New Protocol for Foreigners to Travel Nepal

The Government of Nepal has now loosened its grip over entry formalities for foreigners arriving in Nepal by air. After the wearisome formalities imposed in the previous COVID-19 protocol, the Government authorities received much criticism driving tourist flow and the entire tourism at stake. However, the new and the revised protocol "Protocol for the management of Incoming Tourists, 2077" has relaxed entry formalities. 

The new directive specifies that the tourist must submit the documents required for visas on-arrival and at the check-in counter along with the PCR negative report taken not earlier than 72 hours or a fully vaccinated certificate, travel itinerary approved by the NTB, or DoT, proof of hotel booking.

Foreigners arriving by air are not under pressure to stay in hotel quarantine for five days as long as they have a PCR negative report before they board their flight and again test negative on arrival in Kathmandu. Nevertheless, one has to stay in a hotel adopting safety protocols until the test results arrive. In case the report is positive, the tourist must continue to stay in hotel quarantine until the report reads negative.

Any agency involved in the tour must get insurance related to COVID-19 of Rs. One Lakh on the behalf of Nepalese helpers and members going with the tourists. Similarly, the Government also seeks $5000 travel insurance with the permit to travel to Nepal. 

However, for Indian citizens arriving in Nepal through air route, all the provision remains as per the 'Nepal-India Travel Bubble Agreement.' In the case of Indian tourists from land, routes will have to produce documents PCR negative report taken not earlier than 72 hours or a fully vaccinated certificate at the immigration point along with a barcode generated after the online application of International Travel Arrival Form via CCMC.