Do Australians need a visa for Nepal?
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Australians can get a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport and at land borders. It costs USD $30 for 15 days, USD $50 for 30 days or USD $125 for 90 days, is paid in cash, and needs a passport photo. There is no free entry option.
Entry requirements for Nepal at a glance
Passport validity
At least 6 months from your date of arrival
Length of stay
15, 30 or 90 days depending on the fee paid
Onward ticket
Immigration can ask for an onward ticket and proof of funds.
Blank passport pages
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Visa on arrival
You can complete the arrival form online up to 15 days ahead, which shortens the airport queue considerably. Payment is still made in cash at the counter on arrival.
Apply on the official siteWhat it costs
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa - 15 days | USD $30 | All visitors |
| Tourist visa - 30 days | USD $50 | All visitors |
| Tourist visa - 90 days | USD $125 | All visitors |
How to get sorted, step by step
- Check your passport has at least six months validity from your arrival date.
- Bring the exact visa fee in clean USD cash and a passport photo - the airport kiosks and card machines are unreliable.
- Pre-fill the online arrival form at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np within 15 days of travel to skip most of the queue.
- If you are trekking, arrange your TIMS card and national park permits in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you set out.
What catches Australians out
The visa fee is cash only in practice. Card machines at the airport frequently do not work and there is no alternative if they fail.
Trekking requires separate permits - a TIMS card plus a national park or conservation area permit - which are not included in the visa.
Altitude sickness is the most serious risk in Nepal and can affect anyone above 2,500m regardless of fitness. Check your travel insurance covers trekking at your intended altitude.
Domestic flights to Lukla and Pokhara are weather-dependent and cancel for days at a time. Never book one against a same-day international connection.
Health cover for Australians in Nepal
Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Nepal. Care outside Kathmandu is very limited and a helicopter evacuation from a trek routinely costs USD $5,000-$15,000. Insurance that explicitly covers trekking at your maximum altitude is essential.
Vaccinations: Hepatitis A and typhoid usually recommended; rabies and Japanese encephalitis for longer or rural stays. Discuss altitude medication with a travel doctor.
Medications: Bring everything you need. Pharmacies in Kathmandu are reasonable but counterfeit medication exists.
Compare travel insurance for NepalMore Nepal essentials
Further reading: Do Australians need a visa? A country-by-country guide
How these comparisons are made
Entry rules on these pages come from the destination's own immigration authority first, Smartraveller second, and the destination's embassy in Australia third - each page links the exact sources it used. An automated job re-reads those government pages every day and moves the review date only when a person or the checker has confirmed the page still says what we say it says. Read the full editorial policy.
Nepal entry requirements FAQs
Do Australians need a visa for Nepal?
Yes. Australians get a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport and at land borders, priced by duration: USD $30 for 15 days, USD $50 for 30 days, or USD $125 for 90 days. There is no free entry option.
Can I pay the Nepal visa fee by card?
In theory yes, in practice bring cash. The card machines and kiosks at Kathmandu airport are unreliable and there is no fallback if they fail while you are at the counter. Bring the exact fee in clean US dollars and a passport photo.
Can I speed up the Nepal visa queue?
Yes. Complete the online arrival form at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np up to 15 days before you travel and you skip most of the queue. You still pay the fee in cash at the counter on arrival.
Do I need permits to trek in Nepal?
Yes, and they are separate from your visa. You need a TIMS card plus a national park or conservation area permit for the region you are trekking. Both are arranged in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you set out.
Planning Nepal?
We will send you the Nepal guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.