Maldivian citizens visiting Nepal — Free SAARC visa (30 days)
Maldivian citizens are SAARC nationals — they receive a FREE 30-day Tourist visa once per visa year (Jan–Dec) at TIA Kathmandu or any Nepali Embassy abroad. Additional or longer stays in the same year are charged at standard Tourist fees ($30 / $50 / $125).
Updated · May 16, 2026
Maldives → Nepal
Free SAARC visa (30 days)Free 30 days under SAARC, once per visa year (Jan–Dec).
- SAARC citizens (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka — Afghanistan excluded) are entitled to a FREE 30-day Tourist visa, once per visa year (Jan–Dec). This is a one-time gratis grant per calendar year — additional or longer stays in the same year are charged at standard Tourist fees ($30 / $50 / $125).
- The gratis grant is issued at TIA arrival or at any Nepali Embassy abroad with the standard SAARC documents (passport + return ticket).
- SAARC nationals can also use the standard paid 90-day Tourist VoA if they want a longer first stay or to keep the gratis allowance for later in the year.
Eligible Nepal visa types
tourist
Tourist Visa
Sightseeing, tour, travel, mountaineering, trekking, visiting friends and family.
Fee: $30 / $50 / $125
Stay: 15, 30, or 90 days per visa. Max 150 days total stay per visa year (Jan–Dec).
visa-on-arrival
Visa on Arrival (Tourist)
The standard arrival path for ~165 nationalities — fill the online form (or use airport kiosk), pay at the bank counter, get the sticker.
Fee: $30 / $50 / $125
Stay: 15 / 30 / 90 days; multi-entry; extendable up to 150 days/year.
business
Business Visa
Investors and businesspeople investing in or operating a business in Nepal.
Fee: $20–35/mo · $200–400/yr · $500–1000 / 5-yr · free for ≥NPR 1B invest
Stay: Up to 5 years per grant.
working-non-tourist
Non-Tourist Visa — Working
Foreign nationals working with GoN-affiliated, donor-funded, or any other organisation in Nepal.
Fee: $30–75/mo + re-entry add-on
Stay: Aligned with the work permit / contract duration; max 1 year per renewal at DoI.
study-non-tourist
Non-Tourist Visa — Study
Foreign nationals studying in Nepali educational institutions (university, language school, research fellowship).
Fee: school-tier-based
Stay: Aligned with academic enrolment; renewable annually.
residential
Residential Visa
Foreigners with international reputation, capable of outstanding contributions to Nepal's economic / social / cultural growth, OR with a $100k+ industrial investment, OR who wish to spend their life in Nepal without doing business.
Fee: $1,200/year
Stay: 1 year, renewable indefinitely.
marriage-relation
Marriage / Relation Visa
Foreigners with direct blood relation to a Nepali, OR foreign relatives of foreigners married to a Nepali citizen.
Fee: $10–25/mo + re-entry
Stay: Per-month renewable.
transit
Transit Visa
Foreign nationals transiting through Nepal en route to a third country, max 24 hours.
Fee: $5
Stay: Maximum 24 hours.
diplomatic
Diplomatic Visa
Holders of diplomatic passports recommended by their concerned diplomatic mission, plus family members.
Fee: Free
Stay: 30-day entry visa; extendable per diplomatic posting.
official
Official Visa
Holders of official passports on official visit to Nepal, plus family members.
Fee: Free
Stay: 30-day entry; extendable per assignment.
Where to apply (nearest Nepali mission)
Embassy of Nepal — Colombo
Application — step by step
- 1
Pre-fill arrival form
Fill the online arrival form at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/visa/online — receipt is valid 15 days; print and bring the barcode.
- 2
Arrive at TIA / land border
Bring your passport, the printed receipt, one photo, and cash USD for the fee. Use the airport kiosk if you skipped the online form.
- 3
Pay at the bank counter
Pay $30 / $50 / $125 at the bank counter inside the immigration hall. Cards accepted at TIA; some land borders are cash-only.
- 4
Hand in to immigration officer
Present passport + bank receipt + arrival form to the Immigration Officer for the visa sticker.
Need help? Yatra For Fun handles your Nepal arrival logistics
From hotel and apartment bookings to airport pickup, sightseeing tours, and trekking permits — we issue a single NPR invoice and a Kathmandu concierge stays on call throughout your visit.
Frequently asked questions
Everything Maldivian travellers ask before applying for a Nepal visa — fees, on-arrival eligibility, documents, extension rules.
Do Maldivian citizens need a visa for Nepal?
Maldivian citizens are SAARC nationals — they receive a FREE 30-day Tourist visa once per visa year (Jan–Dec) at TIA Kathmandu or any Nepali Embassy abroad. Additional or longer stays in the same year are charged at standard Tourist fees ($30 / $50 / $125).
How much is the Nepal visa fee for Maldivian citizens?
Maldivian citizens get the first 30-day Tourist visa FREE under SAARC rules, once per visa year. Beyond that, fees are $30 (15 days), $50 (30 days), $125 (90 days), all multi-entry.
Where do Maldivian citizens apply for a Nepal visa?
Pre-fill the online arrival form at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/visa/online (saves queue time at TIA), then pay the visa fee at the bank counter on arrival at TIA Kathmandu or any of the 7 land borders. Alternatively, lodge in advance at any Nepali Embassy abroad — for Maldivian applicants, that is Embassy of Nepal — Colombo.
What documents do Maldivian citizens need for Nepal visa?
Valid passport (6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages), one passport-size photo, confirmed return / onward ticket, proof of funds (rule of thumb: USD 50–100 per day of stay), and the printed online arrival form receipt with barcode.
Can Maldivian citizens extend their Nepal Tourist Visa?
Yes — at Department of Immigration (Kathmandu Kalikasthan) and Immigration Office Pokhara. Rate: $3 per day with a 15-day minimum, plus $25 surcharge to renew multi-entry. Late fine $5 per day past expiry. Maximum total stay 150 days per visa year (Jan–Dec).
Can Maldivian citizens get a Nepal Business or Working visa?
Yes — but only via the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (not at airport). Business Visa: $20–35 per month based on investment tier (free for investments ≥ NPR 1 billion). Working Visa: $30–75 per month, requires a work permit from Department of Labour and a recommendation letter from the line ministry. Apply at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/.
Sources
- · https://www.immigration.gov.np/en/post/visa-fee-and-documents-1 — Department of Immigration: full Visa Fee and Documents table (13 categories, official fees in USD)
- · https://www.immigration.gov.np/en/page/visa-on-arrival — Department of Immigration: Visa on Arrival page (restricted-12 list, gratis rules, fee table)
- · https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/visa/online — Nepaliport: arrival kiosk pre-fill form (15-day cache)
- · https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/onlinevisa-mission/application — Nepaliport: pre-arrival visa via Nepali Embassy abroad
- · https://mofa.gov.np/pages/diplomatic-missions-25/ — Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of all 43 Nepali Embassies, Permanent Missions, and Consulates General
- · Immigration Act 2049 (1992) + Immigration Regulations 2051 (1994) — governing legislation