Important
Note to all Visitors and Trekkers
Here's a little legalese from the Nepalese ~ requesting your
cooperation to observe the following guidelines during your
stay in Nepal.
1.
All foreign visitors are requested to be mindful of the date
of expiry of the Nepalese visa and their passports to avoid
future problems. As such, you are requested to apply for a visa
extension, if you wish so, within the valid period of the Nepalese
visa.
2. You are requested to get the arrival/departure stamp on your
passport at the entry/exit points to avoid further complications.
3. Living in Nepal without passport or a valid visa is a punishable
offense.
4. Deviation from the prescribed routes in the trekking permit
will be treated as the violation of the law.
5. You are advised to be aware of brokers/cheaters or any counterfeit
documents of visa/trekking permits to avoid legal complications.
If you are not visiting/trekking through any authorized agency,
do not use mediators for visa/trekking permits. You are requested
to contact the Immigration Office directly.
6. Change of purpose of stay without permission is not allowed
and employment or voluntary service while on a tourist visa
is strictly prohibited. It will be a punishable offense.
7. Be sure to register at the police and Immigration cheek point
along the trail. It is wise to register your trekking destination
and schedule at your Embassy or Consulate.
8. If you encounter problems along the trails, report them to
the nearest police or Immigration post.
9. You are requested to change money with authorized dealers
and do not forget to take formal receipts.
10. You are requested to inform the Immigration Office or Police
Station for any changes in your address previously given in
the visa application form.
11. You are advised to be mindful to contact the Immigration
Department for visa transfer in case of getting new passport
or travel document from you Embassy/Consulate.
12. The trekker while trekking should keep passport and trekking
permit.
13. Filming in restricted areas or notified areas without permission
is strictly prohibited.
14. Respect local traditions, customs, values and sentiments
to help them protect local cultures and maintain local pride.
Nepal
Customs and Airport Information Green Channel: Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International
Airport (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through
the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check.
If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through
the Red Channel for detailed customs clearance. Import: Apart from used personal belongings,
visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty cigarettes
(200) or cigars (50), distilled liquor (one 1.15 liter bottle),
and film (15 rolls). You can also bring in the following articles
free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when
you leave: binoculars, movie or video camera, still camera,
laptop computer, and portable music system. Export: It is illegal to export objects over
100 years old (sacred images, paintings, manuscripts) that are
valued for culture and religious reasons. Visitors are advised
not to purchase such items as they are Nepal’s cultural
heritage and belong here. The Department of Archaeology (Ph:
271504, 271478) at Ramshah Path near Singha Durbar has to certify
all metal statues, sacred paintings and similar objects before
they are allowed to be sent or carried out of the country. Handicraft
dealers and travel agents are able to assist you in this process.
For more information on customs matters, contact the Chief Customs
Administrator, TIA Customs Office; Ph: 470110, 472266. Airport Tax: Passengers departing from the
Tribhuvan International Airport are required to pay an airport
tax of Rs. 900 if going to SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and Rs. 1100.00 to
all other international destinations. Domestic airport tax is
Rs. 165. Nepal Time and Business Hours Nepal is five hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT. Government
offices are open from 10 am to 5 pm from Sunday through Friday.
On Fridays they remain open until 3 pm. Banks are open from
Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm. On Fridays, banks
remain open until 12 pm only. Business offices are open from
10 am to 5 pm Sunday through Friday.
Embassies and international organizations are open from 9 am
to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Most shops open after 10 am and
close at about 8 pm and are usually closed on Saturdays.
Although Nepal works seven days a week, it observes numerous
holidays, at the least a couple a months. So please check the
holiday calendar. Government offices observe all the holidays
and banks observe most of them. Businesses observe the major
holidays only.
