We tested Nepal’s new ETA system from start to finish. Apply online, pay with a card, get approved in ~3 days. Warning: your Nepal electronic travel authorization isn’t emailed, here’s where to find it.
Quietly, Nepal has made a new way,Nepal electronic travel authorization,for visitors to get permission to enter the nation before they ever board a plane. Applicants may fill out their papers online, pay the charge with an overseas bank card, and download an official permission using the new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system without stepping foot in an embassy or consulate. Considering how quiet the launch had been, our team chose to review the complete application start to finish to see if the process truly functions as planned.
A Launch That Came and Passed Silently
We said on August 3 that Nepal’s Department of Immigration projected its updated digital system would debut on August 17, 2026. At the time, an immigration official confirmed, that date was ready for administrative and technological infrastructure as well.
Still, there was no celebration, press statement, or clear instructions on how visitors should negotiate the new system on August 17. Though the understated launch left many unanswered issues, the administration has progressively supplied information on its official platforms. That discrepancy drove us to personally test the process and monitor every stage till a real ETA reached our hands.
The System Is Live, This Is How It’s Organized
The Immigration Department now has a special ETA/eVisa section on its website that shows visitors two options, applying straight online via the government’s own portal or visiting a Nepalese embassy or consulate outside.
Travelers pay online, fill out the form, and upload supporting documents on the Nepali Port portal for direct applications. One quirk worth knowing is that the system limits applications on a daily basis. A notice tells applicants to return the following day once that cap is reached.
In Nepal electronic travel authorization, there are three multiple-entry packages available for travel, 15 days for thirty dollars 30 days for fifty dollars or 90 days for one hundred twenty-five dollars. Whatever package you choose the authorization must be used within six months of issuance and the clock, on the allowed stay only starts once the traveler physically enters Nepal.
Step by Step Guided Application
Step 1: Making the demand. Choosing the ETA choice on Nepali Port starts the procedure. Applicants give personal and passport information, say how long they plan to remain and why, and give a Nepal-based address. Also needed are a recent photo and a passport scan. Passports have to have at least six months left of validity. Once submitted, the status showing Applied appears on the application.
Step 2: Review by the government. Following immigration workers examine the application. Roughly one hour before the status changed to Verified, and extremely quickly the system went right into the payment phase in our test.
Step 3: Payment voucher released. Just two minutes after verification, the status changed once more to Voucher Generated, which released the payment stage. Less than 90 minutes had passed in between turning in the form and being prepared to pay overall.
Paying the charge is the fourth step. This is maybe the most improvement above the previous system. Nepal currently accepts many different payment methods: mobile banking, connect IPS, several regional digital wallets, and, especially for foreign tourists, a special link for paying by foreign credit or debit card. During our test, the connect IPS gateway provided three sub-options: paying from a connect IPS account, scanning a Nepal Pay QR code, or directly using a card (Visa, Master card, Amex, and Union Pay were accepted). In addition to the basic cost, a 3.5% of the transaction or minimum equivalent of $1 surcharge applies. Once payment clears, a downloadable receipt confirms the transaction with a Paid status.
How Long Does Permission Really Take?
Our testing run revealed the following timeline: roughly one hour from submission to verification, an additional two minutes for the payment voucher, same-day payment using an international card, and final approval three days later. This coincides quite nearly with the roughly 72-hour turnaround time the Department of Immigration has publicly stated for the new process. Once authorized, the status updates one last time to Issued.
Of course, each person’s results could differ based on application volume and workload at any one time, thus it is still wise to apply well in advance of your travel date instead of running it close.
Where Do You Really Obtain the Document?
This is one aspect not adequately covered anywhere in the official instructions. Applicants that get approved receive an email with the subject line “Visa Approved”, along with reference numbers like the document and authorization IDs, but no attachment.
Using a function known as Digital Time Card, where selecting Print ETA produces the downloadable document, the real ETA has to be recovered independently. Anyone anticipating the file to just show up through email may be taken aback; thus, it is worthwhile to be aware of how to straight check this section.
Which Information is Included in the ETA?
Upon arrival, the paper is equipped with a verification QR code, application number, passport number and ETA number along with the name of the person requesting the traveler, his nationality, permission type, stay duration, number of stays, office where the application was submitted, and approval date. The paper also mentions the deadline for obtaining permission. It is reiterated that the period of staying in Nepal commences upon arrival.
What Happens at the Border?
Having an ETA does not guarantee that paperwork are completed. When visitors first arrive in Nepal, they must have a physical or digital copy of the ETA with them; biometric data will be taken at the airport. Crucially, the ETA does not ensure admission; the immigration officials at the port of entry still hold the last say. At the moment of arrival, not merely at the time of application, a passport validity of minimum six months is required.
Three Roads to Enter Nepal
Three paths are now open to travelers. The first is submitting an online application directly via the Department of Immigration, paying the fee, and obtaining the ETA prior to departure. The second option is to apply through a Nepalese diplomatic mission abroad, where the applicant chooses their local embassy or consulate on the portal, pays according to that mission’s own procedures, and receives approval once the mission verifies the application (some missions send the document by email directly). The third option, unchanged, still permits visitors from qualified nations to get a visa upon arrival.
The line at the bottom
Our hands-on test verifies that Nepal’s new ETA system is really operational, applications may be submitted, verified, paid for with an international card, and issued totally online prior to departure. Our processing time came rather near the advertised 72-hour window. The one real snag is that the completed ETA does not arrive as an email attachment; instead, travelers must know to search under the Digital Time Card section.
For latest updates contact your country regional embassy in this context!