On 26 August 2026, major flooding in Rasuwa district and the Nepal-China border area caused widespread damage. Buildings, roads, other transport and communications infrastructure have been severely damaged. Other areas in Nepal, including Gorkha, Nuwakot and Dhading, have also been affected.
\n\nThe Nepalese authorities and emergency services are responding. The authorities have warned of the risk of further flooding. Areas affected by flooding and landslides may remain unstable. Further heavy rainfall or an earthquake could trigger additional landslides, rockfalls and other hazards, particularly in mountainous areas. The situation may change rapidly.
\n\nIf you are travelling in the region, follow the advice of the Nepalese government and local authorities, be alert to the changing situation and monitor local media for updates. The Nepalese government has established a toll-free emergency Nepalese language number, 1234, and a dedicated hotline 1144 accessible in Nepal.
\n\nThe Family Assistance Centre at the British Embassy Kathmandu remains available to support the family and friends of affected British Nationals.
\n\nIn-person support at the Centre will be available Monday to Thursday, between 9am and 5pm and on Friday, between 9am and 1pm.
\n\nConsular assistance remains available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone affected who requires support from the UK Government.
\n\nIf you are affected and need assistance from the UK Government call:
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. See the ‘Getting Help’ page for further information.
\nEscalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.
\n\nYour travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:
\n\nIf your visa has expired as a result of travel disruption, the Nepal Immigration Department have indicated that affected foreign nationals will receive a visa extension without cost until flights are rescheduled. This should be arranged at the airport.
\nNo travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
\n\nIf you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
\n\nThe Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThis information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK Government’s understanding of Nepal’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Nepal set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Nepal Embassy in the UK.
\n\nTo avoid problems at immigration, make sure your passport has an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after your date of entry into Nepal.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nYou will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
\n\nAt border control, you may need to show:
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
\n\nYou must have a visa to visit Nepal for up to 90 days.
\n\nYou can apply online for a visa on arrival up to 15 days in advance of your arrival. Using your submission receipt, you then collect and pay for your visa at the airport. You can also apply using the forms or terminals available at the airport, then queue up to get the visa. You can pay by card, but you should have cash as a back-up, with US dollars being the preferred currency.
\n\nAlternatively you can apply for a tourist visa in advance and collect it from the Nepal Embassy in the UK or in another country. Applying in advance can reduce the time it takes to pass through immigration.
\n\nVisas are available for several lengths of stay at various costs. Look on the immigration department website for the options.
\n\nYou can extend your visa online to up to a total of 150 days in one year.
\n\nOverstaying your visa in Nepal is a serious crime and can lead to significant fines or imprisonment.
\n\nTo enter Nepal, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had:
\n\nFor full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Nepal guide.
\n\nThere are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Nepal. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
\n\nBringing precious metals into Nepal is strictly regulated. You can carry gold ornaments up to 50 grams and silver ornaments up to 100 grams. If you bring in undeclared gold or silver, you may:
\n\nYou must declare on a customs form on arrival any amount above the value of 5,000 US dollars in banknotes or 10,000 dollars in notes and travellers cheques combined. Customs will give a certified declaration, which you must keep.
\n\nYou will need to convert all your Nepali currency before you leave Nepal, and the bank or exchange counter at the airport may ask you for the declaration.
\n\nATMs are not reliable outside main tourist sites.
\n\n","slug":"entry-requirements","title":"Entry requirements"},{"body":"There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
\n\nUK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
\n\nAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Nepal, attacks cannot be ruled out.
\n\nAttacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals. Be vigilant in public places and take local advice.
\n\nPolitical protests, demonstrations and strikes are fairly common in Nepal.
\n\nThese can start at short notice and may lead to violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Protests cause disruption to transport and the authorities may increase the police presence or impose a curfew.
\n\nYou should:
\n\nThere’s a low rate of serious crime in Nepal but take precautions.
\n\nWatch out for pickpockets and bag-snatchers, particularly in airports, on buses and in areas popular with foreign nationals like Thamel, Sanepa and Kupondol in Kathmandu.
