Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. Adults show a valid Indian passport or an Election Commission voter ID, and children under 15 and adults over 65 can use any photo ID, Aadhaar included. Travellers of other nationalities get a visa on arrival (USD 30, 50 or 125 for 15, 30 or 90 days) at Kathmandu airport or at six land crossings on the Indian border, after stamping out of India. The quickest way in is a non-stop flight to Kathmandu, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Delhi. Overland, most people cross at Sunauli–Belahiya (from Gorakhpur or Delhi) or Raxaul–Birgunj (from Patna or Kolkata) and take a bus on to Kathmandu or Pokhara. Since the end of 2025 Nepal allows Indian and Nepali nationals to carry INR 200 and INR 500 notes up to INR 25,000 per person.
- Visa for IndiansNone, under the 1950 treaty
- ID for Indian adultsPassport or Election Commission voter ID
- Under 15 or over 65Any photo ID, Aadhaar accepted
- Other nationalitiesVisa on arrival, USD 30 / 50 / 125
- Land crossings for foreignersKakarbhitta, Birgunj, Belahiya, Jamunaha, Mohana, Gaddachauki
- Indian notesINR 200 and 500 allowed up to INR 25,000 per person
- Currency pegNPR 1.60 = INR 1
- Time differenceNepal is 15 minutes ahead of India
India and Nepal share a 1,751 km open border with six main crossings open to foreign tourists, and travellers move between the two countries by air, bus, train, and private vehicle. Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal; a valid passport or an Election Commission voter ID proves nationality. Foreign nationals from other countries can obtain a Nepali visa on arrival at the main land borders for USD 30 to USD 125. Several airlines fly non-stop from Indian cities to Kathmandu, with Delhi alone seeing several departures a day, a government bus runs directly from Delhi to Kathmandu in about 30 hours, and a cross-border passenger railway has connected Jaynagar in Bihar to the Janakpur area since April 2022. This guide covers the documents, the routes, and what happens at the border. Figures were checked on 25 October 2026.
Do Indian Citizens Need a Visa for Nepal?
The 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship is the agreement that keeps the border open: citizens of both countries can enter, live, and work in either country without a visa. Indian travellers still need to prove their nationality when boarding a flight to Kathmandu or when asked at a land crossing.
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu accepts two documents for adult travellers: a valid Indian passport or an original voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India. An Aadhaar card is not a valid travel document for Nepal for adults. Travellers above 65 years and children below 15 years are exempt and can show any photo document that confirms age and identity, such as a PAN card, driving licence, CGHS card, ration card or Aadhaar (the Ministry of Home Affairs added Aadhaar for these two age groups in 2019). Children between 15 and 18 can travel on an identity certificate issued by their school principal.
| Traveller | Visa | Documents that work | Not accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian citizen, 18 to 65 | None | Valid Indian passport, or original Election Commission voter ID | Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence on their own |
| Indian citizen, 15 to 18 | None | Passport, or identity certificate from the school principal | Aadhaar on its own |
| Indian citizen, under 15 or over 65 | None | Any government photo ID showing age, Aadhaar included | |
| Other nationalities | Visa on arrival or eVisa (USD 30 / 50 / 125) | Passport valid 6 months, Indian visa with exit stamp if coming overland, one photo | Crossings without a Nepali immigration office, such as Jaynagar |
For almost a decade after India's 2016 demonetisation, Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal's central bank, allowed only Indian notes of INR 100 and below. That changed after a Nepali cabinet decision in December 2025: Indian and Nepali nationals may now carry INR 200 and INR 500 notes of the post-November 2016 series, up to INR 25,000 per person, which matches the Reserve Bank of India's own limit for travel to Nepal. The INR 2,000 note was withdrawn by the Reserve Bank of India in 2023 and should not be carried. Anything above INR 25,000 is safest in INR 100 notes or smaller, and amounts over the customs declaration threshold must be declared. The Nepali rupee is pegged to the Indian rupee at NPR 1.60 to INR 1, and exchange counters operate at every major crossing.
How Can You Travel from India to Nepal?
Four transport options link India to Nepal: direct flights, a direct Delhi to Kathmandu bus, trains to the border railheads, and your own vehicle. Cost, comfort, and your starting city decide which one fits.
