On this page
Residential Visa Assistance helps foreign nationals understand which Nepal Residential Visa route may fit their circumstances and organize the records requested by the responsible authorities. Nepal’s Residential Visa is a visa category for qualifying foreign nationals; it is not permanent residence, and an application does not guarantee approval.
Who may qualify for a Residential Visa?
The Department of Immigration describes routes for people of international reputation, people able to make an outstanding contribution to Nepal’s economic, social, or cultural development, qualifying foreign investors, and foreigners who want to live in Nepal without carrying on a business. The Immigration citizen charter identifies a non-business route for foreigners aged 60 or older or retired. These categories have different evidence and review steps. For the non-business route, the current Department of Immigration citizen charter lists a USD 20,000 bank statement, regular income evidence, character and embassy documents, health evidence, proof of age 60 or retirement, and passport and recent Nepal visa. Confirm accepted evidence and current document formats with the Department before preparing a file. Published investor thresholds conflict. The Department of Industry citizen charter lists at least USD 1 million for its recommendation, while Immigration’s visa-fees page and DoI’s visa page cite USD 100,000. Confirm the applicable requirement with both departments before relying on either amount. The Department of Industry handles the investor recommendation; the Department of Immigration decides the visa application.
Documents to prepare
There is no single checklist for every Residential Visa applicant. The Immigration citizen charter lists records for the non-business route. For investor cases, the Department of Industry citizen charter lists documents for its recommendation, and Immigration lists records for the visa application. Confirm the live checklist and any original, notarization, translation, or certification requirements before submission.
Non-business applicants
- Online application receipt.
- Bank statement and regular income certificate supporting the financial requirements published by Immigration.
- Character certificate and no-objection letter from the applicant’s home-country embassy.
- Health certificate from the provider or in the format Immigration specifies.
- Evidence of age 60 or older, or evidence of retirement.
- Passport and copy of the most recent Nepal visa.
- For renewal, evidence of expenditure in Nepal as required by the Department.
Investor applicants
- For a Department of Industry recommendation: application, notarized passport and latest visa copy, evidence of the qualifying investment entering Nepal, tax clearance and audit report, current certified share register, and industry inspection report, as listed in its citizen charter.
- For the Immigration application after recommendation: online application receipt, Department of Industry recommendation, company and industry registration records, PAN, share certificate where relevant, passport and latest visa copy, and applicant biodata, as listed in Immigration’s investor guidance.
- Relationship evidence for dependents where required by the applicable checklist.
- For renewal, tax clearance and any additional records required by the authorities. These lists summarize official published requirements and may not cover every individual case. Do not obtain or submit a document based solely on this summary if the live checklist or the responsible authority gives different instructions.
How the process works
- Identify the route. Review whether the case concerns non-business residence, investment, international reputation, or a potential contribution to Nepal.
- Confirm current criteria. Check the Department of Immigration’s instructions. Investor applicants should also confirm the current threshold, evidence, and recommendation process with the Department of Industry.
- Organize supporting records. Match each document to the applicant’s route and flag missing or inconsistent details for clarification with the authority.
- Submit through the prescribed process. Complete the applicable online application and provide records in the format and to the office directed by the Department.
- Respond to official instructions. The authorities review the application, may request further information, and decide whether to issue or renew the visa. Follow the issued visa’s conditions and expiry date.
What our assistance covers
Immigration Nepal is an independent immigration assistance and advisory service, not the Government of Nepal. We can help explain the published route distinctions, organize a case-specific document checklist, and review whether records appear complete against official guidance. We do not issue visas, make eligibility decisions, collect government fees as an authority, or provide formal legal representation. We cannot promise eligibility, approval, processing time, or any other outcome. Official requirements can change, and published government information is not fully consistent on the investor threshold. Ask the Department of Immigration and Department of Industry to confirm the requirements that apply to your facts before filing. To discuss independent preparation support, contact Immigration Nepal.