\n\nTake care when walking around at night. Assaults and robberies are more likely in the evening in poorly lit areas. Avoid walking on your own and do not carry large sums of cash. Keep valuables in a hotel safe if possible.
\n\nWomen have been sexually assaulted in tourist areas such as Thamel and Sanepa in Kathmandu. Be cautious, especially when alone after dark. See Advice for women travelling abroad.
\n\nBe wary of accepting drinks from strangers and do not leave drinks unattended.
\n\nThere has been an increase in cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in popular travel destinations around the world.
\n\nEven small amounts of methanol can kill. It is not possible to identify methanol in alcoholic drinks by taste or smell. See Travel Aware Drink Spiking and Methanol Poisoning for information about how to reduce the risks.
\n\nSeek urgent medical attention if you or someone you are travelling with show the signs of methanol poisoning after drinking.
\n\nThere have been isolated reports of some trekking guides taking inexperienced trekkers to high altitudes too quickly, and then calling in expensive helicopter medivacs from which the guides take a cut. Be wary of trekking deals that look very cheap and may be scams.
\n\nYou should carry your passport with you. Leave a copy in a safe place or with friends and family in the UK.
\n\nAvoid wearing shorts and sleeveless tops in temples and other holy places. Remove shoes before entering certain holy places. Non-Hindus are not permitted inside certain parts of Hindu temples.
\n\nPenalties for drugs related offences are severe. If you are caught with even small amounts of marijuana, you can go to prison for over 5 years, usually after a long and expensive legal process.
\n\nSome skincare products and e-cigarette refills may contain ingredients that are illegal in Nepal such as cannabidiol (CBD). If the police find you with products containing CBD, they may seize them and charge you with drug possession.
\n\nNepal is generally open and tolerant to LGBT+ issues, and same-sex relations are not illegal. However, showing affection in public, irrespective of sexuality or gender, is viewed by Nepalis as inappropriate.
\n\nRead more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nIt’s illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any wild animal or trade its parts without a licence. Nepal is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which bans trade of wildlife products without a permit. If you are caught buying or trafficking such goods, or knowingly assisting anyone to do so, you will get a fine or a prison sentence.
\n\nYou need a valid permit and a Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) card to enter Nepal’s main trekking regions. See the Nepal Tourism Board TIMS card requirement for more information.
\n\nDo not trek alone. All foreign independent trekkers (FITs) must use a local guide or porter while trekking in Nepal’s national parks and protected areas. Always observe national park regulations and follow your guide’s instructions.
\n\nIf you ignore the requirements, you may be fined or removed from protected areas. Check the Nepal Tourism Board website for further information or updates.
\n\nBe aware of hazards all year round, especially above 3,000m. There could be:
\n\nTo reduce your risk:
\n\nMake sure your insurance includes cover for mountain rescue services and helicopter costs.
\n\nYou can get live updates on trekking conditions in Nepal. You can also follow national weather forecasts.
\n\nInternal flights in high mountain areas can be delayed by poor weather conditions and cancellations are common. Carry enough funds in case of delays, particularly in remote areas, where ATMs may not be available and credit cards not accepted.
\n\nIn remote areas, including long stretches of the Annapurna Circuit trek, mobile phone coverage is limited. Consider renting a satellite phone and make sure your friends and family know you will be out of contact.
\n\nResearch any organisation or company you’re planning to use before committing yourself. See Volunteering and adventure travel.
\n\nNepal’s Social Welfare Council has a list of registered volunteer organisations. You can ask for a copy by sending an email to: info@swc.org.np.
\n\nThe British Embassy has received reports of volunteer opportunities at orphanages which are profit-orientated organisations rather than charities. If you’re volunteering at this type of organisation, you could be contributing to child exploitation. Contact the Nepali Central Child Welfare Board on +977 1-5010045 and 5010046 to check before signing up to volunteer for one of these organisations.
\n\nIf you’re planning to drive in Nepal, see information on driving abroad and read the International Drivers Association Nepal driving guide.
\n\nYou need a 1968 international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence to drive in Nepal. The 1949 IDP is not accepted any more. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
\n\nAlways carry your IDP when driving, as well as your vehicle registration documents.
