Updated 10th March 2022: Entry Protocol for Mountaineering Expeditions and Trekking in Nepal
Here is latest notice from Department of Immigration - Nepal. Notice - Updated on 10 March 2022.pdf
Nepal Government has official removed quarantine for Vaccinated travelers visiting Nepal as of 23rd September 2021 and 21st January 2022. The government has also opened Visa on Arrival (VOA) for Vaccinated travelers.
"Travel Management-Related Regulation 2078 B.S for Incoming passengers from Abroad and Outgoing passengers from Nepal"
Introduction:
In compliance with the Prevention, Control, Diagnosis and Treatment of the new variant and for the purpose of regulation of passengers' movement from abroad to Nepal and passengers' movement from Nepal to abroad, this Regulation has been issued as per the authority envisioned by Infection Disease Act 2020 Clause 2 of Nepal Government.
1. Name and Introduction in Brief
(1) The name of this Regulation shall be "Travel management related regulation for Incoming passengers from Abroad and Outgoing passengers from Nepal"
(2) This shall come into effect immediately,
2. Definition: Unless the subject or the context otherwise requires, in this Regulation,-
(a) 'Covid 19 Test' means RT-PCR, Gene Expert or True NAAT and it includes other forms of tests recognized by World Health Organization
(b) 'Antigen Test' means Recognized or Enlisted antigen, Rapid Antigen or Rapid Antigen (Self Testing) by Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal.
3. Conditions to be Fulfilled by Foreign Nationals Arriving Nepal
(1) Visa on arrival shall be granted to nationals of those countries who are entitled to visa on arrival to Nepal as per the prevalent law and who have taken complete dose/doses of Covid 19 vaccine/s. Above mentioned nationals shall apply for visa at the entry points of Immigration in Nepal with the following documents, beside other documents,
(a) Evidence of Completion of 14 days of period of Covid 19 vaccination,
(b) 72 hours Covid 19 Negative Report prior to Check in at the Airlines Counter,
(c) a copy of Expedition or Trekking Permit, if required so,
(d) evidence of hotel booking
(e) to login to www.ccmc.gov.np, to fill International Traveler Online Arrival Form and print a copy of the same
(2) For those who are Double Vaccinated and want to obtain Visa from Nepal Embassy in their respective country, Visa Application to the Nepal Embassy must include documents stated in Clause 3 (Sub Clause a, c, d) and proof as per Clause 3 (Sub Clause b, e) apart from regular documents required for Visa.
(3) For those who have not received the Double Vaccination, Visa must be obtained before hand from the respective Nepal Embassy abroad or through Visa Recommendation through travel/ tour/ trekking agency in Nepal. In such cases, Visa Application must include documents stated in Clause 3 (Sub Clause a, c, d) and proof as per Clause 3 (Sub Clause b, e) apart from regular documents required for Visa.
(4) All foreign nationals entering Nepal must undergo Antigen Test at Nepal Immigration entry point. Those with Positive Antigen Test report shall be sent to isolation center or hospital as recommended by the Ministry of Health and Population.
(5) For those who are unable to undergo Antigen Test at the Nepal Immigration Entry Point, PCR Test or Antigen Test must be taken when in hotel, and the visitor shall be allowed movement from hotel only after RT PCR Negative.
4. Protocol to be Followed by Foreign Nationals After Entering Nepal
(1) As per Clause 3, Section 3, foreign nationals without Double Vaccination Certificate are required to undergo 10 Days Quarantine at self cost. Movement will be allowed after PCR Test and RT PCR Negative done on the 11th day.
(2) All expenses incurred for COVID-19 Test, isolation, insurance and all other related expenses shall be solely borne by the foreign national concerned.
(3) All foreign nationals in Nepal who show symptoms of COVID-19 must undergo PCR Test immediately, and must stay in isolation if the report is positive.
(4) For visitors arriving through travel and trekking agencies, the concerned travel and trekking agency shall be responsible for ensuring that they adhere to the Government-recommended protocol.
(5) For visitors in hotel quarantine or isolation, the concerned hotel shall be responsible to ensure that visitors adhere to the Government-recommended protocol.
(6) If any tourist or visitor violates the Government-recommended protocol, the concerned agency or hotel shall inform about the same to Nepal Police and the related authority immediately.
5. The conditions to be followed mandatorily by the Nepali citizens, Non-Resident Nepalese (NRN’s) Arriving or Returning to Nepal
(1) Those who have been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 and completed their 14 days after being vaccinated and have been staying in foreign countries or travelling aboard need to present negative PCR report of 72 hours prior to checking-in / boarding off while returning to Nepal from foreign employment along with the printed copy of International Traveler Online Arrival Form posted in www.ccmc.gov.np Travelers having no symptom of COVID-19 shall be allowed to enter Nepal without any restriction.
