Nepal Trekking Permits: The Complete Guide

Every foreign trekker in Nepal needs at least one permit, and on the most popular routes, you'll need two or three. At the core, almost all trekkers require a TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System) plus an entry permit for the national park or conservation area their route passes through. Routes in restricted zones, places like Upper Mustang, Manaslu, or Nar Phu, require an additional Restricted Area Permit from the Department of Immigration. Understanding Nepal trekking permits before you arrive can save time, prevent costly mistakes, and help you choose the correct documents for your route. Costs start around NPR 1,000 for a TIMS card and go up to USD 50 per day for the most exclusive zones. This guide covers every permit type, what each one costs, exactly where to get them, and what to bring when you apply, so you can walk into the permit office prepared, not panicked. 

What Are Nepal Trekking Permits and Why Do They Exist?

Nepal’s permit system can feel like a lot of paperwork when you’re still in the planning stage. But understanding why these permits exist makes the whole thing easier to accept and easier to navigate. The fees collected at national parks and conservation areas fund trail maintenance, waste management programs, and conservation projects in some of the most ecologically sensitive terrain on the planet. The TIMS card doubles as a safety system as it registers your planned route and expected return date. This means that if you go missing, search and rescue teams have a starting point. That’s not a formality; it’s saved lives. From a practical standpoint, checkposts are stationed at every major trail entry and several points along the route. Officials will ask to see your permits. On busy routes like the Everest and Annapurna corridors, this happens multiple times. On less-trafficked routes, rangers tend to be even more thorough. Showing up without the right documents means being turned back or fined. Of course, neither is a good start to a trek.

Quick Overview: Nepal  Trekking Permit Fees at a Glance

Use this table as a reference before diving into the details below. All fees are for international (non-SAARC) trekkers. SAARC nationals pay reduced rates on most permits. The cost of Nepal trekking permits varies depending on the region, permit type, and whether your trek passes through a restricted area.

Permit	Region / Route	Cost (Foreigners)	Issued by
TIMS Card (Individuals)	Most standard trekking routes	NPR 2,000 (~USD 15)	NTB /  TAAN offices
TIMS Card (Group)	Same routes, via registered agency	NPR 1,000 (~USD 7.50)	NTB /  TAAN offices
Sagarmatha NP Permit	Everest / Khumbu region	NPR 3,000 (~USD 22)	NTB / Monjo checkpoint
ACAP Permit	Annapurna region	NPR 3,000 (~USD 22)	ACAP / NTB offices
Langtang NP Permit	Langtang region	NPR 3,000 (~USD 22)	NTB / Syabrubesi checkpoint
Khumbu Municipality Permit	Khumbu (replaces/supplements TIMS)	NPR 2,000-3,000	Local municipality
Manaslu RAP	Manaslu Circuit	USD 70-100/week (seasonal)	Dept. of immigration
Upper Mustang RAP	Upper Mustang	USD 50/day	Dept. of immigration
Tsum Valley RAP	Tsum Valley	USD 35-70/week	Dept. of immigration
Nar Phu RAP	Nar Phu Valley	USD 75-100/week	Dept. of immigration
Upper Dolpo RAP	Upper Dolpo	USD 500/10 days	Dept. of immigration
Lower Dolpo RAP	Lower Dolpo	USD 20/week	Dept. of immigration
Humla / Limi RAP	Humla region	USD 50-90/week	Dept. of immigration
Kanchenjunga RAP	Kanchenjunga area	USD 20/week	Dept. of immigration

Note: The Fees are set by the Government of Nepal and are subject to revision. Always verify current rates with the issuing authority or your trekking agency before departure.

The TIMS Card: Your Baseline Trekking Document

The TIMS card is the starting point for many Nepal trekking permits and remains one of the most common documents required on standard trekking routes. It’s not just an administrative formality; it's a live record that lets authorities know who is on which trail, on which route, and when they’re expected back. There are two versions, and which one applies to you depends on how you’re trekking:

Individual TIMS (Green Card)

For trekkers who are not part of a registered agency group and those who have arranged their own guides, independent porters, or are doing a self-guided route.  Cost: NPR 2,000 per person (approx. USD 15).

Group TIMS (Blue Card)

For trekkers who booked through a registered trekking agency. Because the agency takes on the responsibility for the group’s safety and documentation, the fee is lower.  Cost: NPR 1,000 per person (approximately USD 7.50). If you’re trekking with Nepal Outdoor Expeditions, we will apply for your Group TIMS card on your behalf as part of your pre-trek logistics. You won’t need to queue at an office.

Where to Get a TIMS Card

• Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) - Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu
• TAAN Office (Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal) - Maligaon, Kathmandu
• TAAN Office - Lakeside, Pokhara

Offices are generally open Sunday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. They are closed on Nepali public holidays, which are more frequent than most international visitors expect, so don’t leave this to the last working day before your trek. What to bring when you apply:

• Original passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure from Nepal)
• 2-4 passport-size photographs
• Valid Nepal visa
• Your planned trekking itinerary (route and duration)
• Cash in NPR - card payments are not always accepted

Applications through agencies are typically processed the same day.

