Which permits each Nepal trek needs in 2026, what they cost, where they are issued and checked, and what documents to bring. Includes the March 2026 solo restricted-area change, the new Upper Mustang daily fee and a permit table for every trek we run.
14 min read
Most Nepal treks need one or two permits. You need an entry permit for each national park or conservation area you walk through, and on many routes a TIMS card, which only a registered agency can now issue. If you are entering a restricted area such as Manaslu, Upper Mustang or Nar Phu, you also need a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) from the Department of Immigration. The Everest region adds its own municipal permit in place of TIMS.
For foreigners, most park and conservation area permits cost NPR 3,000 in 2026. TIMS costs NPR 2,000. Restricted area fees are set in US dollars and range from USD 20 a week (Rolwaling, Lower Dolpo, Kanchenjunga) to USD 50 a day in Upper Mustang. Below we cover each permit, where it is issued and checked, what you need to bring, and exactly which permits each of our treks uses. We arrange all of them for you on every trip.
On a typical trek you need one protected-area entry permit plus, on many routes, a TIMS card. Restricted areas add a Restricted Area Permit, and the Everest region adds a local municipality permit instead of TIMS. Exactly which ones you need depends on the route. The table near the end lists them for every trek we run.
There are four types:
Protected-area entry permits for national parks (for example Sagarmatha, Langtang, Makalu Barun, Rara) and conservation areas (Annapurna, Manaslu, Gaurishankar, Kanchenjunga).
The TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System), run by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
Restricted Area Permits from the Department of Immigration, for border areas such as Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Manaslu, Tsum, Nar Phu, Kanchenjunga and upper Rolwaling.
Local government permits, most importantly the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit in the Everest region. Makalu and lower Solu have their own local permits too.
For foreign nationals, the Annapurna, Manaslu and Gaurishankar conservation areas and the Sagarmatha, Langtang, Makalu Barun, Rara and Shey Phoksundo national parks each cost NPR 3,000 per entry. SAARC nationals pay less, and children under 10 are free. TIMS is NPR 2,000. Restricted area fees are in US dollars.
These are the fees NTB publishes for protected areas on trekking routes.
Permit | Foreigners | SAARC nationals | Used on |
|---|---|---|---|
Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,000 | Annapurna, Mustang, Nar Phu, Dhaulagiri exit, Manaslu exit |
Manaslu Conservation Area (MCAP) | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,000 | Manaslu, Tsum |
Gaurishankar Conservation Area | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,000 |
Children under 10 enter free in all of them. Some park counters add 13% VAT on top of the listed fee, so you may see NPR 3,390 on a receipt. The fee is charged per entry, so leaving a park and coming back in means paying again. NTB keeps the official list on its park entry fees page.
These are the Department of Immigration fees in force in October 2026, per person.
Restricted area | Fee | Our trek |
|---|---|---|
Upper Mustang | USD 50 per day inside the area | |
Upper Dolpo | USD 500 for the first 10 days, then USD 50 per day | |
Lower Dolpo | USD 20 per week, then USD 5 per day | |
The Department of Immigration publishes the full list, including Humla, Mugu, Bajhang, Darchula and the restricted wards of Sankhuwasabha, Rasuwa and Solukhumbu, on its trekking route and permit fee page.
TIMS is the Nepal Tourism Board's trekker registration card. Since 1 April 2023 it is issued only through registered trekking agencies, as a digital card with a QR code, for NPR 2,000 (NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals). It is checked in Langtang and on several other routes. It is not checked on Annapurna routes and is not used in the Khumbu.
How the TIMS rule plays out in 2026:
Annapurna: NTB still lists Annapurna routes under the TIMS rule, but checkpoints check the ACAP permit only. Our Annapurna treks therefore include ACAP and no TIMS card.
Everest: the Khumbu municipality permit replaces TIMS.
Langtang, Gosaikunda, Helambu, Tamang Heritage: TIMS is checked with the park permit at Dhunche and on the trail. We include it.
Makalu, Rara, Dhaulagiri and Pikey Peak: we include TIMS.
Restricted areas: the RAP is the controlling permit. On most restricted treks we do not issue TIMS separately.
TIMS is tied to Nepal's 2023 guide rule. Our article on whether you need a guide to trek in Nepal explains it region by region.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project permit is needed for any trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area. That includes Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, the Annapurna Circuit, Tilicho and the Jomsom–Muktinath trail, plus the Mustang and Nar Phu routes. It costs NPR 3,000 for foreigners. It is issued in Kathmandu and Pokhara or online, not at trail checkpoints without extra cost.
The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) runs ACAP and also offers an online permit system. Checkpoints along the trail ask to see the permit and stamp it:
ABC and Poon Hill: Birethanti, Ghorepani and Chhomrong
Annapurna Circuit: Besisahar or Bhulbhule, Chame, Manang and the Jomsom area
Mardi Himal: around Pothana
Some agencies report that a permit bought at a checkpoint costs double. Either way, carry a printed copy, because a photo on your phone is not always accepted.