(2) The Non-Resident Nepalese (NRN’s) and their families or Nepali citizen having marital relation with the foreign national while filling out the on-arrival form in the immigration shall be mandated to present the negative PCR report of 72 hours and International Traveler Online Arrival Form by downloading from the www.ccmc.gov.np website. Those travelers who are vaccinated and completed their 14 days of being vaccinated and have no any symptoms of COVID-19 are allowed to embark to their destination. In the condition of those who haven’t completed their 14 days of being vaccinated shall be mandated to take Antigen test and shall be allowed to move if the report turns out to be negative.
(3) Sub-clause according to (1) or (2), the travelers developing the symptom of COVID -19 at the time of entering the immigration shall be mandated to take Antigen test. The travelers whose report comes positive shall be mandatorily be kept in Isolation or sent to hospital.
(4) The travelers who haven’t completed their 14 days following the vaccine against COVID-19 and have been travelling or residing in foreign countries or in foreign employment shall be mandated to present the negative PCR report of 72 hours and International Traveler Online Arrival Form for those embarking to Nepal from foreign countries. The form can be downloaded from www.ccmc.gov.np . The travelers not completing the 14 days of vaccination shall be mandated to take Anti-gen test and are allowed to embark to their destination upon getting the negative report.
(5) The provision stated in (4) Subclause (1), (2) or (4) shall be considered an exception given that the Nepali citizen or Non-Resident Nepalese (NRN’s) or their families shall be allowed to enter Nepal given that the conditions stated below are strictly followed :
(a) Those coming for funeral and last rite of relatives according to their religion, custom, tradition, have to do compulsory Antigen test at Nepal's immigration entry point. With negative Antigen test & recommendation from concerned Local Level, will be allowed to go their destination.
(b) In case of disabled, chronic patient and differently-abled; caretakers coming with patients have to do compulsory Antigen test at Nepal's immigration entry point. With negative Antigen test, certification from hospital & recommendation from concerned Local Level, will be allowed to go their respective destination.
(c) Senior citizens above 75 years of age and their caretakers, minors below 5 years of age and parents/guardians of such minors have to do compulsory Antigen test at Nepal's immigration entry point. With negative Antigen test & recommendation from concerned Local Level, completely following health protocol will be allowed to go home/destination.
(d) Any member of a family admitted for medication in Hospital ICU/ Ventilator with no any caretaker, have to do compulsory Antigen Test at Nepal's immigration entry point. Certification from hospital along with recommendation from concerned local level and with negative Antigen Test will be allowed to go hospital/home/destination.
(e) In relation to those found positive in Antigen test as per (a), (b), (c) and (d) shall stay Isolation Center completely following health protocol.
(3) The respective local body shall monitor the terms and conditions of protocols followed or not as per sub clause (2).
6. Provision for Staff of the Diplomatic Mission and Other Agencies
(1) Fully vaccinated officials of the diplomatic mission, employee and family members of international organizations and international non-government organizations completing 14 days of vaccination who are entering Nepal have to submit COVID-19 PCR report prior to 72 hours of departure, copy filled International Traveler Online Arrival Form from website www.ccmc.gov.np for on Arrival Visa . For those issuing Visa from Nepal's Diplomatic Missions abroad have to submit/show COVID-19 PCR report prior to 72 hours of departure, copy filled International Traveler Online Arrival Form from website www.ccmc.gov.np at Nepal's Immigration entry point. Such officials with no any symptoms of COVID-19 are allowed to go their destination.
(2) People arriving Nepal, as per the sub clause (1) will need to do the antigen test if any symptom is seen. Passengers with negative report will be allowed to leave for the destination and with positive report will be sent for isolation / hospital.
(3) As per the sub clause (1), officials of public organizations, diplomatic missions and their family members who have not completed both doses of vaccine can visit Nepal following the below listed conditions:
(a) Diplomats, Officials of diplomatic agencies and family members will be allowed to visit Nepal on the recommendation of the respective agencies. The visitors after testing negative in antigen test at the airport will need to self isolate in the place suggested by the agency for 10 days before heading to the destinations.
(b) Health officials working abroad will be allowed to visit Nepal and work to control COVID 19 in Nepal on the recommendation of Ministry of Health and Population. The visitors after testing negative in antigen test at the airport will need to self isolate in the place suggested by the ministry for 10 days before heading to the destinations. Ministry of Health and Population will monitor the process.
(c) Government Employees who return to the country from foreign countries after completing their assignments given by the concerned offices, after testing negative in the antigen test will need to self isolate for 10 days before heading to the destinations. The respective office will monitor the process.
