GoNepal Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

Chinese citizens can apply for free tourist visas with a stay of 15 days, 30 days, or 90 days at entry points such as Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Before departure, you can also apply for visas from the Nepalese Embassy in China (Beijing), Consulate General (Lhasa, Guangzhou, Hong Kong), and Honorary Consulate General (Shanghai). To save customs clearance time and quickly process landing visas, you can fill out the landing visa application form online in advance (website) https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np ）Save the relevant documents and present them to the immigration office at Nepal Airport upon entry. If you come to Nepal for the purpose of work, study, business, family relationships, etc., please contact the Nepalese employer, admission institution, invitation company, relatives in Nepal, etc. and prepare relevant materials. After arriving in Nepal, go to the Nepalese immigration office to handle the relevant procedures.

Please check in a timely manner whether your passport has been stamped with an entry seal upon entry to avoid being mistaken for illegal entry. Chinese citizens who enter Nepal by land from the ports of Jilong, Zhangmu, Pulan and Lizi in the Xizang Autonomous Region must take the initiative to apply for the entry seal at the immigration office of Nepal port. Those who have not stamped their entry seal can go to the Nepalese immigration office to have their entry seal reissued (they need to provide proof of entry such as air tickets and train tickets, and pay the handling fee).

Please note the validity period of your visa and do not overstay. If you need to extend your visa, please go to the Nepalese immigration office to handle it. According to the Nigerian Immigration Law, the cumulative number of stay days of foreigners in Nepal for one year (from January 1 to December 31 of that year) when applying for tourist visas shall not exceed 150 days. Holders of Chinese diplomatic and official passports can enter Nepal visa free for a stay of 30 days. Chinese citizens are eligible for a 150 day free tourist visa within a given visa year.

Late detention in Nepal requires the payment of visa fees, detention fees, and fines, with a maximum fine of 50000 rupees depending on the situation. Those who overstay for more than a certain number of days will be fined, detained, deported, and not allowed to re-enter for a certain period of time.

The latest entry and visa policies of Nepal can be accessed on the website of the Nepalese Immigration Department (in English) https://www.immigration.gov.np/ For inquiries, please refer to the official website of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal http://np.china-embassy.gov.cn Related notifications released.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Nepal's laws and regulations strictly prohibit carrying gold jewelry weighing over 50 grams or silver jewelry weighing over 100 grams into and out of the country, and prohibit carrying any unprocessed gold and silver. Violators will face detention and heavy fines. If carrying more than $5000 or its equivalent in foreign currency upon entry, it is necessary to declare to the customs and keep the declaration form for future reference, in order to avoid being caught carrying excessive foreign currency and being detained or heavily fined upon departure. If carrying gold and silver jewelry and foreign currency, it should be avoided to gather in one person. When purchasing valuable items such as gold, silver and their products, jewelry, beeswax, thangka, cordyceps, Buddha statues, etc., please be sure to request formal receipts from the merchant and keep them properly for customs inspection.

The Nepalese side currently has a temporary storage cabinet at Tribhuvan Airport Customs. If any gold or silver jewelry is carried in excess and confirmed by the airport customs department as self use, it can be temporarily stored at the airport after paying a certain percentage of the deposit and requesting relevant receipts. The jewelry and deposit can be retrieved with the receipts upon departure.

Please do not bring prohibited items such as fresh animals and plants, endangered and rare animal and plant products, redwood products, etc. into or out of the Nepalese border, including ivory, redwood, turtle shells, rhino horns, and other suspected ivory, redwood, turtle shells, rhino horns and other accessories.

In addition to personal use goods (such as 1 mobile phone, 1 watch, 1 laptop, 1 camera, etc.) that can be brought in and out of the country duty-free, the goods allowed by Nepalese customs to be brought in and out duty-free include the following (all calculated as personal luggage): 1 bottle of whiskey/red wine (not exceeding 1 liter) or 12 cans of beer, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 grams of tobacco, cooked food, canned food, medicine, etc. with a value not exceeding 1000 rupees (packaging must have English labels)

Residency and Naturalization

There are three main ways to obtain Nepalese nationality: birth, bloodline, and marital relationship. According to the new constitution promulgated by Nepal in 2015 and the relevant provisions of the Nepalese Citizenship Law in 2006, those born to parents who are Nepalese citizens may apply for Nepalese citizenship, but the Nepalese government may not approve it. Those born in Nepal, who can prove continuous residence in Nepal and have property or rental certificates, can apply for Nepalese citizenship, but the Nepalese government may not approve it. Foreign women who marry male Nepalese citizens may apply for Nepalese citizenship if they renounce their original nationality.

