At first glance getting in to Nepal to travel around and explore or to live and work seems quite easy because Nepal prides itself on giving visas to everyone irrespective of their nationality.  However, in reality the fact that there are so many visa types that one can apply for to enter Nepal depending on the reason and duration of stay makes the process a little more complicated than at first glance.

Anyone planning on living and working in Nepal for any length of time should contact their nearest Nepalese Embassy to find out about the current rules and restrictions in place and about which specific visa type they should best apply for entry under.  Alternatively, for those who enter Nepal on a simple tourism visa (which are issued at any port of entry upon arrival in the country) the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu can amend, alter, issue and reissue all types of visa. 

Those with specific business interests in Nepal usually enter with a Business Visa that allows for multiple entries; those coming to work for any one of the various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or aid agencies that work in Nepal such as United Mission Nepal or World Youth International can enter with a Multiple Re-entry Tourism Visa (although specific advice will be issued by the employment organisation on a person by person basis) and those who plan on living in Nepal for a prolonged period can change their initial visa for a Residential Visa which is annually renewable.

As stated it is always wise to contact a Nepalese Embassy or the Immigration Department in Nepal to keep on top of all rules, regulations and changes, but the bottom line is those who plan on entering or who are already in Nepal must have some form of valid visa with them and their passport must not be out of date – violations of these basic rules are punishable.

The majority of foreigners living and working in Nepal are from North America, Europe or Australasia and they are to be found working for international development organisations and agencies or they are attached to diplomatic missions.  Some of the main NGOs found in Nepal are the American Peace Corp, Chhetrapati Free Clinic, CIWEC Clinic Travel Medicine Centre, Equal Gender Opportunity Society, Forum of International Investors, Human Rights Organisation, Kathmandu Environmental Education Project, Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust, UNICEF - UN Children Fund and World Wildlife Fund Nepal Program – all organisations take on volunteers and staff regularly, and all work for the social, economic or environmental development or protection of the nation.

Other foreign nationals living in Nepal have usually visited the country, maybe to travel or work in a voluntary capacity for a while, before deciding to settle down and find paying work.  These expats can be found doing anything from giving spiritual readings to working as a bar tender, running a restaurant, working as a tour guide or running an import/export business.  The other main paying profession employing expatriates in Nepal is the teaching profession with vacancies at international schools or TEFL institutions sometimes available. 

The one thing that all expats in Nepal seem to have in common is a strong affinity for the nation in which they are living…the Nepalese are welcoming and the natural environment is breathtaking and inspiring and there is an old expat saying that rings especially true ‘don’t try to change Nepal, let Nepal change you’…