Nepal’s 5-Year Multiple-Entry Visa for U.S. Citizens Faces Hurdles: Only 8 Issued in 3 Months

Five years after Nepal and the United States agreed to offer U.S. passport holders a 5-year multiple-entry visitor visa, the initiative has seen limited success due to a lack of awareness, bureaucratic complexities, and stringent requirements. According to Nepal’s Department of Immigration, only eight U.S. citizens obtained this visa in the first three months of 2025, highlighting significant challenges in its effective implementation.

The agreement, which came into effect on January 1, 2019, was intended to foster stronger ties by easing travel for U.S. citizens to Nepal. However, the program was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a temporary suspension of the visa’s issuance. Although Nepal later resumed offering the 5-year multiple-entry visa, its uptake has remained negligible. From January to March 2025, Nepal welcomed 29,924 American tourists, yet only 0.02%—a mere eight individuals—secured the 5-year multiple-entry visa.

Ishwari Datt Paneru, spokesperson for Nepal’s Department of Immigration, insists that the department remains committed to honoring the bilateral agreement. “We are implementing the 5-year multiple-entry visitor visa for American citizens as per the agreement,” Paneru stated. He emphasized that the visa is readily available to any U.S. citizen who applies for it, and the department maintains direct communication with the U.S. Embassy to resolve any issues. “If problems arise, we discuss and address them,” he added.

However, Paneru acknowledged practical challenges stemming from Nepal’s outdated legal framework—particularly the Immigration Act of 1992 and its 1994 regulations—which have not been revised to align with modern needs. “Without amending the act, we face limitations,” he explained. The department is reportedly working on updating immigration laws, which could streamline the implementation of such agreements in the future.

The visa itself comes with complex conditions that may deter potential applicants. Requirements include a passport valid for at least six months, a bank statement showing a minimum of $10,000 in transactions, international health insurance valid for at least six months, a police clearance report, details of a contact person in Nepal, and a list of planned destinations during the stay.

Additionally, visa holders are permitted to stay in Nepal for up to 180 days per year, and the visa fee is set at $160. Notably, U.S. citizens of Nepali origin holding Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) cards are ineligible for this visa.

Nepal has shifted from issuing physical visa stickers to an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system. The 5-year multiple-entry visa is not available through Nepali embassies or consulates abroad and can only be obtained upon arrival in Nepal.

While the ETA system allows online applications, technical issues—particularly with international payment processing—have severely limited its effectiveness. As of February 2025, following its implementation, the Department of Immigration received 29,796 ETA applications but approved only 1,865—a mere 6% approval rate.

Anup Neupane, Director of the Information Technology Division at the Department of Immigration, identified the lack of international card payment integration as a primary obstacle. “Applicants outside Nepal struggle to pay fees directly, which has kept the approval rate low,” he said. Many applicants have resorted to travel agencies to process payments, adding further complexity to the system. Despite its goal of simplifying travel by eliminating the need for embassy visits or long airport queues, the ETA system’s inefficiencies have raised concerns about its reliability.

The ETA initiative was introduced to attract more tourists by allowing applications from anywhere in the world. It eliminated the cumbersome process of shipping blank visa stickers to embassies, and travelers now arrive with pre-approved ETAs. However, Neupane noted, “Without seamless online payment integration, the system cannot reach its full potential.”

Efforts are underway to address these technical challenges in collaboration with the Office of the Auditor General, but officials caution that a fully functional system may still be some time away.