unglamorous logistics that separate a smooth trip from a stranded one.) · Published · 10 min read
Nepal entry for Indians in 2026 — visa-free travel rules, which IDs are accepted at air vs land borders, the trekking permit system and the currency note ban that catches first-time travellers.
Visa-free Nepal — what 'no visa' actually means for Indians
Under the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between India and Nepal, Indian citizens do not need a visa to enter, stay, work, or own property in Nepal. There is no application form, no fee, no permit and crucially no time limit — Indians can stay in Nepal indefinitely. You can fly to Kathmandu in the morning and start a long-term stay in the afternoon, without filing a single visa form.
That said, 'no visa' does not mean 'no documents'. Nepal still has an identity-verification requirement at every entry point and the rules differ depending on whether you arrive by air or by land. The single biggest mistake first-time Indian travellers make is assuming any Indian ID will work — it will not.
Which Indian IDs work — at air vs land borders
The accepted IDs in 2026 are:
- Indian Passport — accepted at all entry points (air and land). The safest, most universally recognised option
- Indian Voter ID Card (EPIC) — accepted at all entry points. Must be the original, not a photocopy or DigiLocker version
- Aadhaar Card — accepted at land borders only since 2022. NOT accepted at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) or any other airport. Carry passport or voter ID if flying
What does NOT work:
- PAN card — not an accepted ID for Nepal entry
- Driving licence — not accepted
- DigiLocker or mAadhaar app versions — Nepal Immigration requires physical original documents
- Photocopies, lamination of bad copies, or expired IDs
For under-18 Indian children, a school ID or birth certificate alongside a parent's accepted ID works at land borders, but a passport is strongly recommended for any flight.
Entry by air — Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)
Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport is the main air entry point. Several Indian carriers (IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet) fly direct from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Varanasi. Flight time is 1.5 to 3 hours depending on origin.
On arrival at KTM:
- Deplane and follow signs to 'Indian Nationals' immigration counter — a separate queue from the foreigner/VOA line
- Present your passport or voter ID (Aadhaar will be rejected here)
- Officer verifies, asks brief purpose-of-visit questions, returns the ID — no stamp is placed in your passport because you are not on a visa
- Collect baggage, exit through customs
- You may also be asked to fill an Indian Nationals Arrival Card — a one-page form with name, address in Nepal and purpose. Pens are at the counter
The whole process is 5 to 15 minutes. Pokhara and Bhairahawa now also have international airports with Indian flights — same rules apply.
Entry by land — the five main border crossings
If you are travelling overland from India, the major open border crossings are:
- Sunauli (UP) — Bhairahawa (Nepal) — the most popular Kathmandu and Pokhara route from north India
- Raxaul (Bihar) — Birgunj (Nepal) — main route from Patna and east India to Kathmandu
- Birgunj-Raxaul — same crossing as above, listed both ways
- Kakarbhitta (Nepal) — Panitanki (West Bengal) — from Siliguri and the northeast
- Banbasa (Uttarakhand) — Mahendranagar (Nepal) — far west Nepal route
At every land border, you stop at the Indian SSB checkpoint first (informal — they may wave you through or ask 2 questions), then at the Nepal Immigration office on the Nepal side. At Nepal Immigration:
- Present passport, voter ID, or Aadhaar (accepted at land only)
- Fill the Indian Nationals form
- Officer verifies and waves you through — no stamp, no fee
Land border immigration is open 6 AM to 9 PM at most crossings. Outside these hours you may be allowed across without immigration formalities (especially Sunauli) but you will need to register on the way back or face questions.
TIMS card — required for almost all trekking
If your Nepal trip includes any trekking — Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Langtang, Manaslu, Mardi Himal, even shorter routes like Poon Hill — you need a TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card.
- Free Independent Trekkers (FIT) TIMS — NPR 2,000 (around INR 1,250) for individual trekkers
- Group/Agency TIMS — NPR 1,000 (around INR 625) for trekkers in licensed-agency groups
- SAARC nationals (including Indians) — heavily discounted, NPR 600 to NPR 1,000 depending on region
TIMS is issued by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) office in Kathmandu (Pradarshani Marg, near Bhrikutimandap) or Pokhara (NTB Damside office). Carry passport-size photos (2 copies) and your ID.
Specific trekking areas need separate permits on top of TIMS:
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) — NPR 3,000 (INR 1,900) for Indians
- Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park Permit — NPR 1,500 plus Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality fee NPR 2,000
- Langtang National Park Permit — NPR 1,500
- Manaslu Restricted Area Permit — USD 100 per week (USD 75 for Indians in some seasons) plus standard permits — only via licensed agency
- Upper Mustang / Upper Dolpo — restricted areas, special permit USD 500+ for 10 days, only via licensed agency
Carry both originals — checkpoints along the trail verify them at multiple stops.
Currency rules — which Indian notes are banned in Nepal
This is the rule that catches the most first-time Indian travellers. The Reserve Bank of India and Nepal Rastra Bank have an agreement on which Indian denominations can legally circulate in Nepal:
- Allowed — Indian INR 100 notes and INR 200 notes (introduced 2017). Coins are also allowed
- Banned — Indian INR 500 and INR 2000 notes are illegal to carry into Nepal. Possessing them is a fineable offence and shops cannot accept them
The reason — the high-denomination ban was put in place to prevent counterfeit currency circulation across the open border. Even though INR 2000 was demonetised in 2023, the ban on INR 500 in Nepal remains in 2026.
