Work Remotely from Nepal: Complete Guide

Visa Options

Nepal has one of the simplest visa systems in the region - arrive, pay, stamp, done:

Tourist Visa on Arrival

• Duration options: 15 days ($30), 30 days ($50), or 90 days ($125)
• Process: Fill form at airport, pay in USD cash, get stamp (takes 30-60 minutes)
• Extensions: Can extend up to 150 days total per visa year (January-December)
• Extension cost: $3/day at Department of Immigration in Kathmandu
• Work status: Officially for tourism, remote work falls in gray area (like most countries)
• Requirements: Passport (6+ months validity), passport photo, cash USD for fee
• Best approach: Get 30-day visa, extend if you like it

Multiple Entry Option

• Available at additional cost
• Useful if you plan border runs to India/Tibet
• 15-day multiple entry: $50
• 30-day multiple entry: $80
• 90-day multiple entry: $180

Visa Extension Process

• Visit Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (near Thamel) or Pokhara
• Bring passport, photo, application form, fee
• Process takes 1-3 hours (get there early)
• Can extend in 15-day increments up to 150 days total
• Beyond 150 days: Must leave and cannot re-enter for 30 days

Practical Tips

• Bring USD cash in pristine condition (crisp bills, no tears)
• Airport visa line can be chaotic - stay patient
• E-visa option exists but on-arrival is often faster
• Keep track of your days carefully - overstaying leads to fines and potential ban
• Tourist visa year runs Jan 1 - Dec 31 (150-day limit resets)

No Digital Nomad Visa

• Nepal hasn’t created a specific remote work visa
• Tourism officials have discussed it but nothing implemented
• Current reality: Tourist visa works fine, no one is checking your laptop activity

Tax Implications

Nepal’s tax situation for short-term visitors is straightforward:

Tax Residency Rules

• 183+ days in a fiscal year (mid-July to mid-July) = tax resident
• Non-residents: Only taxed on Nepal-sourced income
• Foreign income earned remotely: Not taxed for tourists

For Remote Workers (Under 183 days)

• No Nepal tax obligation on foreign income
• Your salary from US/EU company is not Nepal-sourced
• Keep documentation proving foreign employment
• Stay under 183 days to be safe

If You Became Tax Resident

• Progressive rates: 1% to 36% depending on income
• But this is based on Nepal-sourced income
• Remote workers for foreign companies: Still in gray area
• Practically: Very few expats/nomads pay Nepal taxes

Banking Reality

• Opening a bank account as tourist: Nearly impossible
• Foreign currency accounts: Require long-term visa
• ATM withdrawals: Standard transaction fees, ₹35,000 NPR limit per withdrawal
• Cash economy: Nepal runs heavily on cash
• Wise card works at most ATMs

Recommendations

• Stay under 183 days to avoid any questions
• Keep foreign income in foreign accounts
• Use ATMs and cash (bring enough USD as backup)
• Document your entry/exit dates
• US citizens: Still file US taxes, use FEIE for exclusion

Best Cities

Nepal is compact but diverse - your choice of base dramatically affects daily life:

Kathmandu

• Best for: Central hub, best internet, largest nomad community, cultural immersion
• Cost: $600-1,000/month
• Neighborhood focus: Thamel (backpacker central, cafes, WiFi), Lazimpat (quieter, embassies), Boudha (Buddhist stupa, spiritual)
• Pros: Best coworking options, most reliable internet (30-50 Mbps fiber available), all services, airport hub, cultural depth
• Cons: Air pollution (wear mask in winter), traffic chaos, dusty, crowded, loud
• Internet: Best in country - 30-50 Mbps achievable, WorldLink and Vianet providers
• Coworking: Impact Hub Kathmandu, The Jeep Workspace, common.com, various cafe workspaces
• Vibe: Chaotic but rewarding - ancient temples, narrow alleys, honking motorcycles, temple bells

Pokhara

• Best for: Trekking base, lakeside chill, views of Annapurna range, relaxed pace
• Cost: $500-800/month
• Area: Lakeside (tourist strip along Phewa Lake)
• Pros: Stunning mountain views, laid-back atmosphere, adventure activities (paragliding, trekking), cleaner air than Kathmandu, beautiful lake
• Cons: Internet less reliable, smaller community, more tourist-focused than local
• Internet: 20-40 Mbps, more power cuts than Kathmandu
• Trekking access: Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill - all start from here
• Vibe: Backpacker meets adventure sports - cafes overlooking lake, sunrise over Machapuchare (Fishtail mountain)

Patan (Lalitpur)

