Nepal · Work
Nepal Work visa
First stay: 1 yr
Non-tourist visa (working) for foreign employees
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
Work visa is a work route for Nepal. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $75/mo
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$75/mo
- $75 a monthWorking visa fee for foreign nationals working for organisations other than Government of Nepal affiliated bodies and donor-funded projects (USD 30 a month for Government-affiliated work, USD 50 a month for donor-funded work); single re-entry adds USD 20 and multiple re-entry USD 60.
RenewalRenewable, 5 years max
The working visa is granted for one year at a time, and the work permit can run up to 5 years on annual renewal.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 5 years in total
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Nepal
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant is a foreign national recommended by the relevant government line agency for employment in Nepal.
- The employer must show that the required skilled manpower is not available in Nepal.
What you must show1
- Visa fee of USD 75 a month, or USD 50 a month for donor-funded work and USD 30 a month for Government of Nepal affiliated work.
Documents4
- A recommendation letter from the concerned government line agency and a work permit from the Department of Labour.
- A work agreement from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the appointment or contract letter.
- Tax clearance of the hiring organisation and, for renewal, of the applicant if taxes are paid individually.
- A general agreement with the Social Welfare Council for NGOs and INGOs.
Steps2
- Foreign nationals may stay on a tourist visa while the work visa paperwork is processed; the tourist visa is cancelled when the work visa is approved.
- Apply online through the NepaliPort system after the recommendation, labour permit and work agreement are in place.
What happens at day 183
How Nepal decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 5 years in total
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in any continuous 365-day periodA natural person present in Nepal for 183 days or more in a continuous 365-day period is resident.
- Foreign-source income
Residence is tested by ordinary place of abode, by presence of 183 days or more in any continuous 365-day period, or by posting abroad by the Government of Nepal.
All tax rules for Nepal Tax records checked
Full official text
Working visa for foreign nationals employed in Nepal, issued by the Department of Immigration on the recommendation of the relevant government line agency, with a labour permit from the Department of Labour and a work agreement from the Ministry of Home Affairs. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $75 a month · Working visa fee for foreign nationals working for organisations other than Government of Nepal affiliated bodies and donor-funded projects (USD 30 a month for Government-affiliated work, USD 50 a month for donor-funded work); single re-entry adds USD 20 and multiple re-entry USD 60. 3 2
Requirements
- The applicant is a foreign national recommended by the relevant government line agency for employment in Nepal. 1 2
- The employer must show that the required skilled manpower is not available in Nepal. 4
- Visa fee of USD 75 a month, or USD 50 a month for donor-funded work and USD 30 a month for Government of Nepal affiliated work. 2 3
- A recommendation letter from the concerned government line agency and a work permit from the Department of Labour. 1
- A work agreement from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the appointment or contract letter. 1
- Tax clearance of the hiring organisation and, for renewal, of the applicant if taxes are paid individually. 1
- A general agreement with the Social Welfare Council for NGOs and INGOs. 1
- Foreign nationals may stay on a tourist visa while the work visa paperwork is processed; the tourist visa is cancelled when the work visa is approved. 1
- Apply online through the NepaliPort system after the recommendation, labour permit and work agreement are in place. 1 2
Stay
- For industries, the working visa is granted for one year at a time and the work permit can run up to 5 years on annual renewal.
- Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
- Visa validity: 12 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Open to foreign employees of any nationality; US citizens use the reciprocity working visa of 3 years.
Work
Only foreign nationals holding a working visa may accept employment and work in Nepal.
Family
Dependants receive dependent visas on the ministry recommendation and may not work.
Official sources
- Visa information (visa categories, residential, business, study and non-tourist visas) · Department of Immigration, Government of Nepal · checked 2026-10-11
- Visa fees and documents (Nepal visa types and requirements) · Department of Immigration, Government of Nepal · checked 2026-10-12
- Frequently asked questions: marriage, relationship, study and working visas · Department of Immigration, Government of Nepal · checked 2026-10-11
- Visa recommendation for foreign investors, business visa and residential visa · Department of Industry, Government of Nepal · checked 2026-10-11
Work visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work visa | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Golden Visa · Parent rep $25M Indonesia | Needs an investment from $25M | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Green · Skilled worker United Arab Emirates | Needs income of AED 15k+ a month ≈ $4,080 | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Work visa?
A fee of $75 a month. Working visa fee for foreign nationals working for organisations other than Government of Nepal affiliated bodies and donor-funded projects (USD 30 a month for Government-affiliated work, USD 50 a month for donor-funded work); single re-entry adds USD 20 and multiple re-entry USD 60.
How long can I stay on the Work visa?
For industries, the working visa is granted for one year at a time and the work permit can run up to 5 years on annual renewal.
Can I work on the Work visa?
Limited. Only foreign nationals holding a working visa may accept employment and work in Nepal.
Can I bring my family on the Work visa?
Dependants receive dependent visas on the ministry recommendation and may not work.
How are Work visa holders taxed in Nepal?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Work visa. The standard rules apply: Resident individuals pay 1% on taxable income up to NPR 1,000,000, (≈ $6,520) then 10% up to NPR 1,500,000, (≈ $9,770) 20% up to NPR 2,500,000, (≈ $16,300) 27% up to NPR 4,000,000 (≈ $26,100) and 29% above that, in income year 2083/84 under the Income Tax Act as amended by the Finance Act 2083.
More in Nepal
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Visa information (visa categories, residential, business, study and non-tourist visas) · Department of Immigration, Government of Nepal · checked 2026-10-11
- Visa fees and documents (Nepal visa types and requirements) · Department of Immigration, Government of Nepal · checked 2026-10-12
- Frequently asked questions: marriage, relationship, study and working visas · Department of Immigration, Government of Nepal · checked 2026-10-11
- Visa recommendation for foreign investors, business visa and residential visa · Department of Industry, Government of Nepal · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.