Nepal (NP)

Obtain the correct entry visa

Most nationalities can obtain a Tourist Visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu) or Gautam Buddha International Airport (Pokhara), valid for 15, 30, or 90 days. For employment, you need a Non-Tourist Visa sponsored by a Nepali employer. Apply at the Department of Immigration in Maitighar, Kathmandu.

Obtain a work permit

Foreign nationals must obtain a work permit from the Department of Labour before beginning employment. Your employer (or NGO/INGO) sponsors and processes this. The permit is typically issued for 1 year and must be renewed annually. Indian nationals are exempt from work permit requirements.

File your annual income tax return with the IRD

Foreign nationals with a PAN and taxable income in Nepal must file an annual income tax return with the Inland Revenue Department, due within 3 months of the end of the Nepali fiscal year (which runs 16 Shrawan to 15 Ashad — mid-July to mid-July). For most salaried employees, tax is withheld monthly at source by the employer, and the annual return reconciles the final liability; freelancers and those with other income sources have a more involved filing.

Register for trekking permits (TIMS and area permits)

All trekkers in Nepal require a TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System) and area-specific permits. Annapurna and Langtang require an ACAP/TIMS card. Everest region requires Sagarmatha National Park entry permit. Restricted areas (Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Manaslu Circuit) require special USD permits.

Open a local bank account

A local bank account in NPR is essential for receiving salary, paying rent, and everyday transactions. Standard Chartered Nepal and Himalayan Bank are the most expat-friendly. You need a work permit and PAN to open an account.

Register a baby born in Nepal within 35 days

Under the Birth, Death and Other Personal Events (Registration) Act, every birth in Nepal must be registered at the local ward office — free of charge within 35 days of birth, with a fee (roughly NRs 200–500, varying by office) after that. For children of foreign parents, the ward office asks for the hospital birth certificate, both parents' passports, proof of temporary residence in the ward and a recommendation letter from your embassy in Nepal.

Get third-party motor insurance — required for registration

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory in Nepal under the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act 2049, and the Transport Management Office will not process vehicle registration or bluebook renewal without a valid policy. Comprehensive cover is a sensible upgrade given road conditions. Policies and bluebook renewals can increasingly be handled online, including through eSewa.

Prepare your pet's entry — notify quarantine 24 hours ahead

Dogs and cats entering Nepal need an ISO 11784/11785 15-digit microchip and rabies vaccination given at least 30 days before travel and no older than 12 months at entry. There is no quarantine for healthy pets, but you must notify the Kathmandu Animal Quarantine Office at least 24 hours before arrival and budget for import tax of up to 40% of the pet's declared value. A veterinary health certificate from the origin country completes the paperwork.

Register your vehicle and keep the bluebook current

Vehicles are registered with the Department of Transport Management (DoTM); the bluebook is the official proof of registration and ownership, renewed annually together with vehicle tax. Foreign nationals on a valid visa can register a vehicle by submitting passport, visa and residence documents with the standard vehicle papers — and third-party insurance is a prerequisite (see the insurance task). As of 2026 parts of the process run online, but inspection and final registration still require a Transport Management Office visit.

Register for a PAN (Permanent Account Number)

Foreign nationals earning income in Nepal must register for a PAN (Permanent Account Number) with the Inland Revenue Department. PAN is required for opening a bank account, filing taxes, and many financial transactions.

Confirm your Social Security Fund (SSF) enrolment

Nepal's Social Security Fund is mandatory for the formal sector — including foreign nationals working legally with a work permit. The contribution is 31% of basic salary: 11% deducted from you and 20% paid by your employer, deposited monthly and allocated across four schemes — medical treatment and health protection, accident and disability, dependent family protection, and old-age protection (the largest share). Enrolment became compulsory economy-wide from FY 2082/83, so check your payslip and SSF ID.

Register with your country's embassy

Register with your home country's embassy or high commission in Kathmandu on arrival. Nepal is prone to earthquakes, flooding, and political unrest — embassy registration ensures you are included in emergency contact and evacuation networks.

Get a local SIM card

A local SIM card provides affordable data and calls. Ncell (Axiata) and Nepal Telecom (NTC) are the two main operators. Both require passport registration. Ncell has better 4G coverage in Kathmandu and tourist areas; NTC has wider rural coverage.

Set up home fibre internet (WorldLink, Vianet or NTC)

Fibre-to-the-home internet is well established in the Kathmandu Valley, with WorldLink, Vianet and Nepal Telecom (NTC) as the main providers. Vianet pioneered FTTH in Nepal in 2011 and remains known for network stability, with residential plans from around Rs 950/month for 50 Mbps. WorldLink offers the widest range of tiers, from everyday speeds up to 1 Gbps. NTC bundles internet, TV and voice over a single fibre connection. Coverage is densest in Kathmandu Valley and thins out considerably in smaller towns.

Set up Kathmandu's daily-life apps

Urban Nepal runs on a few apps: Pathao for ride-hailing (motorbikes beat Kathmandu traffic) and quick food delivery, and Foodmandu — Nepal's on-demand delivery pioneer since 2010 — for food from 1000+ restaurants across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, Chitwan and Butwal. Pay through eSewa or Khalti (see the wallet task). Between monsoon downpours and traffic, delivery apps are less a luxury than infrastructure.

Register your imported phone in the NTA MDMS

Nepal's telecom authority (NTA) runs the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) — IMEI registration for phones, fully launched in late 2023, with a portal for registering devices brought from abroad for personal use. Honest status: as of 2026 blocking is not being actively enforced and unregistered phones still work, but the system exists, policy has flip-flopped repeatedly, and registering your imported phone protects you if enforcement switches on. Check your IMEI status on the MDMS portal.

Enrol children in an international school

Kathmandu has several reputable international schools catering to the expat and NGO community. Lincoln School offers the US curriculum with IB. British School Kathmandu (BSK) follows the UK curriculum. Enrol 3–6 months in advance as spaces are limited.

Register your teen for Cambridge IGCSE/A-Level exams via the British Council

If your teenager follows a British/Cambridge curriculum rather than Nepal's national system, the British Council administers Cambridge International GCSE, O Level and A/AS Level exams in Nepal through its online School Registration System (SRS). Register online, then pay the exam fees — conveniently via eSewa, or by bank transfer to British Council Services Nepal's Standard Chartered or NABIL account — before your application is processed. This applies whether your child is at a British Council partner school or sitting as a private candidate.

Know your rights under the Labour Act 2074 (2017)

Nepal's Labour Act 2017 (2074) requires a written employment contract for every worker and sets the framework: 8 hours a day / 48 hours a week maximum, paid leave entitlements, and family-friendly provisions — 98 days of maternity leave with at least 60 days fully paid (minimum two weeks before the due date and six weeks after birth), plus 15 days of fully paid paternity leave. Foreign employees with work permits are inside this framework, and formal employment also triggers Social Security Fund enrolment (see the SSF task).

Hire domestic staff in line with Nepal's labour law

Many expat households in Kathmandu employ a cook, cleaner, nanny or driver — a full-time driver typically costs NPR 20,000–35,000/month. Section 3 of the Labour Act 2074 (2017) applies to every establishment with one or more workers, including private households, meaning domestic staff are legally entitled to a written contract, at least the minimum wage (NPR 21,884/month total as of 2026: NPR 19,550 basic plus NPR 2,334 dearness allowance, or NPR 754/day), rest days, leave, and Social Security Fund contributions. Enforcement in private homes is historically weak, but meeting the legal standard is good practice and protects both sides.

Set up eSewa or Khalti digital wallet

eSewa is Nepal's largest digital payment platform, used for utility bills, mobile top-ups, online shopping, and restaurant payments in Kathmandu. Khalti is the second-largest. Both require a Nepali mobile number and are linked to your bank account.

Know the cash currency limits when entering or leaving Nepal

Under the Foreign Exchange (Regulation) Act 2019, Nepali or foreign nationals can freely carry up to USD 5,000 (or the equivalent in other foreign currency) into or out of Nepal without declaring it. Amounts above that must be declared to customs at the airport or border and officially certified — undeclared excess cash risks confiscation. Nepal Rastra Bank tightly regulates foreign exchange generally, so moving money through informal channels (hundi) rather than a bank or licensed remittance company is illegal, carrying fines up to 3x the amount plus potential jail time for both sender and receiver.

Arrange comprehensive health insurance

Nepal's public healthcare system is very limited. Private hospitals in Kathmandu (CIWEC Clinic, Norvic International, B&B Hospital) provide acceptable care for routine conditions, but serious illness or injury typically requires medical evacuation to Bangkok, Delhi, or Singapore. International health insurance with evacuation cover is essential.

Prepare for altitude and health requirements

Nepal has specific health considerations for expats: altitude sickness above 2,500m, water-borne illnesses (always drink purified water), and required or recommended vaccinations. Visit a travel medicine clinic before arrival and on arrival to confirm vaccination status.

Arrange long-term accommodation

Most expats in Kathmandu live in Lazimpat, Sanepa, Jhamsikhel, Budhanilkantha, or Patan — areas popular with the NGO/INGO community and international schools. Rental agreements should be formalised in writing. Landlords are generally flexible but confirm terms on generator backup, water supply, and internet.

Get home contents and property insurance

Nepal has 14 licensed non-life insurance companies as of 2026, with Shikhar Insurance the current market leader by premium volume, followed by Sagarmatha Lumbini and Himalayan Everest; NLG Insurance is another established provider with a dedicated home/property insurance product covering buildings and apartments up to Rs 2 crore sum insured. Given Nepal's seismic risk, confirm whether earthquake damage is included in a standard property policy or needs a separate rider — the 2015 earthquake is a stark reminder this isn't a theoretical risk.

Learn basic Nepali

English is widely spoken in Kathmandu's tourist and NGO sectors, but learning basic Nepali is warmly appreciated, enormously helpful in rural areas, and deepens cultural connections. Nepali uses the Devanagari script (same as Hindi).

Understand that foreigners cannot own land or property

Nepal's Constitution and the Land Act prohibit foreign nationals from owning land or immovable property in a personal capacity — there is no residence-permit or investment route to a personal house title. The narrow exception is corporate: a company registered in Nepal with Foreign Direct Investment approval can acquire property for business purposes only, never for personal residential use. Plan on renting for as long as you live in Nepal, and be deeply sceptical of any workaround offered to you.

Obtain or convert a driving licence

Foreign nationals can drive in Nepal on their home-country licence for up to 15 days. For longer stays, you need a Nepali driving licence. The practical test (written and driving) is required. Many expats use taxis, ride-hailing (Pathao, InDrive), or a personal driver instead.