Nepal relocation guide 2026

01The country in 30 seconds

Nepal means the Himalayas, trekking, temples and very cheap living. Kathmandu is a noisy capital with good cafes and everything you need for daily life. Pokhara is a calm lake town with views of the Annapurna range, and the most popular treks start there.

Russians need a visa, but it's easy to get: on arrival at Kathmandu airport or online. On a tourist visa you can spend at most 150 days in Nepal per calendar year (January to December).

There is no digital nomad visa. If you want to stay longer than 150 days, the real options are a study visa (a real course, for example Nepali language or Buddhist studies), a business visa based on investment, or a "residential" retirement visa for people aged 60+.

• Visa on arrival: 15 days — $30, 30 days — $50, 90 days — $125
• Extension in Nepal — $3 per day, but no more than 150 days per year in total
• No nomad visa; remote work on a tourist visa is a grey zone
• No direct flights from Russia — fly via Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Istanbul or China
• Budget — about $700-1,300 per month for one person

Facts checked in November 2026. Nepal's visa rules and fees change, so check the immigration website before you go.

02Who it's for

Nepal is a good fit if:

• You want very cheap living and don't need Thailand-level services
• You love mountains: treks to Annapurna, Everest and Langtang are the main reason to come
• 3-5 months a year is enough for you: winter, or autumn plus spring, and another country for the rest
• You like Buddhist and Hindu culture, meditation, yoga and retreats
• You work remotely for foreign clients or an employer and are fine with simple living

What to see in Nepal:

• Kathmandu Valley: Boudhanath stupa, Swayambhunath, the old royal squares of Patan and Bhaktapur
• Pokhara: Phewa Lake, paragliding, sunrise views of Annapurna and Machapuchare
• Treks: Annapurna, Everest Base Camp, Langtang, Manaslu, and restricted areas like Upper Mustang
• Chitwan National Park: rhinos, elephants and jungle in the south
• Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha
• Rafting on mountain rivers and paragliding in Pokhara

Nearby:

• India — Russians can get an e-visa; the easiest way is a short flight to Delhi or Varanasi, and if you go overland, check in advance whether that border crossing accepts the e-visa
• Tibet — only on an organised tour with a special permit, even though Russians can currently enter mainland China visa-free
• Bhutan — beautiful but expensive: there is a mandatory daily fee for tourists
• Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Maldives — a few hours by plane, good for a holiday or a visa run

Not for you if:

• You need legal remote-worker status for a year or more without study or a business
• You need good healthcare nearby and clean air all year
• You plan to rely on a Russian bank card
• You don't like chaos, dust and traffic — that's Kathmandu

03Entry & visa

There is no visa-free entry for Russians, but you don't need an embassy either. Everyone can get a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu (Tribhuvan) airport and at land entry points. Russia is not on the list of countries that can't get a visa on arrival.

Fees (official immigration figures, November 2026):

• 15 days — $30
• 30 days — $50
• 90 days — $125

The visa allows multiple entries within its validity. Days are counted from your entry date.

How it works:

1. Before the trip, fill in the online form on the immigration website (or use the kiosks at the airport). The barcode receipt is valid for 15 days — print it.
2. At the airport, pay the fee at the bank counter.
3. Take the form, the receipt and your passport to the immigration desk.

There is also a fully electronic visa (ETA) paid online by card. But Russian cards don't work abroad, so it's more realistic to get the visa on arrival and pay cash.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the date of travel.

Extensions. You can extend a tourist visa at immigration in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan) and in Pokhara, or apply online. It costs $3 per day, minimum 15 days ($45). Multiple re-entry on an extended visa costs $25 extra. But the total on a tourist visa is 150 days per visa year, and Nepal's visa year is the calendar year from 1 January to 31 December.

If you carry more than $5,000 in cash (or more than $10,000 including traveller's cheques), you must declare it on arrival. Keep the stamped declaration: exchange counters at the airport may ask for it when you leave.

Trekking needs separate permits — see the safety section.

04Residency & legalization

Nepal has no digital nomad visa. It's not in the immigration department's official visa list as of November 2026, and the only way to work in Nepal officially is a working visa for a local employer. If you see a "Nepal digital nomad visa" in blogs — it's not in the official documents.

Here are the real ways to live in Nepal long term, from simple to hard.

1. Tourist visa — up to 150 days a year. This is the main option for a remote worker. The cheapest way: enter on a 90-day visa ($125), then extend for 60 more days ($180). That's about $305 for 150 days.

The limit counts per calendar year. Formally, this means you can spend the autumn until 31 December and start a new limit in January. But immigration may ask questions, and a long continuous stay makes you a tax resident (see the tax section). Don't build a multi-year plan on this.

2. Study visa — if you really study. It's for students of academic and non-academic programs, for example Nepali language or Buddhist studies courses. You need a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education, the original admission receipt and a bank statement for the last week. It's issued for up to one year and renewed with a progress report.