Non naturalized individuals who require long-term residency in Nepal can apply for the following visas from the Nigerian Immigration Office:

Business visa: You need to provide a recommendation letter issued by the Nepalese government agency, your company registration documents, company tax documents, industry registration documents, shareholder identity proof, investor resume and other materials;

Study visa: Admission letter from the school, recommendation letter from the Nepalese Ministry of Education, bank deposit certificate, work permit, appointment letter or letter of appointment for teachers or school employees are required;

Work visa: foreigners' work permit issued by Nigeria's labor department, letter of recommendation issued by Nigeria's government agencies, certificate of no criminal record, etc. shall be provided;

Marriage or kinship visa: Marriage certificate or proof of kinship, proof of Nepalese citizenship of the spouse or relatives, etc. are required.

For details, please refer to the website of the Nigerian Immigration Bureau (in English) https://www.immigration.gov.np/

The risk level in Nepal is yellow (medium risk).                           

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens in Nepal to closely monitor the local security situation, be vigilant, strengthen prevention, and pay attention to safety. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas embassies and consulates will continue to closely monitor changes in the overseas security situation, dynamically adjust relevant risk assessments, and release and update corresponding security reminders in real time on platforms such as the China Consular Service Network. Please continue to pay attention.

public security

Nepal's overall social security is stable, and foreign tourists often encounter accidents such as property theft, while casualties are mostly caused by traffic accidents or high-risk tourism projects such as mountain hiking, gliding, and drifting.

Nepal has abundant tourism resources, but due to incomplete infrastructure, complex terrain conditions, frequent traffic accidents and risky tourism accidents, it is recommended to purchase necessary personal safety and medical insurance before coming to Nepal. If you are going to climb or hike in high-altitude areas, please purchase rescue insurance. In addition, special attention must be paid to the following matters:

1、 Reasonably choose the date of coming to Nepal. Nepal has a dry season and a rainy season throughout the year, with the rainy season from June to late September and the dry season from October to May of the following year. During the rainy season, floods, mudslides, and landslides are prone to cause road blockages or collapses, posing a high risk of travel. Please try to choose the dry season when traveling to Nepal.

2、 The transportation situation in Nepal is poor. Please choose a tourist route with good road conditions and a safe and reliable mode of transportation. Be cautious when taking domestic regional small planes and buses to mountainous areas.

3、 The hydrogeological conditions in Nepal are complex. Please do not swim in the rivers and participate in extreme sports such as drifting, gliding, and high-altitude hiking with caution. If participating in such projects, please familiarize yourself with the relevant project requirements in advance, follow the guidance of professionals, ensure the purchase of insurance, and sign an accident insurance agreement with the tourism company providing services.

4、 Before going hiking in mountainous areas, please complete the hiking permit procedures, try to travel in groups, choose hiking routes with mature conditions, hire local professional guides and porters, pay attention to your physical condition, and avoid overexertion. Do not engage in high-altitude hiking during winter. If you experience altitude sickness or other discomfort symptoms, you should immediately rest and return as soon as necessary to avoid missing the best treatment opportunity. Please check the local weather forecast before departure to ensure safety and not to be careless.

5、 Raise awareness of security precautions, avoid carrying valuable jewelry and large amounts of cash, do not deliver valuable items for shipment, and also pay attention to theft prevention in hotels. Avoid walking alone at night, let alone on secluded paths, especially for women. When taking taxis, street tricycles, and other transportation vehicles, please remember the license plate number (Ni license plates are difficult to recognize with Ni Wen numbers, and can be recorded with a mobile phone), and carefully check for any items left before getting off the car. It is recommended to use a safe to store valuable items in hotels. In case of theft, robbery, etc., please call the emergency hotline 100 in a timely manner, or call the local tourism police hotline 1144/01-4247041.

6、 Please do not rent motorcycles or other motor vehicles. Driving motorcycles and other motor vehicles in Nepal requires obtaining a local driver's license in advance, and a domestic driver's license cannot be used directly. Please try to avoid riding in light motor vehicles such as motorcycles driven by locals.

