Travellers researching Nepal often encounter instructions for obtaining a tourist visa at the airport. Afghan passport holders should not follow that general route without checking the nationality restriction: Nepal's official guidance lists Afghanistan among the countries that cannot obtain a visa on arrival.
This is a current planning explainer, not an announcement of a newly introduced restriction.
Use the advance application route
The Department of Immigration directs affected travellers to apply in advance through a Nepalese embassy or the online mission route. Its service portal distinguishes a visa from a Nepalese mission from visa-on-arrival services.
An online form that accepts a nationality selection is not, by itself, proof that the traveller qualifies for the airport route. The applicable eligibility rule must be checked before choosing the form.
Overseas residence is a separate fact
If you live in the UAE or another country, provide that information to the Nepalese mission when asking where to apply. Do not assume that residence removes a restriction attached to an Afghan passport. Request confirmation for the actual travel document and circumstances.
Prepare a concise enquiry containing nationality, passport type, lawful country of residence, intended dates and purpose. Avoid sending sensitive identity documents to an unverified person merely to obtain an initial quotation.
Plan the whole journey before paying
After the mission identifies the correct process, obtain its current document checklist and processing guidance. Do not turn a travel agent's estimate into a guaranteed approval date. Choose bookings with cancellation terms you understand while an application is pending.
Check transit requirements for any intermediate country as a separate step. Permission to enter Nepal does not answer whether an airport connection or overnight stop elsewhere requires another visa.
Before departure, compare the issued permission with the passport and itinerary. Keep the approval accessible, confirm the airline's document requirements and resolve discrepancies with the issuing authority. The safest practical sequence is eligibility check, correct application, issued permission and then final travel arrangements.
Official sources
- Nepal Department of Immigration: ETA and visa-on-arrival restrictions
- Tribhuvan International Airport Immigration: nationality FAQ
- Nepal Department of Immigration: online service routes
Sources reviewed on 25 Oct 2026. Requirements can change and depend on your nationality and circumstances. This article is general information, not a personal eligibility assessment.
