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Nepal Visa for South Africa Citizens 2026

Visa on Arrival

South African citizens can obtain a visa on arrival for Nepal at Tribhuvan International Airport or major land border crossings, paying a fee based on stay duration (around USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, or USD 125 for 90 days) with processing taking only minutes.

Guide last updated October 22, 2026. Always verify with official sources before travel.

What you need

  • Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date
  • Completed arrival visa application form (available on arrival or pre-fillable online via the Department of Immigration's portal to speed up processing)
  • One recent passport-size photo (though a photo booth/scanner is often available at the airport if you don't have one)
  • Visa fee in cash (USD or major convertible currency) or by card at the designated payment counter before immigration
  • Proof of accommodation (hotel booking) may be requested
  • Biometrics: fingerprints and photo captured at the immigration counter on arrival
  • Travel health insurance covering trekking/high-altitude activities is strongly recommended if visiting mountain regions

Visa types

  • Tourist Visa on Arrival - 15 days: multiple entry, fee approximately USD 30
  • Tourist Visa on Arrival - 30 days: multiple entry, fee approximately USD 50
  • Tourist Visa on Arrival - 90 days: multiple entry, fee approximately USD 125
  • Business/Official visas: available but typically require pre-arranged documentation and are less commonly processed purely on arrival

Visa on arrival

  • Ports of entry: Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu) and major land border crossings such as Kakarbhitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj
  • Steps: complete the arrival form (paper or pre-filled online via the immigration department's e-visa/arrival portal), pay the visa fee at the bank counter, then proceed to the immigration desk for stamping and biometrics
  • Fee: accepted in USD cash (exact denominations recommended) or increasingly by card at major entry points; GBP, EUR and a few other major currencies are also accepted at some counters
  • Processing time: typically 10-20 minutes per traveler, though queues can extend this significantly during peak tourist season (October-November and March-April)
  • Queue tips: pre-filling the arrival form online beforehand and having exact cash ready speeds up processing considerably

Fees & processing time

  • Visa fee: USD 30 (15 days), USD 50 (30 days), or USD 125 (90 days), all multiple-entry
  • No separate VFS/BLS service fee - payment is made directly to Nepali immigration/bank counters at the port of entry
  • Total cost estimate: USD 30-125 depending on chosen duration
  • Processing time: minutes at the counter under normal conditions, longer during peak season congestion
  • No expedited/priority lane is officially offered, though online pre-registration reduces paperwork time on arrival

Tips for South Africa travelers

  • Pre-fill the online arrival form via the Department of Immigration's website before your flight to significantly cut down processing time at Tribhuvan Airport
  • Carry exact USD cash in small denominations, as change is not always readily available at the payment counters
  • A common issue for travelers generally is arriving without a passport photo and no working photo booth at a smaller land border - bring a spare printed photo as backup
  • If trekking in restricted or conservation areas (such as Annapurna or Everest regions), budget separately for TIMS cards and conservation permits, which are not part of the entry visa
  • Extensions of your visa-on-arrival stay, or conversions to a longer multiple-entry visa, can be arranged at the Department of Immigration office in Kathmandu before your current permit expires

Official links & resources

Always confirm requirements with government or embassy sources before applying.

This guide is for information only. Visa policies change without notice. Travel Visa Stack is not an immigration authority. Always verify with official government or embassy sources before making travel plans.