Nepal from India
Nepal trip from India: ID, Indian currency and driving in
Indians need no visa for Nepal, but the ID rules are strict. To fly, carry a valid Indian passport or your original Election Commission Voter ID. Aadhaar and PAN are not accepted. Driving in needs a Nepal Customs pass, for up to 30 days a year.
Sourced 3 Nov 2026. ID rules come from the Embassy of India in Kathmandu (pages read 3 November 2026, no revision date shown), the currency rule from an RBI notification of 28 November 2025, and the vehicle rules from an Embassy notice dated 9 August 2019.
This guide covers entry, money and road rules for any Indian traveler: solo, a couple, friends, a work trip or a family. For the visa line and other countries, see our visa-free finder for Indian passports. For trip ideas and costs, see cheapest international trips from India.
Which ID works for a flight to Nepal
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu lists only two valid travel documents for Indians flying between India and Nepal:
- A valid Indian passport.
- An original Indian Voter ID card with photograph, issued by the Election Commission of India. A downloaded or online print of your Voter ID is not acceptable.
The same page says Aadhaar, PAN card, driving licence and registration with the Indian Embassy are not accepted. The consular services page puts it in capitals: "AADHAAR / PAN CARD ARE NOT VALID FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN INDIA AND NEPAL."
Children and older travelers. News reports from 2019 described exceptions for travelers under 15 and over 65, and a school certificate for ages 15 to 18. The Embassy pages we read on 3 November 2026 list no age exceptions. If your group includes a child or a grandparent without a passport or Voter ID, confirm with your airline or the Embassy before you book.
Lost your ID in Nepal?
The Embassy issues an Emergency Travel ID to Indians in Nepal who have no valid document for the flight home, per its consular services page. It is for one way travel back to India by air and is valid for one week. You need two recent photos, a copy of your flight ticket and, for adults, a copy of your passport or Voter ID. For a minor, bring a birth certificate issued in India or by an Indian Mission (a hospital certificate is not accepted) and a parent's passport or Voter ID. The fee is NRs. 7950.
Flying on from Nepal to a third country
Indians flying from Nepal to any third country need a Third Country No Objection Certificate (TCNOC) from the Embassy, per its advisory. It is issued in person at the Embassy, and the fee is NPR 3290. Bring your original passport and copies, your flight ticket and two photos.
The advisory exempts children below 10, travelers who fly out to a third country within 24 hours of flying into Nepal, and holders of Diplomatic, Official or United Nations passports. A business traveler on a short connection through Kathmandu may fall in the 24 hour case, but read the advisory before you book.
Carrying Indian rupees into Nepal
Under an RBI notification of 28 November 2025, anyone who is not a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh may carry Indian notes of Rs 100 and below between India and Nepal. Notes above Rs 100 are allowed "up to a total limit of ₹25,000" for an individual traveling either way.
Nepal's side is narrower. A Nepal Rastra Bank notice lets Nepali or Indian citizens bring in, take out and exchange Rs 200 and Rs 500 notes issued since 9 November 2016, up to Rs 25,000 per person. It says the older Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, issued before that date, stay banned.
Driving your own car or bike into Nepal
An Embassy notice on Indian registered vehicles, dated 9 August 2019, sets out the rules:
- Get a customs pass. Nepal Customs (Bhansar) issues a pass or challan at the border. Keep it with you: it must be "available for inspection all the time by any authority like Police".
- Pay by the day. For overnight stays or trips beyond the nearest Nepali town, the notice lists NRs. 100 to 500 per day, depending on the type of vehicle.
- Day trips pay no duty. A Day Pass covers a same-day visit to the nearest municipal area or market "without payment of any Customs duty". You must return to India the same day.
- 30 days a year in total. A vehicle "cannot stay in Nepal for more than 30 days in all in a year". For an extension, go to the nearest Nepal Customs office; in Kathmandu that is the Tribhuvan International Airport cargo complex.
The daily rates date from 2019 and the Embassy calls the notice guidance only. Nepal Customs now links an online declaration for temporarily imported vehicles from its website, but we could not open it, so check the current fee at the border. To budget the drive, use our road trip fuel cost calculator.
Hey UlaYour AI travel companion
- You: Kathmandu for a client visit next week. I only have my Aadhaar on me, is that fine?
- Hey Ula: Not for the flight. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu accepts only a valid Indian passport or your original photo Voter ID. Aadhaar and PAN are not valid.
- You: Got my passport. Anything else?
- Hey Ula: No visa needed for Indian nationals. Want me to find flights that fit your meeting?
What we left out
- Airfares, bus fares and hotel rates.
- Entry fees for Pashupatinath and Kathmandu Durbar Square, trekking permits and border opening hours.
- Current vehicle daily rates and the online vehicle declaration, which we could not open.
- Age-based ID exceptions, which appear only in 2019 news reports and an MHA document we could not open.
Sources
- Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Valid travel documents: indembkathmandu.gov.in, sourced 3 November 2026
- Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Consular services: indembkathmandu.gov.in, sourced 3 November 2026
- Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Entry of Indian registered vehicles into Nepal (notice of 9 August 2019): indembkathmandu.gov.in, sourced 3 November 2026
- Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Advisory regarding NOC to travel to a third country: indembkathmandu.gov.in, sourced 3 November 2026
- Reserve Bank of India, Notification No. FEMA 6 (R)/(4)/2025-RB, 28 November 2025: rbi.org.in, sourced 3 November 2026
- Nepal Rastra Bank, notice on carrying cash foreign currency (23 July 2026): nrb.org.np, sourced 3 November 2026
Questions
Do Indians need a visa for Nepal?
No. Our visa-free finder for Indian passports lists Nepal as no visa for Indian nationals.
Is Aadhaar valid for travel to Nepal?
No. The Embassy of India in Kathmandu says Aadhaar and PAN cards are not valid for travel between India and Nepal. Carry a valid Indian passport or your original photo Voter ID.
Which documents do I need to fly to Nepal from India?
A valid Indian passport, or an original Voter ID card with photograph issued by the Election Commission of India. A downloaded or printed Voter ID is not accepted.
Can children travel to Nepal without a passport?
The Embassy pages we read list no age exceptions. News reports from 2019 described some for under 15s, so confirm with your airline or the Embassy before you book.
What if I lose my passport in Nepal?
The Embassy issues a one-way Emergency Travel ID for the flight home, valid for one week, for NRs. 7950. Bring two photos, your ticket copy and a copy of your passport or Voter ID.
Can I drive my Indian car to Nepal?
Yes, with a pass from Nepal Customs (Bhansar). The Embassy notice of 9 August 2019 lists NRs. 100 to 500 a day by vehicle type and a limit of 30 days in a year.
How much Indian currency can I take to Nepal?
Notes of Rs 100 and below, plus notes above Rs 100 up to Rs 25,000, under RBI rules of 28 November 2025. Nepal accepts Rs 200 and Rs 500 notes issued since 9 November 2016 up to Rs 25,000 per person.
Do I need an NOC to fly from Nepal to another country?
Yes, unless you are exempt. Indians need a Third Country No Objection Certificate from the Embassy in Kathmandu, fee NPR 3290. Children below 10 and travelers flying out within 24 hours of flying in are exempt.
Can Hey Ula plan my Nepal trip today?
Not yet. Hey Ula is in early access with a waitlist and is letting travelers in gradually.