Nepal

Nepal has no digital nomad visa. The government announced one in 2025, but the Department of Immigration still lists no such category, and the income tests and tax rates circulating online are proposals, not rules. The status page for the planned nomad visa explains what exists today.

Tourist visa: most remote workers come on a tourist visa, issued on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport or by a Nepali mission abroad. On-arrival fees are USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days and USD 125 for 90 days. Extensions are possible up to 150 days in a calendar year in total. SAARC citizens other than Afghans get up to 30 days free on their first visit in a visa year (Department of Immigration).

Residential Visa: open to foreigners who intend to live in Nepal without carrying on any business, are aged 60 or older or retired, and show a bank statement of USD 20,000 and a regular income of at least USD 20,000 a year. The fee is USD 700 to 1,200 a year depending on whether the visa is new or a renewal; the Department of Immigration confirms the current amount, and the visa is renewed each year. Investors in Nepali industrial enterprises have a separate category.

Work: only Working Visa holders may accept a job in Nepal, and that visa needs a recommendation from a government agency.

Nepal is a low-cost base by international standards. Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Pokhara's lakeside area cost the most, and imported goods, Western-style cafés and serviced apartments cost far more than local food and long-term rooms.

No reliable current cost index for Nepal could be checked for this guide, so budgets are described qualitatively. A remote worker renting a furnished apartment, eating mostly local food and paying for coworking part-time will spend much less than in most Asian capitals.

Prices are in Nepali rupees. The rupee traded at about 154 to the US dollar on Oct. 2, 2026 (ExchangeRate-API), and many guesthouses and tour operators also quote in dollars.

Kathmandu: the capital has the most coworking spaces, the main international airport and the largest expat community. It suits remote workers who want services and flights close by, and can accept traffic, dust and noise.

Lalitpur (Patan): just south of Kathmandu across the river, with a calmer old town and residential areas popular with long-stay foreigners.

Pokhara: a lakeside city at the start of many treks, slower and greener than the capital. It suits people who mix work with time outdoors.

Bhaktapur: a historic town in the Kathmandu Valley for a quieter base within reach of the capital.

Speedtest's Global Index for August 2026 puts Nepal's median fixed broadband speed at 88.96 Mbps; Nepal has no mobile ranking on the index (Speedtest Global Index).

Fiber is common in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Pokhara, but connections and power are less steady than in most Asian capitals, so a local SIM with data is a sensible backup for calls. Connectivity drops sharply in the hills and on trekking routes.

Coworking spaces and laptop-friendly cafés cluster in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, with a smaller choice around Lakeside in Pokhara.

Nepal has no tax regime for digital nomads. Reports of a reduced tax rate for remote workers on the planned visa describe a proposal, not law.

Tax residence is set by Nepal's Income Tax Act and applied by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). A tourist visa capped at 150 days a year keeps most visitors well short of a full year, but anyone planning longer or repeated stays should confirm the residence test and the treatment of foreign income with the IRD or a local tax adviser, and keep a record of days spent in the country.

• Arrival: filling in the online tourist visa form before the flight saves time at Tribhuvan International Airport. The fee is paid at a bank counter on arrival, and the Department of Immigration advises carrying some cash (Department of Immigration).
• Phone: Nepal Telecom and Ncell are the main mobile carriers. SIM registration needs a passport.
• Health: private clinics in Kathmandu and Pokhara give the best care for visitors. Insurance should cover medical evacuation, especially for trekking at altitude.
• Trekking: permits and guide rules vary by area. Check them with the Nepal Tourism Board before setting out.
• Seasons: the summer monsoon brings heavy rain and landslides that can close roads, and Kathmandu's air quality is poorest in the dry winter months.