Nepal's immigration authority has published an official notice listing 13 countries whose nationals cannot obtain a visa on arrival at any entry point into the country. The list includes eight African nations: Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland (now Eswatini), Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, and Ethiopia. The restriction also applies to citizens of Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria.
African countries affected by Nepal's visa policy
The notice, issued by the Royal Nepalese Embassy, specifies that citizens of these countries are not eligible for visa on arrival at any of Nepal's immigration entry points. The decision affects travelers from the listed African nations who previously may have relied on the convenience of obtaining a visa upon arrival.
In addition to the country-based restrictions, holders of temporary travel documents and emergency passports are also excluded from the visa-on-arrival facility, regardless of their nationality. This measure adds another layer of scrutiny for travelers with non-standard travel documents.
Required procedure for affected travelers
Instead of processing visas on arrival, citizens of the restricted countries must follow a different procedure. They are required to obtain a reference letter from their own country's embassy before applying for a Nepali visa. The application must then be submitted directly to the Nepali embassy in their home country or region.
This means travelers from Nigeria, Ghana, and the other listed African nations cannot simply board a flight to Kathmandu and handle documentation at the border, as many other nationalities are permitted to do. The additional steps demand more lead time and planning before any trip to Nepal can be undertaken.
Context and related visa exemptions
Earlier reports from Legit.ng noted that Nepal's immigration authority confirmed that almost all foreign nationals require a valid visa before traveling to the country. The Himalayan nation has named just one country whose citizens are exempt from the visa requirement entirely, though that country was not specified in the current notice.
The new restriction is part of Nepal's broader visa policy, which aims to regulate entry and ensure proper documentation for visitors. For affected travelers, the key takeaway is the need to initiate the visa application process well in advance, including securing the required reference letter from their embassy.