(d) Security Officials who return to the country from foreign countries after completing their assignments given by the respective security force, after testing negative in the antigen test will need to self isolate for 10 days before heading to the destinations. Respective security force will monitor the process.
(e) If a visitor is tested positive in an antigen test as per the section (a), (b), (c), and (d) , s/he has to isolate following the health and hygiene protocol.
7. Nepal Entry through Land Route
(1) A person with Covid-19 Negative report of within 72 hours should visit www. ccmc.gov.np. and fill up the International Traveler Online Arrival Form Prior to entry to Nepal a foreign country and keep its print copy. The Indian Citizens with such print copy shall be allowed to enter Nepal through land route.
(2) A person entering Nepal as per clause 1 if found to have symptoms of Covid-19, such person shall be only allowed to enter Nepal if his/her Antigen test is Negative.
(3) In case of citizens of other countries than India, vaccination completed against Covid-19, Covid Negative report of within 72 hours, a person with visa granted from Nepalese embassies or consulates in abroad and foreign citizens producing documents as per clause 3 subclause 1 at the Immigration point with Negative Antigen test report may be allowed to enter Nepal through land route. If such test is unable to conduct at the immigration point, it should be conducted at the hotel where such person stays.
(4) A foreign citizen who is eligible to receive On Arrival visa as per the existing law and has completed the vaccination against Covid-19 and has a Covid-19 Negative test report of within 72 hours and can produce the documents as per clause 3 subclause 1 may be provided On Arrival Visa at the Immigration Point. Such person may be allowed to enter Nepal through land route after Negative Antigen test report.
8. Provision for Departure to Third Country from Nepal
(1) A foreign citizen who wishes to transit in Nepal while visiting any third country shall be granted such permission.
(2) A foreign citizen who enters Nepal and again wants to visit third country or a person who after staying in Nepal for some days wants to visit any other country then such person will be allowed to depart from Nepal as per the existing Immigration laws and on following terms:
(a) Should have completed at least 14 days of vaccination against Covid-19,
(b) A foreign citizen should have complied with the terms while entering Nepal,
(c) Should have a Covid-19 negative report from the recognized laboratory in Nepal.
9. Provision of Testing of Children
Any vaccine or test is not required in case of children below five years in age. In case of children above 5 years and below 18 years of age vaccination against Covid-19 will not be compulsory however other provision shall remain same for such children as for other Nepali and foreign citizens.
10. Provision for Nepalese in Special Condition
Nepalese citizen who went for foreign employment but sent back from respective country, deported from foreign countries or returned on the stage of penniless, will be allowed for their destination if they are completely vaccinated against COVID 19 and have obtained negative PCR report 72 hours prior to their flight to Nepal, in others case at immigration if tested negative in antigen test will be allowed to go to their destination. If found positive in test they have to stay in isolation centers or hospital designated by government for 10 days and will be allowed to go their destination on receiving negative report.
11. Testing Facility at Immigration
Ministry of Health and Population has to manage antigen test at point of entering Nepal in immigration and managing that place will be helped by Ministry of Home and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
12. Provision for Departing Passengers from Nepal
(1) Those leaving Nepal for abroad have to submit COVID-19 negative report within 48 hours or as per duration mentioned in protocol of destination country from recognized labs. Also they need to compulsorily fill International Online Departure Form in website of CCMC www.ccmc.gov.np.
(2) Nepalese going foreign countries will be given certificates of vaccination with QR Codes, if feasible through online medium by Ministry of Health and Population.
13. Responsibility of Airlines
(1) Airlines should not check in, take passengers to Nepal or from Nepal who have not flowed clauses as per this Order.
(2) Health Protocol airlines need to follow will be issued by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and it will be duty of airlines to follow that protocol.
14. Contact Tracing
(1) If any air passengers found infected Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has to submit details of all passengers on that flight to Ministry of Health and Ministry of Health has to contact trace and test COVID for all passengers keeping them in Home or Hotel Quarantine.
(2) Pursuant to Sub-section (1), the airline by which the COVID-19 infected person has traveled shall provide necessary assistance including the details of the passenger travelled on its plane for the purpose of contact tracing.
15. Examination of Health Related Documents
The health related documents of the passengers arriving at the airport will be checked by the staff assigned by the Ministry of Health.
16. Action to be Taken
Any person who does not comply with this Order shall be prosecuted in accordance with the Infectious Diseases Act, 2020 and the prevailing law.
17. Repeal and Rescue
(1) Order Regarding the Management of Passengers Arriving in Nepal from Abroad, 2078 has been repealed.
(2) The work done in accordance with the Order as per Sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been done in accordance with this order.
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