What this means for you:
- If you carry Indian cash, carry it in INR 100 and INR 200 notes only
- You can carry up to INR 25,000 in allowed denominations per person across the border
- For bigger amounts, withdraw Nepalese Rupees (NPR) from ATMs in Nepal — major Indian debit cards work at NABIL Bank, Nepal Investment Bank and Standard Chartered ATMs (small NPR 500 per transaction fee)
- 1 INR = approximately 1.6 NPR (fixed peg). Most Nepali shops accept INR 100 / 200 notes at this rate without conversion
If you accidentally arrive with INR 500 notes, do not declare them — you cannot use them and customs may confiscate. Convert to NPR at an authorised exchange in Kathmandu (most won't accept INR 500 either) or simply do not bring them.
Length of stay, work and other practical limits
Indians can stay in Nepal for an unlimited duration without any visa or registration. You can open a bank account, rent a flat, take up employment, start a business and own property under largely the same rules as Nepali citizens (with a few sectoral restrictions on certain industries).
For tourists, the only practical limits are:
- Passport/voter ID validity — if your passport expires while you are in Nepal you cannot re-enter or fly home, so renew before travel
- Driving — Indian driving licences are accepted for short-term tourist driving but you need a Nepali licence for long stays
- Domestic flight ID — internal Nepal flights (Yeti Airlines, Buddha Air to Pokhara, Lukla etc) require the same passport or voter ID at boarding
- Restricted areas — parts of Tibet-adjacent districts (Mustang, Manang upper villages, Dolpo, Humla) need special permits even for Indians
Indian medical insurance is rarely accepted in Nepal — buy a basic international travel-insurance policy for the trip, especially if trekking. Helicopter evacuation from a trek can cost USD 5,000 to USD 12,000 without insurance.
Common mistakes Indians make on a first Nepal trip
Even with the easy visa-free entry, the following mistakes catch Indian travellers every season:
- Carrying only Aadhaar to a flight — Aadhaar works at land borders but not at Kathmandu, Pokhara, or Bhairahawa airports. Always carry passport or voter ID for any flight
- Bringing INR 500 or INR 2000 notes — illegal in Nepal. You cannot spend them, exchange them, or carry them out openly. Stick to INR 100/200 notes or NPR
- Skipping travel insurance — altitude sickness on the Everest or Annapurna trails sends dozens of trekkers to Kathmandu hospitals each season. Insurance with helicopter-evacuation cover (USD 50 to USD 100 for two weeks) is worth it
- Underestimating altitude — Kathmandu sits at 1,400 m, Pokhara at 820 m, but anyone flying to Lukla (2,860 m) or driving to Muktinath (3,710 m) without acclimatisation can develop AMS within hours. Build in 2 to 3 nights at intermediate altitudes
- Booking the cheapest domestic airline — Nepal's smaller carriers have a patchy safety record. Stick to Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines for major routes; check current advisories before booking remote routes like Lukla and Jomsom
- Trekking without a TIMS card — checkpoints along major routes fine trekkers without one (NPR 4,000+) and may turn you back
None of this should put you off; Nepal is one of the most rewarding short-haul trips Indians can take. But the visa-free ease can lull travellers into under-preparing.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Nepal?
No — under the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Indian citizens do not need a visa to enter, stay, work, or own property in Nepal. There is no fee and no time limit on the stay. You only need a valid accepted ID at the border.
Is Aadhaar card accepted at Nepal airports?
No — Aadhaar is only accepted at land border crossings since 2022. At Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (KTM) and other Nepal airports, only an Indian passport or original Voter ID Card (EPIC) is accepted. PAN card and driving licence are not accepted anywhere.
Can I carry Indian INR 500 or INR 2000 notes to Nepal?
No — Indian INR 500 and INR 2000 notes are illegal to carry into Nepal. Only INR 100 and INR 200 notes are allowed, up to INR 25,000 per person. Use Nepalese Rupee ATMs in Kathmandu or Pokhara for larger amounts; most Indian debit cards work at NABIL Bank ATMs.
What is the TIMS card for Nepal trekking?
TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) is mandatory for almost all trekking in Nepal. Free Independent Trekker TIMS is NPR 2,000 (around INR 1,250); SAARC nationals including Indians get a discounted rate of NPR 600 to 1,000 depending on region. Issued by Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
How long can Indians stay in Nepal?
There is no time limit. Indians can stay in Nepal indefinitely under the 1950 Treaty — for tourism, work, business, or residence. The only practical limit is the validity of the ID you carried in with (passport or voter ID), which you will need for the return journey.
Can I use my Indian driving licence to drive in Nepal?
For short tourist trips, an Indian driving licence is generally accepted by car-rental companies and traffic police in Nepal. For long-term driving or work-related use, you should convert to a Nepali licence at the Department of Transport Management in Kathmandu. Most tourists hire a car with driver rather than self-drive.