Local Laws

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws.  If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law.  For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Driving Under the Influence:  Driving in Nepal after consuming any amount of alcohol could land you in jail. 

Firearms and Ammunition:  You may not bring any kind of firearm into Nepal under Nepali law.  Violators who bring in firearms or ammunition, even if in the form of jewelry, may be prosecuted. 

Arrests and Consequences:  If you break local laws in Nepal, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution.  If you are arrested in Nepal, during the investigation phase, the authorities may keep you in detention for weeks or even longer if a court so orders.  Punishment for violations of criminal laws in Nepal range from fines to imprisonment, depending on the crime.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:  

Trekking – TIMS Card:  The Government of Nepal has authorized the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) to implement a system for foreign hikers called the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS).  Foreign visitors on hiking trips in Nepal, including those not with organized hiking groups, are required to have a valid TIMS card issued by TAAN, its member agencies, or NTB.  In case of an emergency, this system helps authorities ascertain the whereabouts of trekkers.  TIMS cards cost the Nepali rupees equivalent of 20 USD (if applying individually) or the Nepali rupees equivalent of 10 USD (if applying in a group) through authorized trekking companies, the TAAN office in Kathmandu or Pokhara, and the NTB office.  Local agencies that organize treks often will facilitate obtaining your TIMS card.

Solo Trekking:  The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu strongly recommends that U.S. citizens not hike alone, nor become separated from larger traveling parties while on a trail.  Solo trekking can be dangerous, and the lack of available immediate assistance has contributed to injuries and death.  Lone trekkers are likely more vulnerable to criminals.  Nepali authorities are considering  a ban on solo or independent trekking because of safety concerns.  If a ban is implemented, all trekkers would be required to use approved guides and/or porters hired through authorized trekking agencies.  Consideration of this policy comes in response to incidents over recent years in which a number of foreign visitors (including U.S. citizens) have been attacked or seriously injured while trekking alone on popular trails.  Foreigners, including U.S. citizens, have also gone missing while trekking alone.  Extensive search efforts are not always successful in tracing the trekkers’ whereabouts. 

The safest option for trekkers is to join an organized group and/or use a reputable trekking company that provides an experienced guide and porters who communicate in both Nepali and English. 

U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to contact the Embassy in Kathmandu for the latest security information and to register their itinerary before undertaking treks outside the Kathmandu Valley.  Trekkers are also advised to leave their itinerary with family or friends in the United States and to check in at police checkpoints where trekking permits are logged.

Trekking:  Natural Disaster Risks:  Damage to telephone services in trekking areas caused by floods and landslides during the monsoon season complicates efforts to locate U.S. citizens and make arrangements for medical evacuations.  Trekking in Nepal involves walking over rugged, steep terrain where one is exposed to the elements, often at high altitudes.  Many popular trekking routes in Nepal cross passes as high as 18,000 feet. 

Trekkers should also be alert to the possibility of avalanches, landslides, and falling rocks, even when trails are clear.  These risks existed prior to the April 25, 2015 earthquake and its aftershocks, which have further destabilized some steep, mountainous areas, causing severe landslides in some affected areas. Monsoon rains, which generally begin in June and largely end in September, may in any year destabilize steep slopes and mountainsides. Although trekking permits are being issued, not all trekking areas are safe for travel. We encourage travelers to consult carefully with their travel and trekking agencies for current, location-specific information and to heed warnings of potential danger. These conditions affect the possibility of emergency assistance if needed. We recommend providing family or friends with a detailed itinerary prior to trekking. Do not trek alone.

Trekking:  Altitude Risks:  The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu strongly recommends that U.S. citizens exercise caution when trekking at high altitudes.  Acclimatization is better achieved by walking slowly, rather than hurrying to cover the distance at high altitudes.  Without acclimatization, any trekker who flies directly from a low elevation to a high elevation runs the risk of suffering from debilitating altitude sickness.  Only experienced mountain climbers should tackle the Himalayas.  Trekkers of all ages, experience, and fitness levels can experience acute mountain sickness (AMS), which can be deadly.

Trekking:  Special Requirements:  Trekking in certain remote areas of Nepal and in national parks may require additional permits or fees.  Travelers may consult with an experienced tour agency, or consult the website of the Nepali Department of Immigration for more information.

Trekking:  Lodging and Travel:  During peak trekking seasons (generally autumn and spring), hotel rooms may become scarce.  U.S. citizens are advised to make advance booking for hotel rooms and be aware of possible flight/airport delays.  Domestic air flight cancellations and delays occur frequently because of bad weather, including to and from Lukla (gateway to the Everest Base Camp trek) and Jumla (gateway to treks to the Mustang region).  Travelers should leave ample time to catch their outbound international flights if they plan to connect from domestic flights.  U.S. citizens should be aware that many hotels in Nepal do not meet international fire or earthquake safety standards.

Before leaving Kathmandu, trekkers can check with the Himalayan Rescue Association (phone: +977-1-444-0292/444-0293) or the U.S. Embassy for reliable information about trail conditions and potential hazards of traveling in the Himalayas.

Other Outdoor Activities:  Several tourists have drowned while swimming in Phewa Lake and adjoining lakes in Pokhara because of flash floods triggered by monsoon rains or after becoming entangled in submerged tree branches or roots.  Incidents of boats capsizing on the choppy water of the lakes have also occurred.  Visitors should wear life jackets.  Paragliding and ultralight aircraft tourism have become popular in Pokhara, and many new companies offer such services in Pokhara.  U.S. citizens should weigh the risks involved with paragliding and ultralight aircraft travel.  There are also a number of deep and dangerous ravines not clearly visible to pedestrians in Pokhara city, mainly in the outlying areas.  Some local residents and foreigners have fallen into these ravines and sustained serious injuries or died.