| Option | Delhi to Kathmandu, roughly | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-stop flight | About 1 hour 45 minutes | Short trips, treks that start in Kathmandu | Fares jump around Dashain, Tihar and October |
| Direct DTC bus | About 30 hours, around 1,167 km | One ticket, no changes | Trips are suspended during unrest or floods, so confirm before you book |
| Train to the border, then bus | A day and a half or more with connections | Travellers from Bihar, UP and Bengal, Lumbini stopovers | Onward Nepali buses take 7 to 10 hours from the border to Kathmandu |
| Own car or motorbike | Two days with an overnight stop | Road trips to Pokhara and Lumbini | Customs permit (bhansar) and a 30-day limit per calendar year |
Direct Flights from India to Kathmandu
Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu receives non-stop flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Varanasi. IndiGo, Air India, and Nepal Airlines operate the Delhi route several times a day, and the flight takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Mumbai and Bengaluru services have been flown by IndiGo, Air India Express and Nepal Airlines, Kolkata by IndiGo and Air India, and Buddha Air links Varanasi with Kathmandu. Schedules change from season to season, so check the airline before you plan around a route. Low-season fares booked early can be cheap, while prices climb sharply around Dashain, Tihar and the October trekking peak. Airlines accept a passport or an original voter ID for boarding; for adults, Aadhaar is not accepted on this route.
The Direct Delhi to Kathmandu Bus
Delhi Transport Corporation runs the Indo-Nepal Maitri Bus Sewa, a direct air-conditioned service from the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium terminal near Delhi Gate to Kathmandu. The bus covers about 1,167 km in roughly 30 hours, crossing the border at Sunauli. DTC buses have run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Nepal's Manjushree Yatayat on the other days, with a listed fare of about INR 2,800. The service is stopped whenever the route is unsafe: DTC suspended it during the September 2025 protests in Nepal and held back its 28 and 29 August 2026 trips after the floods, so check DTC's website or its X account before you book. Private operators sell similar Delhi to Kathmandu tickets with sleeper and sofa seating. Carry your passport or voter ID, since the bus stops at the border for customs and identity checks.
Trains to the Border and the Janakpur Railway
Indian Railways runs no direct Delhi to Kathmandu train, but its railheads sit close to the border. Gorakhpur, about three hours by road from the Sunauli crossing, is the busiest railhead and connects to Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Trains from Kolkata and Patna reach Raxaul, directly across the border from Birgunj.
The Jaynagar to Kurtha line is the only cross-border passenger railway between the two countries. Nepal Railway Company has operated it since April 2022, linking Jaynagar in Bihar with Kurtha on the edge of Janakpur, the city Hindu tradition honours as the birthplace of Goddess Sita, and in July 2023 the service was extended 17 km to Bijalpura. Indian and Nepali citizens ride with an ID card; other foreign nationals should avoid this route because it is not a designated entry point and has no visa-on-arrival immigration office.
Driving Your Own Vehicle into Nepal
Indian-registered cars and motorbikes can enter Nepal on a customs permit called a bhansar, issued at the Nepali border post. A same-day visit to the nearest border town needs only a free day pass or challan. Going further or staying overnight costs roughly NPR 100 to NPR 500 a day depending on the vehicle type, according to the Embassy of India in Kathmandu and the Kathmandu Post (October 2026), and an Indian vehicle can stay in Nepal for at most 30 days in a calendar year. Carry the registration certificate, original insurance papers, your driving licence and a government ID. India and Nepal agreed in 2026 to move these permits online, so check the current process at the border post.
The Six Main India to Nepal Border Crossings
Six official crossings handle most traffic between the two countries, listed here from east to west. These are the six that Nepali embassies list as entry points for foreigners on the Indian border, so foreign nationals who need a visa on arrival must use one of them; Indian citizens can use any official crossing. Travel times to Kathmandu and Pokhara below are typical bus times and stretch in the monsoon.
| Indian side | Nepali side | Nearest Indian rail and airport | Onward in Nepal | Visa on arrival for foreigners | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panitanki | Kakarbhitta (Jhapa) | New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri, 36 km), Bagdogra airport | Kathmandu about 13 to 15 hours by bus, or fly from Bhadrapur | Yes | Ilam and eastern Nepal, travellers from Darjeeling and Sikkim |
| Raxaul | Birgunj (Parsa) | Raxaul Junction, Patna airport | Kathmandu about 7 to 9 hours via Hetauda, or fly from Simara | Yes | Central Nepal and Kathmandu from Kolkata or Patna, Chitwan |
| Sunauli | Belahiya (Bhairahawa) | Gorakhpur (about 3 hours), Gorakhpur airport | Kathmandu 8 to 10 hours, Pokhara 7 to 8 hours, Lumbini 25 km | Yes | The busiest tourist crossing; Lumbini, Pokhara, Kathmandu |
| Rupaidiha | Jamunaha (Nepalgunj) | Bahraich and Nanpara, Lucknow airport | Flights from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu, Jumla and Talcha (Rara) | Yes | Bardia National Park, Rara Lake and the far west |
| Gauriphanta | Mohana (Dhangadhi, Kailali) | Lakhimpur Kheri, Lucknow airport | Flights from Dhangadhi to Kathmandu | Yes | Far-western Nepal, Shuklaphanta National Park |
| Banbasa | Gaddachauki (Mahendranagar) | Tanakpur, Pantnagar airport | Long bus ride east, or fly from Dhangadhi | Yes | The westernmost entry, closest to Delhi (about 350 km) |
| Jaynagar | Kurtha and Bijalpura (Janakpur) | Jaynagar railhead | Janakpur, then road to Kathmandu | No | Indian and Nepali citizens only |
Immigration desks for foreigners keep daytime hours, and Kakarbhitta is usually staffed from early morning to late evening. Times differ by post, so plan to reach the border well before dark.
