Nepal's trekking permit system is famously confusing — there are TIMS Cards, ACAP permits, MCAP permits, restricted-area permits, national-park entry permits and conservation-area permits, and the rules are different for every trek. This guide is the single reference I wish I had when I planned my first Nepal trek in 2019. It covers every permit, what it costs, where to get it, and which treks need which combination.
The Four Types of Nepal Trekking Permits
All Nepal trekking permits fall into one of four categories:
- TIMS Card — Trekkers' Information Management System. Mandatory for almost all non-restricted treks. See our TIMS Card guide for the full process.
- National Park Entry Permits — Required for treks that enter a national park (Sagarmatha/Everest, Langtang, Makalu Barun, Shey-Phoksundo). Issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
- Conservation Area Entry Permits — Required for treks that enter a conservation area (ACAP, MCAP, Kanchenjunga, Gaurishankar, Api Nampa, Manaslu, Annapurna, Krishnasar). Issued by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).
- Restricted Area Permits — Required for treks in restricted regions near the Tibetan border (Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, Kanchenjunga, Nar Phu, Tsum). Issued only through a registered trekking agency; you cannot apply yourself.
Permits Required by Trek — Complete Table
| Trek | TIMS | National Park / Conservation Area | Restricted Area | Total Permit Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everest Base Camp | $10 | Sagarmatha NP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Three Passes Trek | $10 | Sagarmatha NP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Annapurna Circuit | $10 | ACAP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Annapurna Base Camp | $10 | ACAP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Poon Hill | $10 | ACAP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Langtang Valley | $10 | Langtang NP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Helambu | $10 | Langtang NP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Manaslu Circuit | No | MCAP ($15) | Manaslu RAP ($70+, 7 days) | $85+ |
| Tsum Valley | No | MCAP ($15) | Tsum RAP ($40+, 8 days) | $55+ |
| Manaslu + Tsum combined | No | MCAP ($15) | Manaslu RAP ($70+) + Tsum RAP ($40+) | $125+ |
| Upper Mustang | No | ACAP ($30) | Upper Mustang RAP ($500+, 10 days) | $530+ |
| Upper Dolpo | No | Shey-Phoksundo NP ($30) | Upper Dolpo RAP ($500+, 10 days) | $530+ |
| Lower Dolpo | No | Shey-Phoksundo NP ($30) | Lower Dolpo RAP ($10+, 7 days) | $40+ |
| Kanchenjunga BC | No | Kanchenjunga CA ($30) | Kanchenjunga RAP ($20/week) | $50+ |
| Nar Phu Valley | No | ACAP ($30) | Nar Phu RAP ($90+, 7 days) | $120+ |
| Makalu Base Camp | $10 | Makalu Barun NP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Ganesh Himal | $10 | Langtang NP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Mardi Himal | $10 | ACAP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Khopra Danda | $10 | ACAP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Mohare Danda | $10 | ACAP ($30) | No | $40 |
| Pikey Peak | $10 | Solukhumbu local tax ($10) | No | $20 |
| Rolwaling | $10 | Gaurishankar CA ($30) | No | $40 |
Where to Get Each Permit
- TIMS Card — Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara; TAAN office in Kathmandu; trailhead checkpoints. See our TIMS guide.
- National Park entry — At the park entrance checkpoint (cash) OR in advance at the Department of National Parks office in Kathmandu. Sagarmatha NP entry can also be arranged at the Lukla checkpoint.
- Conservation Area entry (ACAP, MCAP) — At the conservation area entrance checkpoint (cash) OR in advance at the NTNC office in Khumaltar, Kathmandu.
- Restricted Area Permits — ONLY through a registered trekking agency in Kathmandu or Pokhara. You cannot apply yourself. The agency submits your passport details and itinerary to the Department of Immigration, which issues the permit in 1–3 working days. See the Department of Immigration website for the official process.
Documents You Need for Each Permit
For all permits, you need:
- Original passport (with valid Nepal visa)
- Passport-size photos (bring 6 to be safe — different permits want different numbers)
- Cash (NPR or USD; most checkpoints accept both at the current exchange rate)
- Trekking itinerary (start date, end date, route)
- For restricted-area permits: licensed guide's details and a letter from your agency
Restricted Area Permits — Special Rules
Restricted-area permits have stricter rules than other permits:
- You must trek with a licensed guide — no independent trekking is allowed
- You must be in a group of at least two trekkers (on paper — solo trekkers can sometimes arrange a 'phantom' second trekker through their agency, but this is increasingly being clamped down on)
- Permits are date-specific and route-specific — you cannot change your itinerary once issued
- Permits cannot be extended on the trail — if you want more days, you must arrange this in advance through your agency
- The agency must submit your permit details to the Department of Immigration before you start the trek
Warning: Do not attempt to enter a restricted area without the proper permit. Checkpoints are strict and the fines for non-compliance can be NPR 50,000+ ($400+). You will also be sent back to the trailhead, losing several days of trekking.
Permit Costs for SAARC Citizens
Citizens of SAARC countries (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan) get significantly discounted permits in Nepal. For example:
- TIMS Card: Free for SAARC citizens (vs $10–$20 for foreigners)
- Sagarmatha NP: NPR 1,500 (~$11) for SAARC vs $30 for foreigners
- ACAP: NPR 1,000 (~$7.50) for SAARC vs $30 for foreigners
- Langtang NP: NPR 1,500 (~$11) for SAARC vs $30 for foreigners
Indian citizens can trek in Nepal using an Indian passport or voter ID — no Nepal visa is required. See Nepal Department of Immigration for the current rules for Indian citizens.
What If I Lose a Permit on the Trail?
Lost permits can be replaced at the nearest checkpoint, ACAP office or national-park headquarters. Bring your passport and trekking agency's contact details. There is usually a NPR 200–500 admin fee. Take photos of all your permits on your phone before you start the trek — this speeds up the replacement process.
Can I Get All Permits in Kathmandu Before I Start?
Yes — and for most trekkers, this is the best approach. The Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu can issue TIMS Cards and most conservation-area permits in 1–2 hours. National-park entry permits can be arranged at the Department of National Parks office. Restricted-area permits take 1–3 working days through a registered agency.
If you are tight on time, your trekking agency can arrange all permits in advance and have them ready for you when you arrive in Kathmandu. This is the standard approach for organised treks and is usually included in the package price.
Permit planning is the least exciting part of trekking in Nepal, but it is also the easiest to get wrong. Print this guide, take a photo of it on your phone, and double-check which permits you need for your specific trek before you arrive. For the full permit checklist for your specific trek, see our individual trek guides like Manaslu Circuit or Everest Base Camp.
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