7、 The border between Nepal and India is open, and the boundary markings are not sound. In some areas, there are even no significant border markings. Nepal and India have visa free arrangements, allowing citizens of both countries to freely travel, but Chinese citizens and other third countries cannot travel to India through Nepal without a visa. Chinese citizens should try to avoid activities near the Nepal India border as much as possible. If it is necessary to go, special attention should be paid to the geographical information of the border, and their understanding of the border terrain should be strengthened to avoid entering the Indian border by mistake. If you have plans to travel from Nepal to India, please be sure to obtain an Indian visa in advance, enter through the Indian border port, strictly abide by the Indian entry and exit management regulations, and do not take chances or illegally enter the Indian border to avoid causing serious losses to yourself.

8、 The communication signal in Nishan District is weak, and hiking trips in mountainous areas often result in loss of contact with the outside world. Please avoid acting alone, inform family and friends of your itinerary in advance, maintain smooth communication, and agree on emergency contact information. Save your residential address, mobile phone numbers of the tour guide and team leader, and your passport and visa photo as backup.

Attention should be paid to the following matters when doing business in Nepal:

One is to understand the laws and customs of the host country. Familiarize oneself with laws and regulations such as the Labor Law, strengthen awareness of prevention, and avoid being deceived.

Secondly, do not engage in commercial activities that violate local laws and regulations, and do not smuggle endangered animal and plant products such as rhino horn, ivory, dendrobium, rosewood, etc.

Thirdly, pay attention to local political, economic, and social situations to avoid getting involved in political turmoil.

natural disaster

Nepal has a rainy season from June to September every year, which is prone to floods, mudslides, and landslides that can cause road blockages or collapses, posing significant travel risks. If traveling to Nepal during the rainy season, it is recommended to choose to take a plane instead of land to enter Nepal, and to be aware of the weather conditions in various parts of Nepal in advance, and to travel cautiously to areas prone to natural disasters. In addition, Nepal is located in an earthquake zone, with earthquakes below magnitude 5 occurring occasionally, and strong earthquakes above magnitude 7 occurring approximately once every 70-100 years (according to Nepal's historical data). The most recent strong earthquake occurred in April and May 2015.

FDA

1、 Nepal has poor water quality and sanitation conditions. Tap water cannot be consumed, please try to drink bottled water and pay attention to food safety. Prepare relevant medications before departure and seek medical attention promptly in case of emergencies.

2、 In recent years, there have been outbreaks of infectious diseases such as dengue fever, cholera, malaria, and avian influenza in Nepal. Please be cautious of virus transmission, take relevant protective measures, and try to avoid going to the outbreak site as much as possible.

Urgent Help

Nepal emergency hotline: 100

Fire alarm hotline: 101

Emergency hotline: 102

Traffic accident hotline: 103

Tourist police phone number: 1144 or 01-4247041

Consular Protection and Assistance Hotline of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal: 01-4531511

Official website: http://np.china-embassy.gov.cn

Consular email: consulate_npl@mfa.gov.cn

Consular Business Consultation Email: kathmandu@csm.mfa.gov.cn

24-hour emergency hotline for consular protection and services of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:+86-10-12308,+86-10-65612308

air traffic

Nepal's international airports include Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, Pokhara International Airport, and Buddha International Airport. Nepal has direct international flights to China, India, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Türkiye and other countries. The capital Kathmandu has opened direct flights to Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and other cities in China. There are domestic feeder flights between major cities in Nepal, such as Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lumbini, etc., which usually take 30 minutes to arrive. However, the aircraft types for domestic flights in Nepal are generally smaller.

The incidence of aviation accidents in Nepal is relatively high, with aviation safety accidents occurring every year in recent years.

land transport

There are long-distance bus services between major cities in Nepal, but the mountainous roads in Nepal are rugged and lack necessary construction and maintenance. The overall condition of the roads is poor, congested, and the travel time is difficult to guarantee. During the rainy season, problems such as mudslides and landslides often occur. In addition, due to the generally poor condition of vehicles in Nepal and inadequate management of drivers and passengers, accidents in land transportation in Nepal occur from time to time and are on the rise year by year. Tourists should pay attention to choosing tourism specific vehicles with green license plates and avoid taking general public transportation vehicles with black license plates.

