Nepal sets August 17 for full eVisa rollout, excluding Chinese nationals

Chinese nationals will keep receiving free visas on arrival, and the existing ETA system will run in parallel during a transition period

Nepal's Department of Immigration will switch to a fully digital visa system on August 17, 2026, requiring travelers from the United States and most other countries to obtain their visas online before arriving in the country. Department spokesperson Tikaram Dhakal confirmed that the platform is technically ready and fully staffed for launch, with the system already running in a test phase so officials can resolve any remaining issues ahead of the go-live date, according to NepYork. The rollout is part of a broader government push to digitize public services and modernize Nepal's administrative infrastructure.

Before this change, visiting Nepal meant collecting a physical visa sticker at the airport or border crossing, with immigration staff printing and pasting the label directly into the traveler's passport. The ETA system, introduced in February 2024, allowed travelers to pre-register online, but the actual visa was still stamped at the immigration counter on arrival. The August 17 launch marks the point where the entire process moves online: the visa is approved digitally, emailed to the applicant, and printed at home before departure. Dhakal said the shift is expected to cut congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport and other immigration checkpoints while reducing processing time and administrative costs.

Nepal's tourist visa fees remain unchanged under the new system.

Children under 10 enter free of charge regardless of nationality, with the exception of US citizens, who pay the standard fee at all ages. Indian citizens are not affected by the eVisa requirement, as they enter Nepal without a visa under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. SAARC nationals (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) receive one free 30-day visa per calendar year.

How will the application process work?

The application runs through Nepal's official NepaliPort portal. Travelers fill in their personal information, upload required documents, and pay the visa fee within the same online session. The Department of Immigration has committed to a 24-hour turnaround: once the fee clears, the approved visa is delivered by email, and the traveler prints it before boarding.

One potential friction point is the payment infrastructure. Nepal's eVisa fees are processed through the Office of the Auditor General's online payment system, and the Department of Immigration noted that occasional technical slowdowns on that platform could affect how quickly applications move through the queue.

Why are Chinese nationals excluded from the launch?

Chinese passport holders will continue receiving free visas on arrival at Nepal's airports and land borders, an arrangement rooted in a bilateral agreement that has been active since 2016. The Department of Immigration gave two reasons for keeping them off the new platform at launch: adding an online application step for travelers who already pay nothing would create friction without obvious benefit, and the department is concerned about server capacity in the system's opening weeks and wants to limit initial traffic volumes while the platform stabilizes.

Will the current ETA system shut down immediately?

The existing Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system will keep running alongside the new eVisa platform during a transition period. The Department of Immigration acknowledged that not all travelers will be aware of the switch right away, so maintaining both systems avoids stranding anyone who begins the process under the old arrangement. No shutdown date has been set for the older platform.

What about the risk of forged eVisas?

Dhakal noted that shifting to an online system introduces the possibility of third parties creating counterfeit visa documents, a vulnerability he described as common across digital immigration platforms worldwide rather than unique to Nepal. The country has dealt with forged passports and fabricated travel documents in the past, and the department warned that anyone arriving with paperwork that does not hold up to scrutiny will be removed from the country. Questionable documents will be cross-checked through the relevant embassy or consulate, either in Kathmandu or in the country where the document was issued.