When You Don’t Need a TIMS Card

Trekkers heading into restricted areas like Upper Mustang, Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Nar Phu,  Humla, Dolpo, Kanchenjunga, and other regulated zones do not need a TIMS card. The Restricted Area Permit (RAP) covers that registration function. Additionally, in areas like the Khumbu and parts of the Annapurna region, local municipality entry permits now replace or supplement the TIMS card.

Sagarmatha National Park for the Everest Region

Sagarmatha covers the entire Khumbu. Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes, the Three Passes, Cho La, if your route is in this region, it's inside the park. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which partly explains the entry fee. Cost: NPR 3,000 per person (approximately USD 22-25) for international trekkers. SAARC nationals pay considerably less. Children under 10 are generally free.   Pick this up at the NTB office in Kathmandu before you fly to Lukla; it is faster, and you won't be scrambling at the Monjo checkpoint on your first trekking day. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality additionally collects a separate neighborhood entry charge of around NPR 2,000 at checkposts in the Khumbu. This is on top of the national park.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

The ACAP covers more terrain than most trekkers realize; the whole Annapurna Circuit, the Base Camp trek, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, and the technical routes to Nar Phu Valley all fall inside it. It's controlled by means of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), not at once by way of the authorities, which is why the price structure and office places vary barely from the national parks. Cost: NPR 3,000 per person for international trekkers. Where to get it:

• ACAP office in Jawalakhel, Kathmandu
• Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu
• ACAP office in Lakeside, Pokhara

If your course has both an ACAP phase and a restricted sector (Nar Phu, as an example), you may need both the ACAP Permit and the Restricted Area Permit. These are separate files from separate offices.

Langtang National Park

Langtang doesn't get the same attention as Everest or Annapurna; however, it's a serious trekking destination and the closest high-altitude trail to Kathmandu. The Langtang Valley trek, the Gosainkunda circuit, and the Helambu trail all pass through the park. Cost: NPR 3,000 per person for international trekkers. Available at the NTB workplace in Kathmandu, or at the Dhunche and Syabrubesi checkposts on the trail entrance. Unlike a few other permits, getting the Langtang National Park access at the checkpost, in all fairness, is clean; the queues rarely increase the way they can at Monjo.

Restricted Area Permits: The Full Picture

Nepal has 15 special restricted trekking zones. Most of them are located near the Tibetan border. Some are ecologically sensitive. Others are domestic to indigenous groups, wherein uncontrolled tourism has traditionally caused real harm. The permit system for those regions has become independent from the standard permit system and more involved. All Restricted Area Permits are issued with the aid of the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu. You can't get them at any trailhead. You can not apply independently; programs need to go through a registered trekking agency. And you ought to deliver your permit to your person at all checkpoints within the restricted area. Getting caught without one or trekking outside your permitted route can mean a fine or being escorted out of the area. One update worth flagging: as of March 2026, solo trekkers can now obtain restricted area permits. Previously, the rules required a minimum of two foreign trekkers per permit application. That requirement has been dropped. You can now go as a single client, but you still need a licensed guide alongside you at all times. The guide-to-trekker ratio is capped at one guide per seven trekkers maximum. Here's how the main restricted zones break down:

Upper Mustang

Upper Mustang sits north of the main Annapurna massif, tucked towards the Tibetan border. It remained an independent kingdom until 2008, and it still looks like one: the architecture, the monasteries, the landscape. Nothing quite compares to it in Nepal. Permit fee: USD 50 per day, for every day you spend in the restricted area. Most Upper Mustang itineraries run 10-14 days inside the region, so finances for that reason. There's no inexpensive off-peak fee right here; the daily price applies year-round.

You can find full itinerary details and permit logistics on ourUpper Mustang trek page.

Manaslu Circuit

The Manaslu Circuit has built a sturdy following amongst trekkers who need Annapurna-level scenery without the crowds. The crossing of Larkya La at 5,160m is one of the greatest high passes in Nepal. Permit price:

• Peak season (September-November): USD 100 per week
• Off-peak (December-August): USD 70 according to the week

You'll additionally need the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP) at NPR 3,000 on top of the RAP. If the path extends into Tsum Valley, this is a third permit.

Tsum Valley

North of Manaslu, Tsum Valley is one of those places that rewards the effort it takes to get there. The communities right here have maintained a Tibetan Buddhist tradition that's largely disappeared elsewhere within the Himalayas. Very few trekkers make it, and that is a substantial part of its enchantment. Permit cost: USD 35 per week (off-season), USD 70 per week (top season: September-November). Tsum Valley is usually combined with the Manaslu Circuit into a longer loop. Our Manaslu region trekking packages cover how the two routes connect and what the mixed permit process looks like.

