Your first 90 days in Nepal: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The 150-day calendar-year tourist cap is the constraint people hit — and because it resets on 1 January rather than rolling, an arrival in autumn behaves very differently from one in spring. If you intend to stay long-term, secure a sponsored non-tourist category before the days run out; there is no in-country conversion for most people.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Apply to the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu for the appropriate visa — business, non-tourist, or residential — and register the extension
Before your tourist visa expires; tourist visas total a maximum of 150 days in a calendar year and cannot be converted in-country to most long-stay categories
The 150-day annual cap on tourist visas is hard and resets on 1 January, not on a rolling basis. Long-stay categories are tied to employment, study, marriage to a Nepali citizen, or investment, and each is handled by a different sponsoring ministry before Immigration issues the visa.
Get your PAN (Permanent Account Number) from the Inland Revenue Department
Employment, business activity, and any filing with the Inland Revenue Department require it.
Registered with the Inland Revenue Department; salaried employees are enrolled by the employer. There is no personal identity number issued with the visa itself.
Open a bank account
Nabil Bank, Himalayan Bank and Standard Chartered Nepal open accounts for holders of a non-tourist visa — a tourist visa is generally not sufficient. Nepal has strict foreign-exchange rules and repatriating funds requires documenting how they entered, so keep the inbound records from day one.
Enrol in healthcare
Public facilities are limited; foreign residents use private hospitals in Kathmandu (CIWEC, Norvic, Grande) which are experienced with expatriates and travellers. Anything major means evacuation to Delhi, Bangkok or Singapore, and helicopter rescue from trekking areas is a well-established and expensive reality — check the altitude limit on any evacuation policy.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted briefly; residents obtain a Nepali licence through the Department of Transport Management, involving a written and practical test. Driving is on the left, and road conditions plus mountain terrain make this one of the more hazardous places to drive in Asia.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Nepal: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Nepal?
Apply to the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu for the appropriate visa — business, non-tourist, or residential — and register the extension — Before your tourist visa expires; tourist visas total a maximum of 150 days in a calendar year and cannot be converted in-country to most long-stay categories. The 150-day annual cap on tourist visas is hard and resets on 1 January, not on a rolling basis. Long-stay categories are tied to employment, study, marriage to a Nepali citizen, or investment, and each is handled by a different sponsoring ministry before Immigration issues the visa. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the PAN and do I need one?
PAN (Permanent Account Number) from the Inland Revenue Department is Nepal's personal tax/ID number. Employment, business activity, and any filing with the Inland Revenue Department require it. Registered with the Inland Revenue Department; salaried employees are enrolled by the employer. There is no personal identity number issued with the visa itself.
Can I drive in Nepal on a US license?
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted briefly; residents obtain a Nepali licence through the Department of Transport Management, involving a written and practical test. Driving is on the left, and road conditions plus mountain terrain make this one of the more hazardous places to drive in Asia. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Nepal?
Public facilities are limited; foreign residents use private hospitals in Kathmandu (CIWEC, Norvic, Grande) which are experienced with expatriates and travellers. Anything major means evacuation to Delhi, Bangkok or Singapore, and helicopter rescue from trekking areas is a well-established and expensive reality — check the altitude limit on any evacuation policy. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Nepal's system treats foreign residents.