Indian citizens: which ID works
Indian nationals do not need a visa, an entry permit or a fee to visit Nepal, under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. What you do need is accepted identity proof, and this is where most trips go wrong. Airlines check your ID at Delhi, Kolkata or Varanasi before you board, and Nepali immigration checks it again at Kathmandu airport, where Indian arrivals have a separate queue and no stamp in the passport.
For adults aged 18 to 65 only two documents are reliable: a valid Indian passport, or the voter ID card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India. Central and state government employees can also use their official photo identity card. Aadhaar, PAN card and driving licence are not valid travel documents for this age group, and travellers carrying only Aadhaar are regularly turned away at check-in. These rules are set by the Indian and Nepali governments and airlines can apply them strictly, so check current status before you travel.
- Accepted for adults: valid Indian passport, Election Commission voter ID, government employee photo ID
- Not accepted for adults: Aadhaar, PAN card, driving licence, ration card
- Carry two photocopies and two passport photos for hotel check-in, SIM purchase and permits
- For Kailash Mansarovar via Nepal, an Indian passport with 6 months' validity is mandatory
Children, teenagers and senior citizens
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs relaxed the rules in 2019 for the youngest and oldest travellers. Children under 15 and adults over 65 may travel on other photo identity documents issued by the Government of India, including Aadhaar, PAN card, driving licence, CGHS card or ration card. Teenagers aged 15 to 18 can travel on an identity certificate issued by the principal of their school in the prescribed format.
When a family travels together, only one adult needs a valid travel document, provided the others carry some proof of identity and their relationship is clear. In practice airline staff do not always know these relaxations. Our advice is simple: get passports for children if you can, or at minimum carry birth certificates, school ID and Aadhaar for every child, and print the relevant Ministry of Home Affairs notice. Call your airline 48 hours before departure to confirm what they will accept, and check current status before you travel.
Other nationalities: visa on arrival
Most foreign visitors, including OCI cardholders and Indian-origin travellers with foreign passports, buy a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport or at the main land borders. Fill in the online pre-arrival form on the Nepal Department of Immigration website within 15 days of your arrival date and keep the barcode receipt; otherwise use the kiosks in the arrival hall, which can mean a 30–90 minute queue in October.
Pay the fee at the bank counter, preferably in clean US dollar notes, then take the receipt to the immigration desk. Your passport needs at least 6 months' validity and a blank page. Visas are multiple entry for the period you buy. Citizens of SAARC countries other than Afghanistan receive a free 30-day visa once per visa year, and Chinese nationals receive a free tourist visa. A short list of nationalities cannot get a visa on arrival and must apply at a Nepali embassy first. Fees and lists change, so check current status before you travel.
| Visa type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa, 15 days | US$30 | Multiple entry; ideal for a city break or one region |
| Tourist visa, 30 days | US$50 | Most common choice for treks plus touring |
| Tourist visa, 90 days | US$125 | Long treks or volunteers; maximum 150 days per calendar year with extensions |
| SAARC nationals (except Afghanistan) | Free, 30 days | Once per visa year; fees apply after that |
| Chinese nationals | Free | Tourist visa on arrival at authorised entry points |
| Extension in Kathmandu or Pokhara | About US$45 for 15 days, then about US$3 per day | Department of Immigration offices; check current status |
Crossing the land border from India
Indians cross the open border on foot or by vehicle with no immigration formalities, though police may ask for ID at checkpoints and hotels must record it. Third-country nationals must use one of the official crossings where both Indian and Nepali immigration offices operate, get an exit stamp from India and then buy a Nepal visa on the other side.
The crossings we use most are Sunauli–Belahiya (Bhairahawa) for Gorakhpur, Lumbini and Pokhara; Raxaul–Birgunj for Patna; and Panitanki–Kakarbhitta for Siliguri, Darjeeling and Sikkim. Others open to foreigners include Rupaidiha–Nepalgunj, Gauriphanta–Dhangadhi and Banbasa–Mahendranagar. Immigration desks at land borders typically work from early morning to evening, roughly 6 am to 9 pm, and close earlier on some holidays. Plan to cross in daylight with time to spare, as hotels near the border fill during the wedding and pilgrimage seasons. At Sunauli, the Nepali immigration office sits a short walk inside the border gate, beside the main road; foreigners who walk past it without a visa are sent back from police checkpoints further on.
Driving an Indian vehicle into Nepal
Indian-registered private cars and motorcycles can enter Nepal on a Bhansar pass, a customs permit issued at the customs office (Bhansar Karyalaya) at the border. The officer checks the vehicle and documents, and you pay a daily fee in Nepali rupees, recently about NPR 500 per day for a car and NPR 150 per day for a motorcycle. Indian vehicles may stay up to 30 days in a calendar year. Nepal introduced an online pre-registration and payment option in 2026, which shortens the wait at busy crossings.
Hill roads in Nepal are narrow and steep, so we only recommend self-drive to confident mountain drivers. Fees, limits and the online system are being updated, so check current status before you travel.