Eligibility
- Immigration lists routes for people of international reputation, outstanding contributors to Nepal, qualifying investors, and foreigners intending to live in Nepal without business.
- The Immigration citizen charter identifies a non-business route for foreigners aged 60 or older or retired, subject to the applicable financial and documentary requirements.
- Investor thresholds conflict: the 2019 Foreign Investment Act and Department of Industry charter state USD 1 million; Immigration Rules and visa pages state over USD 100,000. Confirm with both departments.
- The responsible government authorities assess each case; meeting a listed category does not guarantee a visa.
Requirements
- Select the Residential Visa route that matches the applicant’s circumstances and confirm current criteria with the responsible authority.
- Complete the current online application and submit route-specific evidence in the format directed by Immigration.
- Investor applicants should confirm the current investment threshold and obtain any required Department of Industry recommendation before applying to Immigration.
- Follow the visa conditions and expiry date and confirm current renewal requirements with Immigration.
- A Residential Visa is not permanent residence; no eligibility, approval, processing time, or outcome is guaranteed.
Documents to prepare
- Non-business route: online application receipt, bank statement, and regular income certificate as listed by Immigration.
- Non-business route: character certificate, no-objection letter from the applicant’s home-country embassy, and health certificate as specified by Immigration.
- Non-business route: evidence of age 60 or older or retirement, passport, and recent Nepal visa copy.
- Non-business renewal: expenditure evidence as required by Immigration.
- Investor recommendation: application, notarized passport and latest visa, proof of investment entering Nepal, tax clearance, audit report, certified share register, and industry inspection report per the Department of Industry charter.
- Investor visa application: online receipt, Department of Industry recommendation, company and industry registration, PAN, relevant share certificate, passport and latest visa, and biodata per Immigration guidance.
- Investor dependents: relationship evidence where required by the current checklist; renewal applicants should confirm tax clearance and other current requirements.
Process
-
1
Identify the Residential Visa route
Establish whether the case concerns non-business residence, investment, international reputation, or a potential contribution to Nepal.
-
2
Confirm current criteria and checklist
Check current Department of Immigration instructions. Investor applicants should also confirm the investment threshold, supporting evidence, and recommendation process with the Department of Industry.
-
3
Organize route-specific records
Match available documents to the official checklist and confirm any requirements for originals, notarization, translation, or certification.
-
4
Submit the application to the authorities
Complete the prescribed application and provide supporting records in the format and to the office directed by the responsible authority.
-
5
Follow official review and visa conditions
Respond to any official request for information. Immigration decides issuance or renewal; follow the conditions and expiry date on any visa issued.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Nepal Residential Visa permanent residence?
No. It is a visa category, not permanent residence. Check the validity and conditions on the visa issued and follow the Department of Immigration’s renewal instructions.
Can a foreign retiree apply for a Residential Visa?
The Department of Immigration citizen charter lists a non-business route for foreigners aged 60 or older or retired. Applicants must also meet the applicable financial and documentary requirements, and Immigration decides each case.
What financial evidence is required for the non-business route?
The Immigration Rules refer to evidence of annual spending of USD 20,000 or equivalent convertible foreign currency in Nepal. The Department’s current citizen charter lists a USD 20,000 bank statement and proof of regular income at or above USD 20,000 per year. Confirm current requirements and accepted evidence directly with Immigration.
What investment amount qualifies an investor?
Published official sources differ: Immigration and a Department of Industry visa page cite more than USD 100,000, while the Department of Industry citizen charter lists at least USD 1 million. Confirm the current applicable threshold with both departments before planning or applying.
Does the Department of Industry issue the investor’s visa?
No. The Department of Industry describes its role in recommending qualifying investor cases. The Department of Immigration decides the Residential Visa application.
Does Immigration Nepal guarantee Residential Visa approval?
No. Immigration Nepal provides independent document and process assistance. The responsible government authorities assess eligibility and make the decision; approval and processing time are not guaranteed.
General information only. Requirements depend on the facts of each case and can change, so confirm the current position before filing.