KATHMANDU, Sept 23: Nepal has resumed on-arrival visa services for foreign nationals visiting the country.
According to the New Order issued by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for the management of people traveling to Nepal, those willing to visit Nepal can apply for on-arrival visa from any of the entry points. The new decision comes in the wake of Nepal reporting a sharp decline in the new cases of COVID-19 in the past few weeks.
The new arrangement introduced by the government has scrapped the mandatory requirement to stay in quarantine facilities for 14 days in case of those who have received both the doses of COVID-19 vaccines at least 14 days before their arrival in Nepal and have a PCR negative test report taken 72 hours before their departure to Nepal.
All foreign nationals arriving in Nepal, however, will have to undergo antigen tests at the entry point. If they test negative for the virus, they can directly go to their destinations without having to stay in mandatory quarantine. But those testing positive in the antigen tests are required to stay in a hotel until they test negative for the virus.
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Additionally, the foreign nationals arriving in Nepal for mountaineering and trekking purposes need to furnish evidence that they have received a permit from relevant government authorities in Nepal and have booked a hotel in Nepal for their stay.
If the antigen test facility is not available at the border points, the visiting foreign nationals need to undergo such tests at their respective hotels. They are allowed to venture outside only after they have a negative PCR test report.
In case of Nepali nationals returning home and non-resident Nepalis, they can directly go to their homes if they have received both the doses of COVID-19 vaccines. All Nepali nationals and non-resident Nepalis returning to Nepal must produce a PCR negative test of COVID-19 taken 72 hours before their departure.
According to the government order, Indian nationals who test negative for the virus can enter Nepal even if they have not received COVID-19 vaccines. They must furnish PRC negative reports of the COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours before their arrival at Nepal's border. They also need to fill up an online form available at the Central COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) and produce a hard copy of the form upon their arrival at the border point.
In case of minors below five years of age, the new government order has not made it mandatory to have vaccines or undergo any kinds of COVID-19 tests. However, children between five to 18 years of age require undergoing COVID-19 tests, although COVID-19 vaccines are not mandatory for them.
In case of Nepali nationals traveling abroad, they should provide COVID-19 negative test reports taken within 48 hours before their departure or the report as required by their destination country.
Here is the full text of the government's order:
