Travel advisory Nepal

1. The visa issuance procedure and the required documents for foreigners with complete vaccination against COVID-19:

1.1 For visa-on-arrival

Foreigners with complete vaccination who are  eligible for a visa on arrival as per the prevailing immigration rules can apply for the visa at the immigration entry point in Nepal with the following documents in addition to those required for a visa:

a. Evidence of completion of 14 days of vaccination against Covid-19,

b. COVID-19 negative report COVID-19 was obtained within 72 hours of departure from the first port of embarkation.

c. Copy of mountaineering or trekking or other related permits, if any,

d. Proof of hotel reservation in Nepal,

e. Printed copy of International Traveler Online Arrival Form obtained after online registration in www.ccmc.gov.np

1.2 To obtain a visa from Nepali missions abroad:

Foreigners with complete vaccination shall submit the documents aforementioned in 1.1(a), 1.1(¢), & 1.1(d) while applying for a visa at the Nepali missions abroad, and are required to submit the documents aforementioned in 1.1(b) & 1.1(e) at the immigration entry point in Nepal.

2. The visa issuance procedure and the required documents for foreigners without complete vaccination against COVID-19:

Foreigners without vaccination, incomplete vaccination, or within 14 days of vaccination shall mandatorily obtain a prior visa from Nepali missions abroad. Such foreigners shall submit the documents aforementioned in 1.1(c) & 1.1(d) while applying for a visa at the Nepali missions abroad and are required to submit the documents aforementioned in 1.1(b) & 1.1(e) at the immigration entry point in Nepal.

3. COVID-19 control measures (health examination, isolation, & quarantine management) and code of conduct for foreigners residing in Nepal:

a. Foreigners without vaccination or incomplete vaccination or within 14 days of vaccination and all foreigners with COVID-19 symptoms and indications (even if they are vaccinated), are subject to antigen tests at the immigration entry point. If tested positive, they are subject to mandatory isolation or hospitalization specified by the Ministry of Health and Population, and 5 days of hotel quarantine if tested negative.

b. In case of the unavailability of antigen tests, as mentioned above in 3(a), the required antigen test at the hotel. If tested positive, they are subject to mandatory isolation or hospitalization specified by the Ministry of Health and Population and mandatory 5-day hotel quarantine if tested negative.

C. Foreigners quarantined as per 3(a) & 3(b6) are allowed to engage in their purpose of visit on the sixth day if tested negative.

d. Foreigners with a complete vaccination (without an antigen test at the immigration test entry point) are required to undergo an antigen test within 24 hours of hotel check-in and are allowed to move out only if the test is negative. After that, an antigen test should be done every 72 hours.

e. Expenses for COVID-19 test or isolation costs and other expenses, including insurance, should be borne by the foreigners themselves.

f. All foreigners in Nepal with symptoms and signs of COVID-19 shall go through a COVID-19 test and are subject to mandatory isolation at their own expense.

4. Code of conduct for foreigners staying in Nepal:

Foreigners staying in Nepal should mandatorily wear masks and show their vaccination cards while participating in any public program in Nepal. He or she shall follow the health protocols and directives of the Nepali government in addition to the aforementioned provision in point number 3.

However, foreigners without vaccination or incomplete vaccination will not be deprived of the visa regulations and arrival/departure from land ports and airports, according to this notice.

5. Travel provision for Nepali citizens & non-resident Nepali citizens:

a. For Nepali citizens & Non-residential Nepali citizens with complete vaccination:

Nepali citizens staying abroad for foreign employment or foreign visit & non-residential Nepalis (NRNs), including their family members (Nepali and foreigners), with complete vaccination, shall present a COVID-19 negative report obtained within 72 hours of departure from the first port of embarkation and a printed copy of the International Traveler Online Arrival Form after online registration at www.ccmcgov.np during their travel. Such travelers without any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 are allowed to move towards their destination. Travelers with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are required to antigen test, if tested positive, they are sent to isolation or hospital and those tested negative are subject to 5 days of home/hotel quarantine

b. For Nepali citizens & Non-residential Nepali citizens without complete vaccination:

Nepali citizens staying abroad for foreign employment or a foreign visit & Non-residential Nepalis (NRNs), including their family members (Nepali and Foreigners), without vaccination or incomplete vaccination or within 14 days of vaccination, should present a COVID-19 negative report obtained within 72 hours of the departure from first port of embarkation and printed copy of International Traveler Online Arrival Form after online registration in www.ccmc.gov.np during their travel. Such travelers shall take antigen tests at the immigration entry point and if tested negative, they are allowed to move towards their destination and sent to isolation or hospital if tested positive

6. Special provision for officials of diplomatic missions in Nepal, employees or their family members:

a. Visa on arrival for those with complete vaccination:

Officials of diplomatic missions in Nepal, employees, or their family members with complete vaccination are required to submit the documents aforementioned in 1.1(a), 1.1(b), & 1.1(e) along with a COVID-19 negative report obtained within 72 hours of the departure from the first port of embarkation to ensure visa on arrival.

b. Those without complete vaccination shall obtain a prior visa from Nepali diplomatic missions abroad:

Officials of diplomatic missions in Nepal, employees, or their family members without vaccination, incomplete vaccination, or within 14 days of vaccination shall obtain a prior visa from Nepali diplomatic missions abroad and be subject to stay in a 5-day quarantine specified and monitored by their respective diplomatic mission in Nepal. Such travelers are required to undergo an antigen test at the immigration entry point. If tested positive, they are subject to mandatory isolation or hospitalization. If tested negative, they are allowed to move towards their destination but are subject to staying in a 5-day self-quarantine.

7. Foreign officials and delegations formally invited by the Nepal government to participate in a scheduled meeting:

Foreign officials and delegations formally invited by the Nepal government to participate in a scheduled meeting are required to pass the COVID-19 test at the immigration entry point. If tested positive, they are subject to mandatory isolation or hospitalization, and they are allowed to move toward their destination program if tested negative.

8. Health officials arriving in Nepal for the COVID-19 control-related hospitalization program:

Health officials without vaccination, incomplete vaccination, or within 14 days of vaccination are allowed to enter Nepal on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Population. Such travelers are required to undergo an antigen test at the immigration entry point. If tested positive, they are subject to mandatory isolation or hospitalisation. If tested negative, they are also required to stay in a 5-day quarantine and will be monitored by the Ministry of Health and Population.

9. Special provision for children:

No vaccination or testing is required for minors under the age of 5. Vaccinations are not mandatory for children between 5 and 18 years old, but they are subject to following other health protocols as adults.

10. Provision for foreigners entering Nepal via land ports:

a. For Indian Nationals:

Indian nationals arriving in Nepal through entry/exit at the land border shall submit the documents aforementioned in 1(b) & (e) to ensure arrival permission. Such travelers are subject to a mandatory antigen test at the immigration entry point. If tested positive, they are not allowed to enter Nepal. if tested negative, are allowed to enter Nepal.

b. For other nationals except Indians:

Foreigners, except Indian nationals, entering Nepal by land port will be granted an arrival visa and entry permit on the basis of the following documents:

I. Documents aforementioned in 1.1(a), (b), (c), (d) & (e) to ensure on-arrival visa permission.

II. An antigen test negative report was tested at the immigration entry point.

III. In case of the unavailability of antigen tests at the immigration entry point, are required antigen test at the hotel. If tested positive, are required mandatory isolation or hospitalization specified by the Ministry of Health and Population, and mandatory 5 days hotel quarantine if tested negative.

11. Provision for departing from Nepal:

Passengers departing from Nepal shall submit the following documents:

a. COVID-19 test report and prescribed vaccination criteria that meet the health protocol of the destination country and a COVID-19 negative RT-PCR report from a recognized laboratory within 48 hours of receiving the boarding pass.

b. Printed copy of International Traveler Online Departure Form obtained after online registration in

www.ccmc.gov.np

c. Vaccination Certificate with QR code against COVID-19 in case of Nepali citizens departing from Nepal.

12. Provision for Special Status Nepalese Citizens:

In the case of Nepali citizens who have traveled for foreign employment and have been returned by the specified country, deported by a foreign country, or returned home at no cost, have completed vaccination against COVID-19 and tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of entering Nepal, and have no symptoms of COVID-19, they are allowed to move towards their destination. In the case of Nepalese citizens without vaccination, incomplete vaccination, or within 14 days of vaccination, they shall take antigen tests at the immigration entry point. If tested positive, they are required to stay in isolation or in hospitals specified by the Nepal government for 10 days. If tested negative, they are allowed to move towards their destination.

13. Responsibilities and obligations of travel, trekking agencies, hotels, and airlines:

a. It is the responsibility of the concerned travel and trekking agency to provide foreigners who come to Nepal through travel or trekking agencies with the conditions as per this order.

b. If any foreigner does not follow the aforementioned terms and conditions, the concerned travel, hotel, and trekking agency should inform the Nepal Police or concerned authority immediately.

c Airlines companies are obliged to follow the aforementioned provision and must not board or check in  ineligible passengers traveling to and from Nepal.

14. Action to be taken:

Anyone who does not comply with the provisions of this notice shall be punished by the Infectious Diseases Act, 2020, and other applicable laws.

15. Repealed & protection:

This notice has been issued by the Department of Immigration, superseding all previous related notices.

(Note: Nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan & Syria, and foreigners holding temporary travel documents as well as emergency passports must obtain visas from the Nepal Mission abroad.}