• Best for: Culture lovers, artisans, quieter alternative to Kathmandu
• Cost: $500-800/month
• Location: Adjacent to Kathmandu (15-minute taxi), ancient royal city
• Pros: UNESCO heritage, less chaotic than Kathmandu proper, beautiful Durbar Square, traditional Newari architecture, craft workshops
• Cons: Fewer coworking options, need to go to Kathmandu for some services
• Internet: Similar to Kathmandu
• Vibe: Step back in time - traditional craftsmen, golden temples, quieter streets

Bhaktapur

• Best for: Total cultural immersion, escape modern chaos
• Cost: $400-600/month
• Reality: Very few nomads here - limited internet infrastructure
• Pros: Stunning medieval city, car-free center, pottery traditions, peaceful
• Cons: Minimal cafes/coworking, limited foreigner services
• Best for: Writers, creatives seeking solitude (bring mobile data backup)

Emerging/Seasonal

• Nagarkot: Mountain views, quieter retreat (weekend escape from Kathmandu)
• Bandipur: Ancient trading town, growing slowly (very limited infrastructure)

Timezone Overlap

Nepal uses GMT+5:45 - one of only two countries with a 45-minute offset (the other is Chatham Islands, NZ). This oddity actually helps:

With US Teams

• East Coast (EST/EDT): -10.75 hours
• West Coast (PST/PDT): -13.75 hours
• Overlap reality: Tough - requires evening/night work in Nepal
• Workable window: 7-10 PM Nepal = 8:15-11:15 AM EST
• Best for: Async-first companies or those willing to shift schedule

With EU Teams

• UK (GMT/BST): -5.75 hours
• Central Europe (CET/CEST): -4.75 hours
• Overlap: Good - afternoon Nepal = morning Europe
• Typical window: 2-7 PM Nepal = 9:15 AM - 2:15 PM CET
• Advantage: Work normal Nepal hours, catch EU morning meetings

With Middle East Teams

• Dubai (GST): -1.75 hours
• Excellent overlap - nearly same working hours
• Perfect for: Remote workers with UAE, Saudi, Qatar companies

With India

• IST (GMT+5:30): -0.25 hours (15 minutes ahead)
• Practically the same timezone - seamless collaboration

With Australian Teams

• Sydney (AEDT): +5.25 hours
• Overlap: Morning Nepal = afternoon Australia
• Moderate overlap - some schedule adjustment needed

The Timezone Strategy

• EU teams: Nepal is a solid choice - 4-5 hours of comfortable overlap
• US teams: Requires commitment to shifted schedule (evenings in Nepal)
• Middle East/India: Ideal timezone match
• The 45-minute offset sounds strange but makes minimal practical difference

Cost of Living

Nepal is extraordinarily cheap - one of the lowest cost-of-living countries for digital nomads:

Monthly Budget Breakdown

Budget Nomad: $500-700/month

• Accommodation: $150-250 (guesthouse room, shared apartment)
• Food: $150-200 (local dal bhat, street food, occasional restaurant)
• Coworking/Internet: $50-80 (cafe hopping, mobile data)
• Transport: $30-50 (local buses, occasional taxi)
• Activities: $50-100 (temple entry, local trips)
• Miscellaneous: $50-100

Comfortable Nomad: $800-1,200/month

• Accommodation: $300-500 (private apartment in Thamel/Lakeside, decent WiFi)
• Food: $200-300 (mix of local and Western restaurants)
• Coworking: $80-120 (proper coworking membership)
• Transport: $50-100 (taxis, occasional domestic flight)
• Activities: $100-200 (weekend treks, paragliding)
• Miscellaneous: $100-150

Specific Costs

• Dal bhat (traditional meal): $1-3
• Restaurant meal (tourist area): $5-10
• Beer: $2-4
• Coffee in cafe: $1.50-3
• Coworking day pass: $5-10
• Monthly apartment (1BR, decent): $200-400
• Domestic flight (KTM-Pokhara): $100-150
• 4G data (20GB): $10-15/month
• Home internet: $20-40/month

Money Reality

• Cash is king - carry NPR for daily transactions
• ATMs widely available in cities (limit ~$250-300 per withdrawal)
• Credit cards accepted at bigger hotels/restaurants
• No Uber/Grab - negotiate taxi prices or use local Pathao app
• Bargaining expected in markets (not in restaurants)

Why So Cheap?

• Local economy based on much lower incomes
• Tourism infrastructure caters to backpackers
• No fancy nightlife/luxury scene to tempt spending
• Simple pleasures: mountains, temples, dal bhat