Do Sri Lankans need a visa for Nepal?

The rule

Seeded from the launch exemption list; confirm against the official source.

What "Visa-free" means for Sri Lankans

Visa-free means Sri Lankans board with a valid passport and nothing issued in advance: no online form, no fee and no sticker. The border officer decides the entry on the day, stamps the passport and writes or implies the permitted stay (Unlimited). The exemption covers tourism, visiting family and friends and most short business meetings; it never covers paid work, study beyond a short course or settling.

Before you fly

Even without a visa, airlines and border officers check the same things: a passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival (Nepal may accept less; the destination page states the rule), a confirmed return or onward ticket, an address for the first nights and enough money for the stay. Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for most visa-free entries but is the cheapest protection against a medical bill abroad. Keep printed or offline copies of bookings; a dead phone at the desk is the commonest avoidable delay.

At the Nepal border and during the stay

Nepal grants a stay of Unlimited, multiple. The date written at the border is the one that counts, not the visa validity. Overstaying, even by a day, is recorded, usually fined and can lead to a refusal on the next application for Nepal and for countries that share immigration data. Extensions, where they exist, are applied for inside the country before the stay ends; a new entry is not an extension and repeated back-to-back visits are refused at many borders.

When this rule does not apply

This answer is for ordinary Sri Lanka passports and short visits: tourism, visiting family and friends and business meetings without local employment. Study, work, family reunion, medical treatment and long stays follow different routes with their own fees and documents, listed on the Nepal destination page. Note for this rule: Seeded from the launch exemption list; confirm against the official source. Diplomatic and official passports, dual nationals travelling on a second passport and holders of a residence permit for a third country can fall under different rules; when in doubt, the official source linked above decides.

How this answer is kept current

The rule comes from Nepal's own immigration authority or official e-visa portal. The Vistolane operations team re-checks it when the government announces a change, and the page updates the same day. Airline summaries, travel forums and agency websites are never used as the source.

Nepal for Sri Lanka passport holders: costs, documents and timing

Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal and there is nothing to file: carry a valid Indian passport or an Election Commission voter ID (children: birth certificate or school ID with photo).

Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal and there is nothing to file: carry a valid Indian passport or an Election Commission voter ID (children: birth certificate or school ID with photo).

How much does a Nepal visa cost? Nothing for tourism: Sri Lanka citizens enter Nepal without a visa, so there is no government or Vistolane fee. Study and work permits are priced on their own routes.

How long does Nepal entry take? There is no application to process; entry is granted at the border or airport for unlimited. Carry a valid passport and your return ticket.

What documents do I need to enter Nepal? A valid passport (or, for Nepal and Bhutan, an Election Commission voter ID for Indian citizens), a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation. Children need a birth certificate or school ID with photo.

Where else Sri Lankans travel without a visa

• Maldives: Visa-free
• Thailand: Visa-free
• Malaysia: Visa-free
• Indonesia (Bali): Visa-free
• Singapore: Visa-free

Questions, answered