Visa on Arrival at the Land Border for Foreign Nationals
Nepal issues tourist visas on arrival to most nationalities at the major land crossings, the same way it does at Kathmandu airport. The fee is USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, and USD 125 for 90 days. The tourist visa you get at the border is multiple entry, so you can leave Nepal and come back on it. Only if you later extend it does keeping re-entry cost an extra USD 25. You need a passport valid for at least six months and one passport-size photo; full requirements and special cases are in our Nepal tourist visa guide. Since August 2026 you can also apply for an eVisa online before you travel, explained in our Nepal eVisa guide, and extensions are covered in the visa on arrival and extension guide.
The crossing takes two stops. First, stamp out of India at the Indian immigration post, where officers check your passport and Indian visa. Then walk across the border bridge and apply at the Nepali immigration office. Land border counters take cash only, so carry crisp US dollar notes in exact amounts, since counters rarely break large notes. Outside the busy morning hours the whole process is usually quick.
Your Indian visa must allow you to leave India by land, and you need the Indian exit stamp. Nepali immigration can refuse the visa without it, and leaving India unstamped causes trouble on your next visit to India. If you return to India from Nepal, check whether your Indian visa allows a second entry.
Practical Notes Before You Cross
- Time zone: Nepal Standard Time is GMT+5:45, which puts Nepal 15 minutes ahead of India.
- SIM cards: Indian SIMs need international roaming to work in Nepal. Ncell and Nepal Telecom (NTC) sell tourist SIMs at the airport and in border towns against a passport copy and a photo; our Tribhuvan Airport arrival guide covers the airport counters.
- Money: ATMs operate in every border town on the Nepali side. INR 200 and 500 notes are fine up to INR 25,000 per person for Indian and Nepali nationals. Leave INR 2,000 notes behind.
- Border hours: Indians and Nepalis cross freely through most of the day, but immigration offices for foreigners keep daytime hours that differ by post, so arrive well before evening.
- Roads in 2026: the Prithvi Highway, which most buses from Sunauli and Birgunj use to reach Kathmandu, reopened on 17 September after damage in the August flood. Our October 2026 safety update has the current picture.
- Trekking permits: Indian citizens are treated as SAARC nationals for most park and conservation fees, which are lower than the foreigner rates. Our trekking permits guide lists both.
India to Nepal Travel FAQ
Can Indian citizens enter Nepal without a passport?
Yes. An original voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India works for both land crossings and flights. Aadhaar is accepted only for travellers under 15 or over 65; everyone else needs the passport or voter ID.
How much Indian currency can I carry into Nepal?
Indian and Nepali nationals can carry INR 200 and INR 500 notes up to INR 25,000 per person, a rule Nepal brought in after a December 2025 cabinet decision. Notes of INR 100 and smaller are allowed as before. Do not carry INR 2,000 notes, which India withdrew in 2023, and declare large amounts at customs.
How long can Indian citizens stay in Nepal?
There is no visa and no fixed tourist limit for Indian citizens under the 1950 treaty. Carry valid ID throughout your stay.
Which border crossing is best for reaching Kathmandu?
Sunauli–Belahiya is the most direct from Delhi and most of north India, with frequent onward buses. Coming from Kolkata or Patna, Raxaul–Birgunj is shorter.
Can foreign nationals (non-Indians) use any crossing?
No. Third-country nationals need a crossing with a Nepali immigration office for the visa on arrival; the six crossings in the table above all have one, and the Jaynagar railway does not.
Can I drive my Indian car to Nepal?
Yes. Get a bhansar customs permit at the Nepali border post, which costs roughly NPR 100 to NPR 500 a day depending on the vehicle, and keep the stay within 30 days in a calendar year. A same-day trip to the nearest border town needs only a free day pass.
Is the Delhi to Kathmandu bus running?
Usually, but DTC suspends trips when the route is unsafe, as it did during the September 2025 protests and after the August 2026 floods. Check DTC's website or its X account before you book.
Once you are in Nepal, most trekking routes need one or two permits; our guide to trekking permits in Nepal lists every fee. For trip ideas, the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Circuit Trek remain the two most requested itineraries among Indian travellers, and a Chitwan Jungle Safari works well as a short add-on near the Sunauli and Birgunj crossings. Coming in through Nepalgunj, the Bardiya National Park safari is close by.
