fbpx

Updated Nepal entry protocols – Nepal Entry COVID Vaccine Rules

A Taste of Nepal Tour

On May 2nd, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Population of the Government of Nepal updated their protocol for entering Nepal in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are the guidelines for entering Nepal (Updated Nepal Entry Protocol post-COVID)

According to a recent notice from the Ministry of Health & Population, there have been revisions in the COVID Protocol as follows:

  • Vaccination certificates are not required for travelers.
  • PCR test reports are not required for travelers.
  • Travelers showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be screened.
  • Wearing a mask is voluntary.

So, here is how you can easily travel to Nepal now.

—————————————————————————————————————-

Former Nepali Entry Protocols:

Protocol as of 10th March 2022: https://www.immigration.gov.np/post/notice-3

As per recent notice from the Ministry of Health & Population there has been a Revision in the COVID Protocol as per follows:
1. Vaccination Certificate not required for travelers.
2. PCR Test Report not required for travelers.
3. Screening of travelers who show symptoms of COVID 19.
4. Wearing of mask is voluntary.

As per the decision of the Government of Nepal, the following arrangement have been made regarding the passengers entering Nepal by air route or land route.

  1. Passengers entering Nepal from abroad by air or land must submit a certificate of full vaccination against covid-19. Passengers who fail to submit such certificate will have to submit the certificate with negative report of covid-19 test (RTPCR, True NAAT, Gene Expert) within 72 hours of starting the journey.
  2. For the passengers going to other countries by air route from Nepal, the concerned airlines have to inform the passengers about the health protocol related to covid-19 of the destination country. The health related document to be submitted by the passengers departing from Nepal will be as per the health related criteria of the destination country as prescribed by the concerned airlines.
  3. Previously issued departmental notices regarding covid-19 have been revoked.

—————————————————————————————————————-

The following protocol has been issued on 21st January 2022 by the Government of Nepal (Ministry of Culture/Tourism) for managing the arrival of incoming tourist to Nepal.

Travelling to Nepal during COVID 19

As per the decision of Government of Nepal (Council of Ministers) dated 14th January 2022 regarding the travel management order for the passengers arriving and departing from Nepal 2022, the travel advisory for the passengers traveling to and from Nepal has been issued as follows:

Traveler with vaccination – Visa on arrival

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

  • 1.1 For visa-on-arrival:
    Foreigners with complete vaccination and eligible for visa on arrival as per the prevailing immigration rules can apply for the visa at the immigration entry point of Nepal with the following documents in addition to those required for visa:
    a. Evidence of completion of 14 days of vaccination against covid-19,
    b. COVID-19 negative report obtained within 72 hours of the 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 visa from Nepali mission abroad:
    Foreigners with complete vaccination shall submit the documents in 1.1 (a, c and d) while applying for visa at the Nepali mission abroad and are required to submit the documents aforementioned in 1.1 (b and e) at the immigration entry point at Nepal.

Traveler without vaccination – No visa on arrival

2. The visa issuance procedure and the required documents for the foreigner without complete vaccination against covid-19:
Foreigners without vaccination or incomplete vaccination or within 14 days of vaccination shall mandatorily obtain a prior visa from Nepali mission abroad. Such foreigner shall submit the documents aforementioned in 1.1 (c and d) while applying for visa at the Nepali mission abroad, and are required to submit the documents aforementioned in 1.1 (b and c) at the immigration entry point at Nepal.

3. COVID-19 control measures (health, examination, isolation and quarantine management) and code of conduct for the 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 test at the immigration entry point. If tested positive, are subject to mandatory isolation or hospitalization specified by Ministry of Health and Population and mandatory 5 days hotel quarantine if tested negative.
b. In case of unavailability of antigen test as mentioned in 3(a) required antigen test at the hotel. If tested positive, are subject to mandatory isolation or hospitalization specified by Ministry of Health and Population, and mandatory 5 days hotel quarantine if tested negative.
c. Foreigners quarantined as per 3 (a or b) are allowed to engage in their purpose of visit on the sixth day if tested negative.
d. Foreigners with complete vaccination (without antigen test at immigration entry point) are required to antigen test within 24 hours of hotel checkin and are allowed to move out only if tested negative. After that antigen test should be done every 72 hours.
e. Expenses of covid-19 test or isolation cost and other expenses including insurance should be beard by the foreigners themselves.
f. All foreigners in Nepal with symptoms and signs of covid-19 shall go through covid-19 test and are subject to mandatory isolation at the ir own expense.