- Original registration certificate (RC) in your name, or an owner's authorisation letter
- Valid driving licence and vehicle insurance; ask your insurer about cover inside Nepal
- Pollution certificate and the passport or voter ID of every passenger
- Keep the Bhansar slip in the car and surrender it when you exit; overstaying attracts a fine
Customs, cash and drone rules
Nepal customs allows personal effects, cameras and laptops for your own use. Visitors carrying foreign currency above about US$5,000 in cash, or the equivalent, should declare it on arrival. Gold and silver ornaments beyond personal use, satellite phones and any item made from wildlife parts face strict rules, and antiques over 100 years old cannot be exported without a certificate from the Department of Archaeology.
Drones are a common problem. Flying one needs prior permission, and flights near airports, heritage zones and security buildings are banned; inside the Kathmandu Valley that covers most of the places you will visit. Customs officers can hold an undeclared drone until you leave. If you plan aerial photography, tell us 4–6 weeks ahead so we can explain the current permit process. Rules for Indian rupee notes are covered in our money guide; for everything here, check current status before you travel.
Permits beyond the Kathmandu Valley
Sightseeing in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini needs no permit beyond monument and park tickets. Treks are different: most trails need a national park or conservation area permit, and some regions such as Upper Mustang, Manaslu and Nar Phu need a restricted area permit and a licensed guide. Since 2023 Nepal has required foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas to hire a licensed guide. For the Muktinath yatra, Indian pilgrims pay the lower SAARC rate for the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, which we arrange in Pokhara. Trekking rules change often, so check current status before you travel.
Places in this guide
Questions travellers ask
Do Indians need a passport to visit Nepal?
No. Indians can visit Nepal with either a valid Indian passport or an Election Commission voter ID card, and no visa is needed. A passport is the smoothest option at airports and is required for Kailash Mansarovar via Nepal. Government employees may also use their official photo ID. Airlines check ID before boarding, so carry the original, not a photocopy, and check current status before you travel.
Can I travel to Nepal with an Aadhaar card?
Not if you are aged 18 to 65. Aadhaar is accepted only for Indian travellers under 15 or over 65, under a 2019 Ministry of Home Affairs relaxation, and even then some airline staff refuse it. Adults should carry a passport or voter ID. If a child or senior is travelling on Aadhaar, carry a second ID and confirm with your airline before the day of travel.
Can I fly to Nepal with a voter ID card?
Yes. The voter ID card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India is a valid travel document for Indian citizens flying to Nepal, and airlines such as Air India and IndiGo accept it at check-in. Make sure the card is the original, the photo is recognisable and the name matches your ticket exactly. A damaged or faded card can be refused, so carry your passport if in doubt.
What documents does a child need to travel to Nepal from India?
Children under 15 can travel on a photo ID issued by the Government of India, such as Aadhaar, or with a passport. Teenagers aged 15 to 18 can use a school identity certificate signed by the principal in the prescribed format. If a parent holds a valid passport or voter ID, the family can travel together with proof of the child's identity. Carry a birth certificate as backup.
How much is the Nepal visa on arrival fee?
The Nepal tourist visa on arrival costs US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days, all multiple entry. SAARC nationals except Afghans get 30 days free once a year, and Chinese nationals are free. Pay in cash at the airport bank counter, ideally in US dollars, after filling in the online form. Fees change, so check current status before you travel.
Can foreigners enter Nepal by land from India?
Yes. Foreign nationals can enter Nepal by land at official crossings such as Sunauli–Bhairahawa, Raxaul–Birgunj, Panitanki–Kakarbhitta, Rupaidiha–Nepalgunj and Banbasa–Mahendranagar. You must get an Indian exit stamp first, then buy a Nepal visa on arrival at the Nepali immigration office. Cross in daylight, as offices close in the evening, and keep US dollars in cash for the fee.
Can I take my car from India to Nepal?
Yes. An Indian-registered private car can enter Nepal with a Bhansar customs permit from the border customs office, recently about NPR 500 per day for a car and NPR 150 for a motorcycle, for up to 30 days a year. Carry the original RC, licence, insurance and pollution certificate. An online pre-registration option started in 2026; check current status before you travel.
Do OCI cardholders need a visa for Nepal?
Yes. An OCI card does not make you an Indian citizen, so OCI holders travel on their foreign passport and need a Nepal visa like other foreigners. Most can buy it on arrival for US$30, US$50 or US$125 depending on length. The free entry for Indians applies only to Indian citizens holding an Indian passport or voter ID. Check your passport nationality's eligibility before you travel.
Is there an entry fee for Indians at the Nepal border?
No. Indian citizens pay no entry fee or visa fee at the Nepal border or at Kathmandu airport. You only need valid identity proof. Costs at the border are for practical items: a Bhansar permit if you drive your own vehicle, money exchange, and transport onwards. Monument and park tickets inside Nepal are charged at the lower SAARC rate for Indian nationals.
