Nepal is one of the simplest trips from the UAE. Indian citizens need no visa at all. Most other passports can get a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi passport holders, as SAARC nationals, get their first 30-day visa of the year free. A short list of nationalities — including Nigerians — cannot use the visa on arrival and must apply in advance.
Checked on 21 October 2026 against Embassy of Nepal visa pages, which follow Nepal’s Department of Immigration rules. Sources at the end.
Nepal at a glance
| Indian passport | No visa needed |
| Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi (SAARC) | First 30-day tourist visa each year free; standard fees after that |
| Most other passports | Visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, or in advance |
| Visa on arrival fees | 15 days US$30 · 30 days US$50 · 90 days US$125 |
| No visa on arrival | Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran |
| Maximum tourist stay | 150 days in a calendar year |
| Passport | Valid at least 6 months |
Which route is yours?
Nepal’s rules depend only on your passport. Your UAE residence does not change anything, except that it makes the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi your nearest place to apply in advance.
| Passport | What to do |
|---|---|
| India | No visa. Carry a valid passport or other accepted Indian ID. |
| Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh | Gratis 30-day visa (first visit in the year), on arrival or from the Embassy |
| Philippines, Egypt, UAE, UK, EU and most others | Visa on arrival, paid in US dollars |
| Nigeria and the other listed countries | Apply at a Nepal Embassy before travel, with a reference letter from your own embassy |
Visa on arrival: step by step
- Fill in the online arrival form on the Department of Immigration website shortly before you travel, and keep the confirmation.
- Bring US dollars in cash for the fee, plus a passport photo in case the kiosks are not working.
- At Kathmandu airport, use the visa kiosk or form, pay the fee at the counter and keep the receipt.
- Go to the immigration desk with your passport, form and receipt to receive the visa.
Fees
| Tourist visa | Fee |
|---|---|
| 15 days, multiple entry | US$30 |
| 30 days, multiple entry | US$50 |
| 90 days, multiple entry | US$125 |
| SAARC nationals, first 30-day visa in the year | Free |
Embassies charge the same amount in local currency. A tourist can stay up to 150 days in one calendar year in total, using extensions in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Applying in advance from the UAE
If your nationality cannot get a visa on arrival, or you prefer to land with a visa already in your passport, apply in person at the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi. Applications are taken Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, and visas are collected from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.
| Tourist visa (multiple entry) | Embassy fee, cash |
|---|---|
| 15 days | AED 110 |
| 30 days | AED 190 |
| 90 days | AED 460 |
Documents the Embassy asks for:
- Online visa application from the Nepal immigration portal, printed.
- Passport valid at least six months with a blank page, plus a copy.
- Copy of your UAE residence visa.
- Stamped and signed NOC from your employer showing your name, nationality, job title and salary. See our NOC templates. If you are on a family visa, your sponsor’s passport and UAE visa copy.
- The fee in cash.
Nationals who cannot get a visa on arrival (Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria and Iran, plus refugee travel document holders) also need an Emirates ID copy, a police character certificate and details of any programme they will attend in Nepal.
Questions people ask
Do Indians in Dubai need a visa for Nepal?
No. Indian nationals do not need a visa for Nepal.
Is the Nepal visa free for Pakistanis?
The first 30-day tourist visa in each calendar year is free for SAARC nationals, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Later visas that year are charged.
Can Nigerians get a Nepal visa on arrival?
No. Nigeria is on the list of countries that must apply at a Nepal Embassy before travel, with a reference letter from the Nigerian embassy.
Related guides
Sources
- Embassy of Nepal, Abu Dhabi — Visa: ae.nepalembassy.gov.np
- Embassy of Nepal, Colombo — General rule for visa: lk.nepalembassy.gov.np
- Embassy of Nepal, Bangkok — Visa services: th.nepalembassy.gov.np
- Department of Immigration, Nepal: nepalimmigration.gov.np
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 21 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.