\n\nRoad accidents are a major cause of death and disability in Nepal. The causes include:
\n\nRoad conditions are poor, especially during the monsoon season or in mountain areas.
\n\nBy law only the driver of a vehicle is required to wear a seatbelt, or a helmet when driving a motorbike. You can still use seatbelts for passengers, which are fitted in some taxis. Motorbike rentals will always provide helmets for passengers if requested.
\n\nBus accidents are common in Nepal and there are a number of accidents resulting in fatalities every year. Buses are often overcrowded, poorly regulated and poorly maintained. Speeding, low driving standards and poor road conditions contribute to the risk of accidents. Do not travel on overloaded or overcrowded buses, or at night. Tourist buses usually offer a higher standard of comfort and safety.
\n\nAir crashes can have a variety of causes and are not necessarily linked with poor safety standards or non-compliance with international safety standards. However, there have been a number of fatal accidents and air crashes across Nepal in the commercial air transport sector, involving planes and helicopters. Over the last 5 years, this includes a number of separate incidents and at least 100 deaths.
\n\nThe UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Nepal that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to or from the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering whether to fly and which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
\n\nCurrently no Nepali airline meets the international safety standards and so all are listed on the ASL. This means they are all banned from operating commercial air services to or from the UK.
\n\nFind out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
\n\nTravel during the monsoon season (normally June to October) can be hazardous. Flooding and landslides can lead to impassable roads, delays to journeys, or cut off towns and villages for days at a time. If you travel by road during monsoon season you should:
\n\nThe Nepal government Meteorological Forecasting Division provides weather updates (in English) and flood forecasts during the monsoon. You can also access the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology flood monitoring service.
\n\nEarth tremors are common across Nepal. The lack of emergency equipment and poorly resourced medical facilities is likely to worsen an earthquake’s impact. British Embassy assistance will be slow to reach you if you are in a remote area.
\n\nThe National Society of Earthquake Technology (NSET) gives advice on what to do in an earthquake, including ‘Ten tips on earthquake safety’. Check with your tour operator to find out what contingency plans they have for an earthquake.
\n\nFollowing a significant earthquake you should expect transport, accommodation and basic services in affected areas to be disrupted. Relief efforts are likely to be a priority for the authorities. Check with your tour company or hotel for further information on whether travel to an area is possible or appropriate.
\n\nBuilding, fire and electrical protection standards in Nepal are not always the same as in the UK. You should:
\n\nBe aware of the risks of exposure to carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that is impossible to detect without an alarm. It can be produced by fires, charcoal grills or incorrectly installed gas equipment, and a lack of appropriate ventilation is dangerous. Find out more about how to stay safe and the symptoms to look out for.
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nThere is no central public ambulance service. Some private providers operate in the main cities. In an emergency, call the nearest hospital. FCDO has a list of some of the hospitals in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
\n\nContact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
\n\nAt least 8 weeks before your trip:
\n\nSee what health risks you’ll face in Nepal, including:
\n\nAltitude sickness is a risk in parts of Nepal, particularly in tourist and trekking areas. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nThe legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
\n\nRead best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nMedical treatment is expensive at western travellers’ clinics in Nepal. Healthcare is poor in most places outside the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. It may be difficult to get rapid helicopter evacuation if you fall ill or suffer a serious accident in a remote area of the country. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad, repatriation and evacuation by helicopter. This usually costs between £1,000 and £2,000 or more per flying hour.
\n\nFCDO has a list of medical providers in Kathmandu and Pokhara where some staff will speak English.
\n\nRead FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
\n\n","slug":"health","title":"Health"},{"body":"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
\n\nPolice: 100
\n\nTourist police (good English language skills): 1144
\n\nFire: 101
\n\nAmbulance: 102
\n\nTourist police in Kathmandu : 01 5347041
\n\nTourist police for incidents in Thamel (Kathmandu): 009 77 9851289453
\n\nContact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
\n\nFor refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
\n\nFind out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
\n\nFCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
\n\nSee how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
\n\nYou can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
\n\nTelephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
\n\n\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\n\n\nThe Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Nepal on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
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