Two: the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit (NPR 3,000 for most foreigners, NPR 2,000 for SAARC and Chinese nationals). No TIMS card is needed. The municipal permit is collected at Lukla and the park permit is checked at Monjo.
The municipality raised its fee from NPR 2,000 to NPR 3,000 for most foreign nationals, and many websites still show the old figure. If you walk in from Jiri or Shivalaya instead of flying to Lukla, you also need the Gaurishankar Conservation Area permit for the lower section. The same two permits cover our Everest Base Camp Trek, Gokyo Lakes Trek, Everest Three Passes Trek and Everest View Trek. Our Everest Base Camp trek guide covers the rest of the planning.
Only the ACAP permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners). The Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Khopra and Mohare Danda routes all lie inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. TIMS is not checked there at present.
This applies to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, the 12-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek, the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, the Mardi Himal Trek, the Khopra Danda Trek and the Mohare Danda Trek. It also covers shorter walks from Pokhara such as the Ghandruk Village Trek and the Australian Camp and Dhampus Trek. More in our Annapurna Base Camp trek guide.
The Langtang National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). Both are checked at the park entrance near Dhunche and again along the trail. Helambu starts in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, so it needs that permit as well.
The same pair covers the Langtang Valley Trek, Gosaikunda Trek and Tamang Heritage Trail. The Helambu Trek adds the Shivapuri Nagarjun permit, which is checked at the Sundarijal gate.
Three: the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (NPR 3,000) and the ACAP permit (NPR 3,000) for the descent from Bimthang to Dharapani. The RAP costs USD 100 for the first week from September to November, or USD 75 from December to August, plus a daily rate after that.
The RAP is checked at Jagat, the entry point to the restricted section. Only a registered agency can apply for it, and a licensed guide has to walk with you throughout. For the Tsum Valley Trek you need the Tsum Valley RAP and MCAP. If you combine Tsum with the Larkya La, you also need the Manaslu RAP and ACAP.
USD 50 per person for each day you spend inside the restricted area north of Kagbeni, plus the ACAP permit. The Cabinet scrapped the old flat fee of USD 500 for the first 10 days in November 2025. The Kathmandu Post reported the change, and it is now in the Department of Immigration's fee table.
Our 12-day Upper Mustang Trek spends ten days inside the restricted area, so the RAP comes to USD 500 per person. That matches the old fee, but the new system makes shorter visits much cheaper. The permit is checked at Kagbeni.
Yes, since 22 March 2026. The Department of Immigration now issues restricted area permits to individual trekkers, not only to groups of two or more. You still have to book through a registered agency and trek with a licensed guide. One guide may lead at most seven trekkers.
The Kathmandu Post and the Himalayan Times reported the change, which covers restricted areas in 13 districts. Applications are made online. Trekkers already in Nepal use their visa number, and those applying from abroad use a visa application submission ID. The agency carries responsibility for rescue and logistics. We can therefore run any of our restricted-area treks for one person with a licensed guide, or place you on a group departure. Tell us your dates when you plan your trip.
You can buy national park and ACAP permits yourself. Park permits are sold at the Tourist Service Centre in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, and at park entry points. ACAP is sold in Kathmandu, Pokhara or online. TIMS cards and restricted area permits are issued only through registered trekking agencies. The Khumbu permit is bought at Lukla.
Permit | Where it is issued | Can you get it yourself? |
|---|---|---|
ACAP, MCAP | Kathmandu, Pokhara, NTNC online | Yes (MCAP is normally arranged with the Manaslu RAP) |
National park permits | Tourist Service Centre, Kathmandu, or the park entry point | Yes |
Khumbu municipality permit | Lukla (or on the trail if walking in) | Yes |
TIMS card | Online, by registered agencies |
Bring your passport, a valid Nepal visa that covers your trek dates, and two passport photos. For restricted areas the agency also needs your original passport in Kathmandu to finalise the permit. For permits arranged before you arrive, we need a clear scan of your passport photo page, and for restricted areas your visa details as well.
Checklist:
passport valid for your whole stay, plus a photocopy
Nepal visa (or visa application submission ID for restricted areas applied from abroad)
two recent passport-size photos (bring a couple of spares)
travel insurance details, including the 24-hour emergency number; your guide keeps a copy
printed copies of each permit, carried by you or your guide
At park and conservation area entry posts and village checkpoints, and at police or immigration posts at the edge of restricted areas. Your guide carries the permits and handles the stamps. Expect to stop several times a day on busy routes.
Route | Main checkpoints |
|---|---|
Everest | Lukla (municipality permit), Monjo (Sagarmatha National Park) |
Annapurna Base Camp / Poon Hill | Birethanti, Ghorepani, Chhomrong |
Annapurna Circuit | Besisahar or Bhulbhule, Chame, Manang, Jomsom area |
Langtang | Dhunche, then posts in the valley |
Manaslu | Jagat |
Nar Phu | Koto |
Every permit below is included in the trip and arranged by us before you start. Full details are on each trip page.