Special provision for children:

No vaccination or testing is required for the minors below 5 years. Vaccinations are not mandatory for the children between 5-18 years, but are subject to follow the other health protocols as adults.

Provision for departing from Nepal:

Passengers departing from Nepal shall submit the following documents:
a. Covid-19 test reports and prescribed vaccination criteria that meet the health protocol of the destination country and covid-19 negative RT-PCR report from 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.

Nationals who must obtain visa before arrival either fully vaccinated or not

Nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameron, Somalia, Liberia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria and foreigners holding temporary document and emergency passport must obtain visa from the Nepali Mission abroad.

Contact Sharan Sapkota if you have any questions/confusion.

Please click here to read official announcement.


Previous updates…..

The following protocol has been issued on 22nd September 2021 by the Government of Nepal (Ministry of Culture/Tourism) for managing the arrival of incoming tourist to Nepal.

Travelling to Nepal during COVID 19

The following arrangements have been made for the Issuance of Visa in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Traveler with vaccination – Visa on arrival

The Government of Nepal has decided to resume visa on-arrival to those who have taken full dose of vaccination at least 14 days prior to the arrival of Nepal. The followings provisions will be applicable to avail the visa-on-arrival:

a. COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing full does of vaccination with the last does taken at least 14 days prior to arriving in Nepal,

b. COVID-19 test report (RT-PCR, Gene Expert, True NAAT or WHO accredited test) showing negative result done within last 72 hours of boarding from the first airport or, if the traveler is entering through land boarder, taken within 72 hours of entry. This report will not required for the children below 5 years.

c. Copy of the permit, if applicable, for mountaineering, trekking and other activity that will require permission.

d. Confirmation of hotel booked in Nepal,

e. A printed copy of the online form (International Traveler Online Arrival Form) filled by logging in to ccmc.gov.np.

Visitor shall submit above documents in addition to the regular visa related documents:

Traveler without vaccination – No visa on arrival

Foreigners without complete vaccination against COVID-19 must obtain the visa from the Nepalese diplomatic mission abroad are are allowed to enter Nepal only though agencies. Such foreigners should submit the documents aforementioned in (b) (c), (d) & (e) and are subject to 10-day hotel quarantine at their own cost and are permitted to work as per the purpose of their visit only if tested negative on 11th day.

Update on 3rd December 2021

Travelers arriving Nepal from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi and Hong Kong as first port of embarkation or transits or with a travel history of such countries within past three weeks are restricted to enter Nepal from 2nd December 2021 midnight. To read government official notice, click here.

————————————————————————————————————————–

The following protocol has been issued on 29th March 2021 by the Government of Nepal (Ministry of Culture/Tourism) for managing the arrival of incoming tourist to Nepal.

The process for tourists to enter Nepal

  • Tourist visiting Nepal must take visa from Nepal’s Diplomatic Mission in their respective country.
  • In absence of Nepal’s Diplomatic Mission or in case of difficulty in availing visa in the home country, visitors arriving by air can get on arrival visa from the Immigration desk at Tribhuwan International Airport.
  • However, such tourists must have a pre-visa recommendation letter issued by Department of Tourism (DOT) OR Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
  • DOT or NTB shall issue the visa recommendation letter; only after submission of all required documents by the concerned local agency in Nepal.

Tourists coming to Nepal

  • All tourists visiting Nepal must furnish the following documents in the Airline Check- In counter before boarding:
    • PCR negative report of swab taken within 72 hours of boarding OR report of complete vaccination against COVID-19. However, it is advisable for everyone to still get a PCR negative report taken within 72 hrs as the airline or rule of some countries may require the same for outbound travel.
    • Copy of Nepalese Visa or recommendation letter from Department of Tourism (Nepal Tourism Board).
    • Hotel booking confirmation or guarantee of accommodation.
    • Copy of Travel Insurance that covers health, immediate crisis or rescue for the duration of their travel.
    • Barcode generated after the online application of International Travel Arrival Form from https://ccmc.gov.np/arms/person_add_en.php
  • The concerned airlines shall give boarding clearance to the passenger after making sure that the passenger has all the above documents.

After arriving in Nepal

  • All incoming tourists must take a mandatory COVID test upon arrival in Nepal at their own cost in coordination with the respective local agency.
  • The tourist can continue with their itinerary if the report is negative. In case the report is positive, the tourist must continue to stay in hotel quarantine until the report reads negative.

Please contact us for more information.

You may also be interested in...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *