Nepal Reaffirms 150-Day Annual Cap on Tourist Visa Extensions for 2026

Nepal’s Department of Immigration has reconfirmed that the 150-day maximum stay per visa year for tourist visa holders remains in effect for the 2026 calendar year, with extension fees held at USD 45 for each 15-day increment. The clarification, issued through routine channels in September and October, applies to all foreign nationals entering on standard tourist visas — including trekkers, expedition members, and repeat visitors who base themselves in Kathmandu or Pokhara for extended periods.

For operators running autumn Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, or Kailash Manasarovar trips, the rule is unchanged from previous years: a visitor who enters on a 90-day visa can extend twice (30 days each) before hitting the 150-day ceiling. Further stays require departure and re-entry on a new visa year, which resets on 1 January. The extension fee structure — USD 45 per 15 days, payable in Kathmandu or Pokhara immigration offices — has not been revised since the last fee schedule update.

“The 150-day cap is a hard limit within a single visa year. It does not roll over, and there is no exception for trekking permits or expedition durations.”

— Department of Immigration notice, September 2026

The practical impact falls on two groups: long-stay guests who use Kathmandu or Bhaisepati as a base between treks, and expedition teams whose permits and acclimatisation schedules push past the 120-day mark. For the latter, the rule means planning the visa timeline as carefully as the climbing calendar — especially for autumn-to-winter transitions on 8,000-metre peaks where permit windows and weather delays can stretch a single expedition beyond 150 days from initial entry.

Hotel and serviced-apartment operators in Thamel and Bhaisepati should note that guests staying beyond 120 days will need to visit immigration for their final extension before the cap bites. The process takes half a day in Kathmandu; Pokhara’s office offers the same service but with shorter queues. No online extension portal exists yet — physical attendance with passport, current visa, and passport photos is still required.

Visa-on-arrival fees at Tribhuvan International Airport and land borders also remain unchanged: USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, and USD 125 for 90 days. Multiple-entry provisions are unchanged. The eVisa pre-approval system continues to operate via the official immigration portal, reducing airport queue times but not altering fees or stay limits.

No new visa categories, fee changes, or digital-nomad provisions have been announced for the remainder of 2026. The next scheduled review of tourist visa policy typically coincides with the federal budget cycle in mid-2027. Until then, the 150-day cap and USD 45-per-15-day extension fee are the operating parameters for every guest whose itinerary spans more than a single trek.