We're going to Nepal in April. Can we get our visas when we arrive or do we need to get them before we leave? I've heard that it's easy to get them there but the tour company says it takes 2 hours and we need to get them ahead. It's much less expensive if we get them there! Has anybody done this recently?

Does the tour company want to do this for you at a significant profit to them?

I was last there a few years ago, but it is relatively quick and easy to get it on arrival. It took us maybe 15 to 20 minutes.

I don't know who makes the profit but the company that gets the visa for us charges $130 (for 2) plus $25 mailing fee. If we get it there it costs $50 for 2.

Peg, get them on arrival. If you get a forward seat on the plane, fill in the forms in the air and walk directly to immigration, you'll knock it off in five minutes or less.

I've done this five times, last time a year ago. Easy as pie. No need to stress.

And if I were you, I'd get another tour company. They're telling you big fibs. If they lie on this matter, I wonder how truthful they are on everything else.

As dogster says....

Application form is here:

Note (from form): "Tourist visa may also be obtained at any of the following entry points: Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu; Biratnagar (Jogbani), Birgunj (Raxaul), Bhairahawa (Sunauli) and Kakarbhitta (Panitanki) on Nepal-India border and Kodari on Nepal China border."

You have to join two queues, as best I remember, but two hours is a fantasy. And even if it wasn't a fantasy, you'd be saving $52.50 an hour.

Oops: http://www.nepalembassyusa.org/admin...ation_form.pdf

Thank you all. I really appreciate the help!!

i disagree.... i was there in november... and we were 6th in line for 'arrivals with visa'.... there were 200-300 people at least in the waiting line for visas on arrival and we later heard stories of a couple of hours wait..

i got mine for $25 by sending it to the cousulate in nyc.

i sent them by regular mail and enclosed a return enevelope... it took maybe 2 weeks

3 large planes landed within an hour due to the fogg. We had to circle and wait for a place to park the plan. Hence the large number waiting for VOA. Yes this is unusual, but we did hear of people waiting well over an hour. The next hurdle was finding your luggage on their antiquated belt and PILE ( not rows) that the handlers had made. Still worth the trip.

In November we also breezed through in about 10 minutes, including waiting in the line. We were prepared with photos and completed application.

Now leaving KTM was a different story with a total of about 60 minutes in line (well, two lines actually) for exit immigration check. Fortunately the lines were ruly.

It's worth noting that in unusual circumstances such as those encountered by Bob and Karen, you may be stuck in a long line. For most of us, the VOA on arrival was a breeze.

But if you want to insure this doesn't happen to you, get your visa in advance from the Nepal embassy yourself (no need for the tour company or a visa service to do it for you).

Just a note that not everyone can conveniently reach the Nepal embassy for quite obvious reasons! I always use a visa service simply because it is a lot easier and much cheaper than doing it myself.

But you don't have to VISIT the Nepalese embassy. You can mail/fedex the documents. Which you'd have to do if you paid a service.

You can save yourself time by filling out the form before you arrive, have the correct change and have the two photos, also make sure that you get in the right lineup.

Depends on your luck...we got right thru even tho my kids did not believe me when I said you needed two passport photos. There is a place right in the visa area to have the photos taken. We were the last to get our visas (well, I had gotten mine ahead of time) and still it did not take long. Wait till you see how long it takes to get thru the traffic in Kathmandu.