Nepal and Belarus have signed a visa waiver agreement — but only for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports. For regular tourists, entry rules to Nepal remain unchanged. Here's who the news affects and how to handle payments if you're traveling to Kathmandu on an ordinary passport.
What exactly changed
According to Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and Belarus' Foreign Minister. The document waives visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports. The signing date is September 27, 2026.
For tourist travel, nothing has changed: a regular passport still requires a visa. If you're not a diplomat or a government employee with an official passport, the agreement doesn't apply to you.
Who it covers and what remains for tourists
The agreement applies only to citizens of Nepal and Belarus who hold service, official or diplomatic passports. Tourists from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries still need a visa for Nepal — it can be obtained on arrival at Kathmandu airport or in advance via the official portal nepaliport.immigration.gov.np.
Standard Nepal tourist visas: 15 days — 30 USD, 30 days — 50 USD, 90 days — 125 USD (multiple entry within a year — 160 USD). These amounts and terms are listed on the official immigration portal. Visa extensions are available at the immigration office in Kathmandu.
Documents for a tourist visa
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Completed online form on the portal or at the airport
- Photo (can be taken on site)
- Hotel booking confirmation or address of stay
- Return ticket or onward ticket to a third country
Online application processing usually takes 1–3 business days. Visa on arrival is issued on the spot within 15–30 minutes if counters are available.
The payment side: how to pay the fee and book
Nepal's visa fee is accepted in cash in US dollars or euros, and by card at Kathmandu airport. However, Russian and Belarusian Visa and Mastercard cards don't work there due to sanctions. Travelers from these countries mostly pay in cash, but there's a catch: ATMs in Nepal dispense rupees with a 400–500 NPR fee per transaction, and the airport exchange rate is unfavorable.
An alternative is a virtual card from a foreign bank. With it, you can pay for the visa online via the official portal, book a hotel on Booking or Agoda, and call a taxi via an app. Important: when paying for a hotel, the card often goes through pre-authorization — a deposit amount is frozen (usually 1–2 nights). If the hotel doesn't accept your card, the booking will be canceled. The deposit refund arrives within 5–10 business days after checkout.
eSIM and taxis
For connectivity in Nepal, it's more convenient to buy an eSIM in advance — for example, via Airalo or local operators Ncell and Nepal Telecom. Paying for an eSIM from Russia and Belarus also requires a foreign card. Taxis in Kathmandu are best ordered via the Pathao or InDrive app — payment by card or cash, but the card must be working.
What this means in practice
The news matters for diplomats and civil servants, but not for tourists. If you're planning a trip to Nepal with a regular passport, prepare to apply for a visa and sort out your payment tool in advance: cash dollars plus a working foreign card for bookings and eSIM. Without this, your trip could stall at the hotel payment stage.
Nepal remains a country where cash dollars are a reliable option, but hotel bookings and online services increasingly require a card. Check that it works before you fly.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Exchange rates and fees may change — check official sources.
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