Nepal: Onward Ticket & Return Flight Requirements
Nepal does not list a return ticket as a strict mandatory document for its visa on arrival, but immigration officers commonly ask for proof of onward travel and accommodation. Carrying a confirmed return or onward ticket makes the visa-on-arrival process smooth.
Last updated: May 2026
Nepal onward travel — quick facts
- Onward ticket needed?
- Recommended — commonly requested
- Who enforces it
- Nepali immigration officers commonly ask for proof of onward travel and accommodation. Airlines may also check at boarding. Recommended rather than strictly mandatory.
- Entry type
- Visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport and land borders, for most nationalities
- Permitted stay
- Tourist visas on arrival are issued for 15, 30 or 90 days.
- Ticket must show
- Your return or onward ticket should show departure within the visa duration you choose.
- If you don't have one
- Lacking onward proof rarely causes denied entry on its own, but officers may ask for it, so it is best to have one ready.
What counts as proof of onward travel for Nepal
- ✓Confirmed return flight ticket
- ✓Confirmed onward flight to another country
- ✓Best carried with proof of where you will be staying
Do you need a return ticket for Nepal?
Not as a strict, mandatory document. Nepal's official immigration pages do not explicitly list a return ticket among the required items for a visa on arrival. In practice, though, immigration officers commonly ask for proof of onward travel and where you will be staying.
It is used as supporting evidence
A return or onward ticket functions as supporting documentation in Nepal rather than an absolute requirement that triggers automatic refusal. Officers may ask to see it, so the practical advice is to have a confirmed return or onward ticket ready when you arrive.
What you do need for visa on arrival
For Nepal's visa on arrival you need a passport valid at least six months with two blank pages, recent photos, and the visa fee in cash (USD preferred). The visa is issued for 15, 30 or 90 days — and an onward ticket dated within your chosen duration smooths the process.
Airlines known to check onward travel for Nepal
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Book your onward ticketNepal onward ticket — frequently asked questions
Is a return ticket mandatory for Nepal's visa on arrival?
Not strictly — it is not on Nepal's official mandatory document list. But immigration officers commonly ask for proof of onward travel, so it is best to carry one.
What do I need for Nepal's visa on arrival?
A passport valid at least six months with two blank pages, recent photos and the visa fee in cash. A return or onward ticket and accommodation proof are recommended supporting documents.
Can I enter Nepal on a one-way ticket?
Often yes, but officers may ask how you plan to leave. Carrying proof of onward travel avoids questioning at the visa-on-arrival counter.
What if my plans are flexible?
A verifiable flight reservation gives you a real onward ticket to show if asked, covering the visa duration you choose without a fixed commitment.
Official source: Nepal Department of Immigration
Entry rules can change at short notice. Always confirm current requirements with the official immigration authority or your airline before you travel.