On August 3, VisasNews reported that Nepal’s new electronic system was expected to be fully rolled out starting August 17, 2026. At the time, a spokesperson for Nepal’s Department of Immigration said that the technical and administrative preparations had been completed and that the system was due to become fully operational on that date.
August 17 came and went, however, without any major official announcement detailing the system’s actual launch or explaining the new process available to travelers.
The authorities have since gradually expanded the information available on their websites, but the relatively discreet rollout prompted VisasNews’ travel-documentation experts to test the new process themselves, all the way through to receiving the ETA.
A new ETA process is now operational
The Department of Immigration now features a dedicated “ETA/eVisa” page, outlining two ways to obtain authorization before traveling: applying directly online through its services in Kathmandu or applying through a Nepalese diplomatic mission abroad.
For applications submitted directly to the Department of Immigration, travelers use the official NepaliPort portal, complete their application, upload the required documents and pay the fees online.
Depending on demand, however, the portal may temporarily stop accepting new applications once its daily capacity has been reached. A message reading “ETA Application Stopped – Daily Limit Reached” may then appear, advising travelers to try again the following day.
For tourism, three multiple-entry options are available: 15 days for $30, 30 days for $50 and 90 days for $125. The authorization must be used within six months of issuance, while the permitted stay begins from the date of entry into Nepal.
VisasNews followed one application from start to finish to better understand each stage of the new process.
How to apply for a Nepal ETA
1. Submit the ETA application online
Travelers begin by selecting “Electronic Travel Authorization” on the official NepaliPort portal.
They are asked to provide personal details, passport information, the intended length and purpose of their stay, and their address in Nepal. A recent photograph and a copy of the passport must also be uploaded.
The passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of travel.
Once the form has been completed, checked and submitted, the application enters the system with the status “Applied.”
2. The Department of Immigration reviews the application
After submission, the application is reviewed by Nepalese immigration officials.
Once this initial review has been completed, the status changes to “Verified.”
During the test carried out by VisasNews experts, approximately one hour passed between completing the online application and its verification by the Department of Immigration.
The process then moved almost immediately to the payment stage.
3. The portal generates a payment voucher
Once the application has been verified, a new status appears: “Voucher Generated.” This means that the payment voucher required to pay the ETA fee has been issued.
In the application tested by VisasNews, the voucher was generated just two minutes after the status changed to “Verified.”
Around one hour after the application was submitted, the file had therefore already been reviewed and was ready for payment through the “Card Payment” section.
4. Several payment methods are available
This is one of the significant changes introduced by the new system.
Within its new payment environment, the Department of Immigration offers several options. The official portal lists Mobile Banking, connectIPS and various Nepalese digital wallets and payment solutions, while a separate service now allows fees to be paid using an international debit or credit card.
During VisasNews’ test, the connectIPS payment gateway offered three main options: payment through a connectIPS account, NepalPay QR / Scan & Pay, compatible with various banking services and digital wallets, and bank-card payment using Visa, Mastercard, American Express or UnionPay.
A convenience fee of 3.5% of the transaction amount, or the Nepalese rupee equivalent of at least $1, whichever is higher, is added to the payment.
Once the transaction is completed, an official receipt can be downloaded. In the application followed by VisasNews, the receipt confirmed that payment had been received with the status “Payment Status: Paid.”
How long does it take to get the ETA?
The VisasNews test makes it possible to reconstruct the different processing stages fairly precisely.
In the application followed, approximately one hour passed between final submission and verification by the Department of Immigration.
Just two additional minutes were needed for the payment voucher to be generated.
Payment by international bank card was made the same day, as soon as the voucher became available.
Final approval came three days later, a timeline consistent with the approximately 72-hour processing period communicated by the authorities for the new procedure.
Once approved, the application status changes to “Issued.”
The VisasNews experience therefore broadly matched the timeline announced by the authorities when counted in business days. Processing times may naturally vary depending on the individual application or the workload of immigration services, so travelers are still advised to apply well ahead of their trip.
Where can you download the ETA after approval?
The VisasNews test also revealed one detail that may prove useful to future applicants.
Once the authorization had been approved, an email titled “Visa Approved” was received. It confirmed that the authorization had been issued and included, among other details, the document number and authorization number.
However, the ETA itself was not attached to the email.
The document was ultimately retrieved through the “Digital Time Card – Track your visa application” feature by clicking “Print ETA.”
This step is not currently highlighted very clearly in the instructions provided to travelers. Anyone who receives a “Visa Approved” email without an attached document may therefore want to return to the Digital Time Card and look for the “Print ETA” button.
What does Nepal’s ETA look like?
The ETA obtained at the end of the test includes:
- a QR code used to verify its status;
- the application number;
- the passport number;
- the ETA number;
- the traveler’s identity;
- nationality;
- authorization type;
- permitted length of stay;
- number of entries;
- issuing authority;
- date and time of approval.
It also includes a deadline by which the authorization must be used and states that the permitted stay begins from the date of entry into Nepal.
What formalities are required upon arrival in Nepal?
The document issued by the Department of Immigration also provides several details about the procedures to be completed when traveling.
The holder must bring a copy of the ETA when entering Nepal for the first time.
The document also states that the traveler’s biometric information will be collected at the port of entry.
It further notes that having an ETA does not in itself guarantee admission to Nepal, which remains subject to checks by Nepalese immigration officials upon arrival.
The passport or travel document used must be valid for at least six months at the time of entry into Nepal.
Online ETA, diplomatic mission or visa on arrival: Three options
Applying directly through the Department of Immigration is not the only option available to travelers.
The first is the process tested by VisasNews: applying for an ETA online directly with the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu, paying the required fees and retrieving the authorization before departure. The Department currently presents this as the direct route for most travelers.
A second option is to apply for an ETA through a Nepalese embassy, consulate or other diplomatic mission abroad. Applicants select the relevant diplomatic mission on the official portal, complete the application online and then follow the payment procedures set by that mission. Once the application and payment have been verified, the diplomatic mission approves and issues the ETA. Procedures vary from one country to another, and some missions send the document directly by email.
Finally, visa on arrival remains available to eligible nationalities. The Department of Immigration continues to offer this procedure alongside the ETA obtained before departure.
Travelers therefore currently have three options: obtain an ETA directly from the Department of Immigration before departure, apply for an ETA through a Nepalese embassy or consulate, or obtain a visa on arrival if eligible.
VisasNews Take
The VisasNews test confirms that Nepal’s new ETA process is now operational, with online application, international card payment and issuance before travel. In the application tested, processing remained broadly consistent with the announced 72-hour timeframe. The ETA itself, however, had to be retrieved from the “Digital Time Card” section of the NepaliPort portal.