Nepal is a right-hand drive country with vehicles traveling in the opposite direction to China. According to Nepalese traffic laws, driving cars, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles in Nepal requires obtaining a local driver's license first, and licenses from other countries cannot be directly used locally. Driving without a license in Nepal and experiencing traffic accidents can cause a lot of trouble.

water communication

Nepal is an inland mountainous country with steep terrain and large river drops. There are not many navigable rivers, and there is basically no waterway transportation.

Urban transportation

The capital cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara have relatively complete public transportation systems, but the condition of buses is generally poor, with crowded passengers and no fixed boarding and alighting stations or route signs. There are many taxis operating in the city, and their condition is average. According to the requirements of the Nepalese traffic police department, taxis are not allowed to refuse passengers, and car owners should charge according to the meter. If a taxi refuses to take passengers or does not charge according to the meter, you can record the license plate number and file a complaint with the Nepalese traffic police department.

major city

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and other major cities including Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini, etc.

Commodity prices

The currency of Nepal is the rupee. The Nepalese rupee is pegged to the Indian rupee and fluctuates with the Indian rupee. The ratio of Nepal to the Chinese yuan is about 18:1, and the ratio to the US dollar is about 133:1 (both in November 2023). Generally, value-added tax is required for consumption in hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls in Nepal. Some shops and banks in Kathmandu can use domestic UnionPay cards for shopping or withdrawal. Traditional handicrafts such as cashmere and wool products, thangka, Buddha statues, wood carvings, and Gurkha military knives are specialties of Nepal, but their product quality and prices vary. Please pay attention to identification and negotiate appropriately when purchasing. When shopping, please request invoices or receipts for customs inspection.

It should be noted that spiritual cashmere products are prohibited from being carried out of the country; Gurkha military knives are controlled knives, please do not transport them by air. There are many domestic courier companies in Nepal that can transport them.

Insurance Medical

Kathmandu has multiple large formal public hospitals and various private hospitals. Public hospitals charge relatively reasonable fees, while private hospitals, especially foreign-funded hospitals, charge expensive fees. The management of the healthcare system in Nepal is relatively standardized, with separate treatment and medication collection. The doctor prescribed a prescription and the patient went to the pharmacy to buy medicine on their own. Most of the drugs are imported from India at reasonable prices.

Public hospitals mainly include Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Bir Hospital, etc., while private hospitals mainly include Norvic International Hospital, etc.

Some infectious diseases such as dengue fever, hepatitis, meningitis, leprosy, cholera and other highly pathogenic diseases occur from time to time in Nepal. Please pay attention to prevention.

Customs taboos

Due to the fact that about 81% of Nepalese people believe in Hinduism, 9% believe in Buddhism, and a small number believe in Islam and other religions, the local diet often avoids pork and beef, and there are also many vegetarians. Animals such as yellow cattle, monkeys, dogs, crows, etc. are usually regarded as incarnations of gods in Nepal. There are many rules when visiting Hindu temples, and non Hindus are generally not allowed to enter the temple. They need to take off their shoes when entering the temple.

Communications Power

The way to make domestic landline calls from Nepal is: 0086 (China International Area Code)+domestic long-distance area code (such as 10 for Beijing, 20 for Guangzhou, 21 for Shanghai, etc.)+phone number; Dial domestic mobile phone: 0086+domestic mobile phone number. If calling a Nepal number from within the country, add 00977 (Nepal International Area Code)

Nepal's mobile communication has two standards, GSM and CDMA. Chinese mobile phone users who have opened international roaming services can use them locally in Nepal. For specific tariff standards, please consult domestic telecommunications operators. In addition, the network coverage in Nepal is relatively low, and sometimes it is necessary to repeatedly dial domestic numbers before being able to reach them. Many mobile phones in certain areas are unable to receive signals.

The voltage in Nepal is 220 volts, and British sockets (three sided or three round socket) are commonly used. Kathmandu and other major cities generally experience power shortages, with frequent long-term power outages. Hotels and restaurants usually have generators on hand.

Emergency contact information

Nepal emergency hotline: 100

Fire alarm hotline: 101

Emergency hotline: 102

Traffic accident hotline: 103

Tourist police phone number: 1144 or 01-4247041

Consular Protection and Assistance Hotline of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal: 01-4531511

Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Hotline of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:+86-10-12308,+86-10-65612308