Nar Phu Valley

A hidden valley off the primary Annapurna Circuit, sandwiched between the primary path and the Tibetan border. The trek is through ACAP territory, so you want both the ACAP permit and the RAP. Permit cost: USD 75 per week (off-peak), USD one hundred in step with week (peak season). Nar Phu sees only a few visitors even through the restricted area requirements. If you need the Annapurna region revealed without sharing the path, this is where to look.

Dolpo- Upper and Lower

Upper Dolpo is one of the most remote, most highly-priced, and most challenging destinations in Nepal. The permit fee matches the exclusivity.

• Upper Dolpo: USD 500 for the first 10 days, then USD 50 for each additional day.
• Lower Dolpo: USD 20 per week, a completely distinct charge bracket, and a unique character of the trek.

Both require a RAP and a licenced guide. Neither is an informal mission logistically.

Kanchenjunga and Humla

Kanchenjunga, in Nepal's far east near the Indian and Tibetan borders, is growing in popularity among serious trekkers. The permit cost is USD 20 per week, low relative to what you're getting. Humla, in the far northwest and historically used as a route toward the Kailash pilgrimage, sits at USD 50-90 per week, depending on the sub-zone. Both areas see a fraction of the traffic that Everest and Annapurna handle, which is either a drawback or the whole point, depending on what you're after.

Documents You’ll Need for Any Permit Application

File requirements are broadly constant for all permit types. Have them prepared before going into any office, and you will get through the process without delay.

• Passport: original and photocopy; Minimum 6 months' validity past your Nepal departure date
• Valid Nepal Visa: should cover your full trek length
• Passport-length photographs: bring 4 copies; Some offices want 2, some need four
• Trekking itinerary: your route, start date, and how long you will be on the road
• Travel insurance: mandatory for remote locations and high-altitude trekking; Emergency helicopter evacuation coverage is to be included
• Carry cash in NPR, as card payments are not always accepted. 

If you are with a registered agency, the agency submits the application as soon as you provide copies of its documents.

How Nepal Outdoor Expeditions Handles This

Going from one permit office to the next across Kathmandu- different buildings, different document requirements, cash-only counters, offices that close on holidays you didn't know about- takes up a full day even when everything goes smoothly. When something goes wrong, it eats into your trek start date. When you book with Nepal Outdoor Expeditions, the permit process is included in your package. That means the TIMS card, national park or conservation area entry permits, and restricted area permits, where applicable, will all be arranged before you arrive at the trailhead and included in your pre-trek briefing. If you're still in the planning stage and want to know exactly which permits your specific route requires, our Nepal trekking packages page is a good starting point, or reach out directly, and we'll put a permit checklist together for your route before you commit to anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for every trek in Nepal? 

Yes, every recognised trekking route passes through at least one national park, conservation area, or restricted zone. Even short routes, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, and the Shivapuri day hike, require at a minimum a conservation or national park entry permit. The TIMS card applies to most standard routes on top of that.

Can I pick up trekking permits at the trailhead? 

Some, yes. Sagarmatha NP at Monjo and Langtang NP at Syabrubesi both have permit counters at the trail entry checkpost. But the TIMS card cannot be obtained at any trailhead; it has to be sorted in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you leave. And restricted area permits must always come from the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu. Getting everything done in the city first is the safer approach every time.

Can solo trekkers now enter restricted areas in Nepal? 

Yes, as of March 2026, the two-person minimum rule has been dropped. A solo trekker can now obtain a restricted area permit. The guide requirement stays in place regardless; you cannot enter a restricted zone without a licensed guide accompanying you. The guide-to-trekker cap is set at one guide per seven trekkers.

How long does the Nepal trekking permits process take in Kathmandu? 

Standard permits, TIMS card, and national park entries can usually be done in one half-day if you hit the offices in the right order. Restricted area permits from the Department of Immigration take one to two business days in most cases. Factor this into your Kathmandu arrival schedule and don't leave it to the morning you're supposed to head to the trailhead.

Do SAARC nationals pay less for permits? 

Yes, citizens of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Afghanistan pay reduced rates on national park and conservation area permits. Restricted area permit fees are generally the same across nationalities. Children under 10 are exempt from most park entry fees.

Is travel insurance required? 

It's mandatory for restricted area trekking and for most high-altitude routes. Proof of coverage, specifically including emergency helicopter evacuation, is required when applying for restricted area permits. On standard trekking routes, it's not a permit requirement, but above 3,000 m, it would be difficult to argue against carrying it.

What if I lose Nepal trekking permits on the trail? 

Report it immediately to the nearest checkpost or police post. Replacement processes vary by permit type; some require going back to Kathmandu, others can be handled locally. Keep photos of every permit on your phone along with your passport data page. It's a minor habit that saves a significant amount of trouble if something goes wrong. The permit system in Nepal sounds more complicated from the outside than it is when you're in it. Know your route, prepare your documents, and give yourself time in Kathmandu to complete the paperwork before you head to the trailhead. If you'd rather not think about any of it, it's precisely what booking with a trekking agency is for. Our team at Nepal Outdoor Expeditions can prepare a complete permit tick list for your unique path, no dedication required; simply ask.