The fee differs between two pages of the immigration website: $20-30 per month for an academic program and $50-75 per month for a non-academic one. Plus a re-entry fee if you want to leave and come back: $20 single, $60 multiple. Check the exact amount locally.

3. Business visa. For people who set up a company with foreign investment. You need investment approval from the Department of Industry, company registration, PAN/VAT and a tax clearance. The visa is issued for one month to one year, or for 5 years at once, always with multiple re-entry. The fee depends on the investment amount — the immigration website has two different tables, roughly $100 to $400 per year or up to $1,000 for 5 years.

4. "Residential" visa for retirees. It's for people who want to simply live in Nepal without a business. Requirements: age 60+ or retired status, $20,000 in a bank account, proven income of at least $20,000 per year (certified by your embassy), a police certificate, a no-objection letter from your embassy and a health certificate from the university hospital in Kathmandu. The fee is $700 for the first year and $1,200 for renewal (another table on the same website just says $1,200 per year). This doesn't work for remote workers aged 25-30.

There is also a residential visa for investors with $100,000+ in an industrial company, visas for spouses of Nepali citizens and working visas — but those are not about remote work.

Can Russians get these? There are no special restrictions for Russian citizens: visa on arrival works like for everyone, and other visas follow the same rules. The real problem is proving income and showing a bank account if your money is in sanctioned banks.

What does it give for travel? Nothing special. A Nepali visa is not an EU residence permit or a regional "passport". The useful part is that the tourist visa allows multiple entries: within its validity you can fly to India or Thailand and come back. Neighbouring countries for Russians — India (e-visa), China (temporary visa-free regime; Tibet only with a permit), Sri Lanka (electronic ETA), Thailand (visa-free) — each has its own rules, check them separately.

05Work & taxes

By law, you can work in Nepal only with a working visa. It's issued for a local employer, with a labour permit and a ministry recommendation. There is no such visa for freelancing or remote work for a foreign company.

Remote work for clients abroad on a tourist visa is not directly covered by the law. It's a grey zone: we didn't find checks targeting remote workers, but you can't call it a legal status either. In September 2026 immigration officially reminded all foreigners: only do what your visa was issued for.

Taxes. Under Nepal's Income Tax Act 2002, you are a tax resident if:

• Your normal place of living is in Nepal, or
• You spend 183 days or more in Nepal in any 365 consecutive days

A resident pays tax on worldwide income. A non-resident pays only on income from Nepali sources.

On a single tourist visa (up to 150 days per calendar year) you usually stay under 183 days. But if you spend, for example, September to December and then January to April in the country, "any 365 consecutive days" can already go over 183 days.

One more detail: work you physically do in Nepal could formally count as Nepal-source income, even if a foreign company pays you. There are no special rules for remote workers, and we found no cases of tax being demanded from tourist freelancers — but that's not a guarantee.

We didn't find a double tax treaty between Russia and Nepal. If you plan to live here for more than half a year, talk to a local tax advisor.

06Banks, cards & money

Mir cards don't work in Nepal. Visa and Mastercard from Russian banks don't work either — like everywhere abroad after sanctions. UnionPay from Russian banks is a lottery: sometimes it works, often it doesn't, so don't count on it.

The main way to live here is cash in US dollars or euros. You can exchange it at banks and licensed money changers — there are many in Thamel (Kathmandu) and Lakeside (Pokhara). The rate is about 150 Nepali rupees per US dollar (Nepal Rastra Bank, November 2026). The Indian rupee is pegged: 100 Indian rupees = 160 Nepali rupees.

If you have a card from a foreign bank, you can use ATMs. But ATMs charge a fee for foreign cards, and the limit per withdrawal is small — withdraw less often and take more each time.

Local wallets (eSewa, Khalti) and QR payments are everywhere, but they need a Nepali bank account and local documents.

Opening a Nepali bank account on a tourist visa is almost impossible based on expat experience: banks usually ask for a non-tourist visa (study, work, business) and a local address. We didn't find clear official rules for foreigners — ask the specific bank.

07Renting a place

Housing in Nepal is cheap. According to Numbeo (November 2026), a one-bedroom apartment in central Kathmandu is about 36,000 rupees per month (≈$240), and outside the centre about 16,500 rupees (≈$110). Those are local prices. Furnished places "for foreigners" in popular areas cost more — plan for $200-450 per month.

Where to live in Kathmandu:

• Thamel — the tourist centre: guesthouses, cafes, bars. Convenient for the first weeks, but noisy
• Jhamsikhel and Sanepa (Lalitpur/Patan) — quiet areas where expats live, with good cafes and restaurants
• Lazimpat and Boudha — calmer; Boudha is next to the big stupa and monasteries

In Pokhara, almost all remote workers live in Lakeside by the lake — guesthouses with monthly discounts, cafes and mountain views.

The usual plan: stay 1-2 weeks in a guesthouse or hotel, then find a place for a month or longer on the spot. Guesthouses give big discounts for a full month — negotiate.

Don't send money for housing in advance to strangers from social media — see the place in person first.

