Southern Asia · UN member
Nepal: Travel Guide & Requirements
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal · नेपाल संघीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र
Nepal is a country in Southern Asia with its capital in Kathmandu. It has a population of 29.6 million (#52 in the world) and covers 147,181 km². The official language is Nepali. The currency is the Nepalese rupee (NPR, ₨).
Where is Nepal? Map of Nepal
Southern Asia, between China and India.
- Region
- Southern Asia
- Coordinates
- 28° N, 84° E
- Neighbours
- 2 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Nepal
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Nepal showing Kathmandu (capital) and the largest cities: Pokhara, Bharatpur, Birgañj, Biratnagar, Dhangaḍhi̇̄, Janakpur, Butwāl and Nepalgunj.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Nepal
- Passport
The UK FCDO says that to avoid problems at immigration your passport should have an expiry date at least 6 months after your date of entry into Nepal.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 1 needs no visa, 185 get a visa on arrival, 12 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Nepal entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK FCDO says that at border control you may need to show a travel insurance document covering healthcare costs, repatriation and other emergencies in Nepal, and confirmation of where you will spend your first night.
- Vaccinations
The UK FCDO says that to enter Nepal you must have a certificate to prove you have had a yellow fever vaccination if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
- Arrival card
The UK FCDO says you can apply online for a visa on arrival up to 15 days before you arrive and then collect and pay for the visa at the airport using your submission receipt, or apply using the forms or terminals at th…
- Customs allowance
The UK FCDO says you must declare on a customs form on arrival any amount above USD 5,000 in banknotes, or USD 10,000 in notes and travellers' cheques combined.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Nepal
- Safety: Nepal is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Nepal Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: March — when daytime highs in Kathmandu are around 24°C.
- Money: the Nepalese rupee (NPR) — 1 US dollar is about 152.0028 NPR.
- Plugs: type C, D and M, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 100, Ambulance 102, Fire 101.
- Language: Nepali is official.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 40 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+5.75 in Kathmandu.
- Capital: Kathmandu. About 29.6 million people live in Nepal.
- Outdoors: 13 national parks.
Key facts
Nepal at a glance
Languages spoken: Nepali (official) 44.9%, Maithali 11.1%, Bhojpuri 6.2%, Tharu 5.9%, Tamang 4.9%, Bajjika 3.9%, Avadhi 3%, Nepalbhasha (Newari) 3%, Magar Dhut 2.8%, Doteli 1.7%, Urdu 1.4%, Yakthung/Limbu 1.2%, Gurung 1.1%, other 8.9% (2021 est.)
Geography & history
About Nepal
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence after the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16, and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of hereditary rule and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but it was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the fr…
Read the full history
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence after the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16, and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of hereditary rule and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but it was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist-led insurgency broke out in 1996. During the ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces, the monarchy dissolved the cabinet and parliament. In 2001, Crown Prince DIPENDRA first massacred the royal family and then shot himself. His uncle GYANENDRA became king, and the monarchy reassumed absolute power the next year. A peace accord in 2006 led to the promulgation of an interim constitution in 2007. After a nationwide Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008, the newly formed CA declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, abolished the monarchy, and elected the country's first president. When the CA failed to draft a Supreme Court-mandated constitution, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. An interim government held elections in 2013, in which the Nepali Congress (NC) won the largest share of seats. In 2014, NC formed a coalition government with the second-place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML). Nepal's new constitution came into effect in 2015, at which point the CA became the Parliament and Khagda Prasad Sharma OLI the first post-constitution prime minister (2015-16). He resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion, and Parliament elected Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) leader Pushpa Kamal DAHAL as prime minister. The parties headed by OLI and DAHAL ran in coalition and swept the parliamentary elections in 2017, and OLI was sworn in as prime minister in 2018. OLI's efforts to dissolve parliament and hold elections were declared unconstitutional in 2021, and the opposition-supported NC leader Sher Bahadur DEUBA was named prime minister. The NC won a majority of seats in the parliamentary elections in 2022, but DAHAL then broke with the ruling coalition and partnered with OLI and the CPN-UML to become prime minister. DAHAL's first cabinet lasted about two months, until OLI withdrew his support over disagreements about ministerial assignments. In early 2023, DAHAL survived a vote of confidence and formed a coalition with the NC to remain prime minister.
Location
Southern Asia, between China and India
Climate
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north
Highest point
Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m
Natural resources
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Natural hazards
severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
National symbols
rhododendron blossom
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Nepal
The default speed limits in Nepal are 40 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside built-up areas. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 4040 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 8080 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)28.2 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Nepal safe to visit?
Nepal is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Nepal Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Removal of information about the Family Assistance Centre at the British Embassy Kathmandu (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
Updated 1 Oct 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Nepal
The best time to visit Nepal is March, when daytime highs in Kathmandu are around 24°C. February, April and October to November are also a good time to go. May is the warmest month (30°C by day), January the coldest (6°C at night), and July the wettest with about 280 mm of rain.
- Jan16°C6°C
- Feb20°C8°C
- Mar24°C12°C
- Apr29°C16°C
- May30°C19°C
- Jun29°C20°C
- Jul26°C20°C
- Aug26°C20°C
- Sep25°C19°C
- Oct23°C15°C
- Nov20°C11°C
- Dec17°C8°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Nepal
Plugs & sockets
- Type C (Europlug)two round pins
- Type Dthree large round pins in a triangle
- Type Mthree large round pins in a triangle
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
13 national parks in Nepal
- 13,359 km² protected
- oldest from 1973
Largest: Shey Phoksundo National Park · Makalu Barun National Park · Langtang National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Nepalese rupee exchange rates today
Nepal uses the Nepalese rupee (NPR, ₨). One US dollar buys 152.0028 NPR; over the last 30 days the NPR has gained 0.8% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in NPR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Nepal ranks
How Nepal compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Nepal
65 airports and airfields — 3 large, 6 medium and 41 small, plus 15 heliports. 20 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Nepal borders 2 countries along 3,159 km of land borders. It is landlocked.
Military
Nepali armed forces
Nepal ranks #129 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $428 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Kathmandu (1.6 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
tourism, carpets, textiles, small rice, jute, sugar, oilseed mills, cigarettes, cement and brick production
Export partners
India 67%, USA 12%, Germany 3%, China 2%, UK 2% (2023)
Top exports
knotted carpets, garments, flat-rolled iron, synthetic fibers, palm oil (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Nepal
Next public holiday
Laxmi Pooja — Sunday, 8 November 2026. Then Gai Tihar (9 Nov).
Nepali passport
Ranked #189: 12 countries visa-free, 25 with visa on arrival, 2 with an eTA and 52 with an eVisa.
Nepali passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Nepal's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Nepal
Dial +977 before the local number. Internet domain .np.
Climate footprint
18.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.63 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Nepal: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Nepal
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Frequently asked questions about Nepal
What do I need to travel to Nepal?
How long must my passport be valid for Nepal?
Where is Nepal?
What is Nepal known for?
What is the capital of Nepal?
What language is spoken in Nepal?
What currency does Nepal use?
What is the calling code of Nepal?
Which countries border Nepal?
How strong is the Nepali passport?
What is the speed limit in Nepal?
Is Nepal safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Nepal?
What plug type does Nepal use?
How many airports does Nepal have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.