Trek | Permits |
|---|---|
Sagarmatha NP, Khumbu municipality | |
Sagarmatha NP, Khumbu municipality | |
Sagarmatha NP, Khumbu municipality | |
Sagarmatha NP, Khumbu municipality | |
Permit fees are part of what you pay for any trek. Our guide to Nepal trekking costs puts them in context with flights, guides and lodges.
Some, but not all. Sagarmatha National Park permits are sold at Monjo and the Khumbu permit at Lukla. TIMS and restricted area permits can never be bought on the trail. Some agencies report that ACAP bought at a checkpoint costs double. We arrange everything in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you set off.
Children under 10 enter Nepal's national parks and conservation areas free, as listed by NTB. Restricted area fees are charged per person under immigration rules, so ask us for the current position for your family before booking a restricted trek.
Park, conservation area, Khumbu municipality and TIMS fees are set in Nepali rupees. Restricted Area Permit fees are set in US dollars or the equivalent in convertible currency. On our treks all permit fees are included, so you do not pay them separately.
Not at present. Annapurna checkpoints check ACAP only, and TIMS has not been checked there since 2023, even though NTB's TIMS page still lists Annapurna routes. If that changes, we will arrange TIMS for you.
Tell your guide straight away. We keep scans of every permit and your passport, and the guide can show these at checkpoints while we contact the issuing office. This is one reason we ask you to carry printed copies and keep the originals with the guide.
Permits and rules
What your travel insurance must cover to trek in Nepal: the altitude limit in the wording, helicopter evacuation, pre-existing conditions, Lukla and Jomsom delays, rescue fraud, and the details we need from you before you start.
Rolwaling, Tsho Rolpa
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area | NPR 2,000 | NPR 500 | Kanchenjunga |
Sagarmatha National Park | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,500 | Everest region |
Langtang National Park | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,500 | Langtang, Gosaikunda, Helambu, Tamang Heritage |
Makalu Barun National Park | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,500 | Makalu |
Rara National Park | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,500 | Rara |
Shey Phoksundo National Park | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,500 | Dolpo |
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park | NPR 1,000 | NPR 600 | Helambu start, Kathmandu Valley rim |
Manaslu (Gorkha)
Sep–Nov: USD 100 for the first week, then USD 15 per day. Dec–Aug: USD 75, then USD 10 per day |
Tsum Valley (Gorkha) | Sep–Nov: USD 40 for the first week. Dec–Aug: USD 30. Then USD 7 per day |
Nar and Phu (Manang) | Sep–Nov: USD 100 for the first week. Dec–Aug: USD 75. Then USD 15 per day |
Taplejung (Kanchenjunga) | USD 20 per week for the first 4 weeks, then USD 25 per week |
Dolakha (upper Rolwaling) | USD 20 per week |
No, agency only
Restricted Area Permit | Department of Immigration, Kathmandu, via an agency | No, agency only |
Upper Mustang |
Kagbeni |
Makalu | Seduwa |
Dhaulagiri | Darbang, then the Kali Gandaki side |
Helambu | Sundarijal gate, then the post before Tharepati |
TIMS, local area permit |
ACAP |
ACAP |
ACAP |
ACAP |
ACAP |
ACAP |
ACAP |
ACAP |
Ghandruk Village, Australian Camp and Dhampus, Jomsom Muktinath | ACAP |
ACAP, TIMS |
Nar Phu RAP, ACAP, TIMS |
Upper Mustang RAP, ACAP |
Manaslu RAP, MCAP, ACAP |
Tsum Valley RAP, MCAP |
Langtang NP, TIMS |
Langtang NP, TIMS |
Langtang NP, TIMS |
Shivapuri Nagarjun NP, Langtang NP, TIMS |
Shivapuri Nagarjun NP |
Rolwaling (Dolakha) RAP, Gaurishankar CA |
Taplejung RAP, Kanchenjunga CA |
Makalu Barun NP, Makalu Rural Municipality, TIMS |
Lower Dolpo RAP, Shey Phoksundo NP |
Upper Dolpo RAP, Lower Dolpo RAP, Shey Phoksundo NP |
Rara NP, TIMS |
The fee is worked out by the period you will spend inside the restricted area: per week for most areas, and per day for Upper Mustang. We price the permit from your itinerary, and a contingency day inside the area can add to the fee.
No. The Sagarmatha National Park and Khumbu municipality permits cover all the trekking routes in the park, including Base Camp, Kala Patthar, Gokyo and the three passes. Climbing a trekking peak such as Island Peak needs a separate climbing permit.
Yes. Indian and other SAARC nationals pay the lower SAARC rates for park, conservation area and TIMS fees, and need a Restricted Area Permit for restricted areas like everyone else. Nepali citizens pay the lowest rates and do not need TIMS.
The main recent changes are the Upper Mustang move to USD 50 a day (November 2025), solo restricted area permits (March 2026) and the Khumbu municipality fee rising to NPR 3,000 for most foreigners. Older websites often still show the previous figures.