08SIM card & internet

The two main mobile operators are Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell. A tourist can get a SIM card with a passport and visa — the easiest places are the airport or an official store in town.

Mobile data is very cheap: according to Numbeo, a monthly plan with calls and 10+ GB costs about 550 rupees (≈$4). 4G is fine in Kathmandu and Pokhara. In the mountains there is signal on popular treks, but it's weaker and sometimes disappears completely.

Home fiber is normal in the cities. Unlimited 60+ Mbps costs about 1,400 rupees per month (≈$9). The best-known providers are WorldLink and Vianet. Speeds are usually fine for video calls.

09Healthcare & insurance

Good healthcare in Nepal exists only in the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. Outside them, hospitals are mostly weak, and in the mountains a doctor can be days away.

In Kathmandu, foreigners usually go to private travel clinics and large private hospitals. They are expensive by local standards. For anything serious, people are often evacuated to Delhi or Bangkok.

Main health risks:

• Altitude sickness on treks above 3,000 m — go up slowly
• Dirty air in the Kathmandu Valley, especially in winter and spring
• Stomach infections — don't drink tap water
• Dengue — especially in the rainy season

Insurance is a must. Check that it covers trekking at the altitude you need and helicopter evacuation. The UK Foreign Office estimates a helicopter at £1,000-2,000+ per flying hour.

10Transport

Getting there. There are no direct flights from Russia to Nepal. Almost everyone flies to Kathmandu (Tribhuvan airport) with a connection:

• Dubai (flydubai), Sharjah and Abu Dhabi (Air Arabia), Doha (Qatar Airways) — the most common options
• Istanbul (Turkish Airlines)
• China: Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming (Chinese airlines)
• Delhi — via India; if you fly on separate tickets, you'll need an Indian visa

In town. In Kathmandu and Pokhara you can use the Pathao and inDrive apps — motorbike taxis and cars, cheaper than regular taxis. In a regular taxi, agree on the price before the ride. City buses and minibuses are very cheap, but crowded and confusing.

Between cities. Kathmandu to Pokhara: a tourist bus takes 6-8 hours on a mountain road, or a flight takes about 25 minutes. In the rainy season (June-September) landslides can block the road.

To drive a scooter or car, you need an international driving permit (1968 convention) together with your Russian licence. Traffic drives on the left and is chaotic.

11Safety & important laws

Serious crime against foreigners is rare. The main risks are roads, mountains and political protests.

Politics. In September 2025, mass youth protests ("Gen Z") led to the government's resignation and the dissolution of parliament, and people were killed. Early elections took place on 5 March 2026, and a new government was formed. Things are calmer now, but strikes and demonstrations are common in Nepal and can start suddenly. Stay away from them and follow the news.

Petty crime. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching happen at the airport, on buses and in tourist areas like Thamel. Don't walk alone on dark streets at night. Don't leave your drink unattended. Fake alcohol with methanol is a real risk — buy known brands in proper places.

Trekking. Popular treks need permits. Foreigners can't enter national parks and conservation areas without a local guide or porter. Restricted areas (Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Manaslu and others) need a special permit, only through an agency.

Be careful with very cheap treks: the UK Foreign Office reports guides who take groups up too fast in order to profit from a helicopter evacuation later.

Nature. Earthquakes are common in Nepal. During the monsoon (June-September) there are landslides and floods, and roads can be closed for days.

Drugs, including cannabis, are illegal in Nepal. The Russian Embassy in Nepal is in Kathmandu — save its contacts in advance.

12How much money you need per month

totalAbout $700-1,300 per month for one person, not counting flights and big treks

13Step-by-step moving plan

1. Check your passport — it must be valid for at least 6 months on the date of travel.
2. Decide how long you want to stay: up to 150 days a year means a tourist visa; longer means study, business or a retirement visa.
3. Buy a through ticket via Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Istanbul or China.
4. Bring US dollars in new notes — for the visa ($125 for 90 days) and for your first weeks.
5. Get insurance that covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation.
6. Within 15 days before arrival, fill in the online form on the immigration website and print the receipt.
7. At the airport, pay the fee, go through immigration and buy an NTC or Ncell SIM.
8. Stay 1-2 weeks in a guesthouse in Thamel, Patan or Lakeside in Pokhara, then look for a monthly place.
9. Extend your visa online or at immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara before it runs out — remember the 150-day limit per calendar year.
10. If you want to stay longer, find a real course in advance and apply for a study visa yourself, directly at immigration, without intermediaries.

14Useful links

• Nepal Immigration — visa types, fees and documents
• Nepal Immigration — details on tourist, study, business and residential visas
• Nepal Immigration — eVisa (ETA) and extensions
• Nepali Port — online portal for visa applications and extensions
• Nepal Income Tax Act in English
• Nepal Rastra Bank — exchange rates
• Numbeo — cost of living in Kathmandu
• GOV.UK — Nepal safety and security

15Other countries

Every guide follows the same structure, so they're easy to compare. Comparison table: all countries.

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