Volunteering:  A number of Nepal-based organizations maintain websites offering volunteer opportunities.  The Embassy has received reports that many – if not most – such opportunities, especially those involving volunteering at orphanages or “children’s homes,” are not charities.  Instead, they are profit-making enterprises set up to attract donations from abroad and financial support from volunteers.  Many of the children are not orphans, and volunteering at such an organization indirectly contributes to child exploitation.  An organization’s bona fides can be confirmed by contacting the Nepali Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB), attention Namuna Bhusal (tel. +977-9851139474 or e-mail namuna@ccwb.gov.np). 

Currency:  Nepal has a controlled or fixed currency exchange rate under which the Nepalese Rupee is pegged to the Indian Rupee.  The Government of Nepal requires travelers to declare either the import or export of currency that exceeds 5,000 USD in value by filling out a customs declaration form.  Travelers may also face difficulties if traveling with a large quantity of valuables, such as gold and jewelry.  Carrying more than 50 grams of gold or 500 grams of silver may result in arrest at a port of entry.  The Embassy is not aware of any banks or money exchange offices in Nepal that accept U.S.-issued travelers checks.  Accordingly, travelers should consider alternative methods of accessing local currency (e.g., exchanging cash U.S. dollars for Nepali rupees at a bank or money exchange office, or withdrawing rupees from an ATM).  The Nepalese Department of Customs has reported an increased number of foreigners arrested for currency violations – generally for bringing in cash in excess of 5,000 USD without making a formal declaration.  Travelers should ensure that they keep a copy of the declaration form after customs officials have put the official endorsement and appropriate stamps on the form to prevent any problems upon departure. 

Please note that this requirement is subject to change and travelers should contact the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C. to obtain the latest information.  Consequences for violating this requirement generally include seizure of all cash, gold, or jewelry carried, as well as fines and imprisonment.  It is illegal to possess 500 or 1,000 Indian Rupee notes in Nepal.  Accordingly, travelers coming to Nepal from India who hope to change Indian currency into Nepali Rupees are advised to bring 100 Indian Rupee notes or lower denominations only.

Dual Nationality:  Nepal does not recognize dual nationality.  Accordingly, when a Nepali citizen naturalizes as a U.S. citizen, he/she loses his/her Nepali citizenship.  Some travelers who have tried to maintain both U.S. and Nepali passports have faced difficulties entering or exiting Nepal.  U.S. citizens of Nepali descent may be eligible for a special visa called a “Non-Resident Nepali” or “NRN” Identity Card.  The NRN Identity Card allows a holder to open a local bank account, invest, and own certain types of property, subject to certain restrictions.  For more information, contact the Nepali Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Embassy of Nepal in the United States.

Customs:  Nepal customs regulations are complex.  Customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning importation (even temporary importation) into Nepal and exportation from Nepal of items such as:

• valuable metals
• articles of archaeological and religious importance
• wildlife and related articles
• drugs
• arms and ammunition
• communications equipment. 

Items purported to be for donation to schools, hospitals, and other social organizations have sometimes been confiscated, or cleared only after payment of a significant fine for failure to obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Finance.  Those wishing to donate items to a charity or any organization in Nepal must obtain prior approval for waiver of the custom fees from the Ministry of Finance by sending a formal request letter (not via email) to the following address: 

       Revenue Secretary
       Ministry of Finance
       Singha Durbar
       Kathmandu, Nepal
       Tel: +977-1-4211400
       Fax: +977-1-4211605

The request should include detailed information about the items to be imported, as well as the organizations receiving the donations.  The Revenue Secretary will review the request and refer it to the Ministerial level for final decision and approval.  Note that all requests are processed on a case-by-case basis.  It is highly recommended that intended recipient(s) coordinate with the Ministry to get requests processed.  Please see our Customs Information.

Natural Disasters:  Nepal lies on an active fault zone and is still considered at high-risk for a major earthquake, as demonstrated by the major April 25, 2015 earthquake and significant aftershocks that caused extensive damage in the Kathmandu Valley and many districts of Nepal.  Lack of adequate emergency response vehicles, equipment, and medical facilities, combined with building codes that are not strictly enforced, multiply the extent of possible catastrophic damage from a major earthquake, especially in the Kathmandu Valley.  Nepal is also prone to flooding and landslides.  The Government of Nepal’s ability to respond in the event of a natural disaster may be limited.  General information about natural disaster preparedness is available from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and an Embassy Emergency Preparedness Guide is also available online.

Faith-Based Travelers:  See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report.

LGBTI Rights:  Same-sex sexual activity is not criminalized, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTI) persons in Nepal actively and openly advocate for their rights. Nepal, however, remains a conservative and traditional society.  Discrimination exists and there have been reports of non-violent harassment of LGBTI persons. Accordingly, LGBTI travelers may wish to be discreet and avoid public displays of affection.   See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our  Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance:  While in Nepal, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation difficult.  Nepali law prohibits discrimination against persons who have physical and mental disabilities, including discrimination in employment, education, access to health care, and in the provision of other state services.  The law mandates access to buildings, transportation, employment, education, and other state services, but these provisions generally are not enforced.  Nepal’s poor infrastructure makes it impracticable in many cases for a mobility-impaired traveler to move around the country, including within the Kathmandu Valley.  The government is largely ineffective in implementing or enforcing laws regarding persons with disabilities.  Except for a few clinics and hospitals, Nepal mostly lacks accessible and appropriate accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

Students:  See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.

Women Travelers:  See our travel tips for Women Travelers.