What are Current COVID Rules for Nepal Travel?

Current Status: All COVID Restrictions Removed

As of May 2025, Nepal has formally and completely removed every COVID-19-related entry requirement that was imposed between 2020 and 2023. Indian travelers. And visitors from all countries. Can enter Nepal without a vaccination certificate, without a negative PCR or antigen test result, and without undergoing any quarantine period on arrival. The Nepal government officially notified the removal of these requirements through the Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Health and Population.

This means the entry process for Indian travelers has returned entirely to its pre-pandemic state. You need only a valid passport or Voter ID card (as applicable), and the standard travel documentation that was required before March 2020. No online health declaration forms, no COVID insurance minimums, and no on-arrival temperature screening protocols are mandated by the government. Border crossings at Sunauli, Raxaul, and Kakarvitta operate on normal procedures.

Nepal Tourism Board confirmed in its official 2025-26 travel advisories that all health-related restrictions tied to COVID-19 have been lifted with no sunset clause. Meaning they will not be reinstated unless a new public health emergency is declared. For practical purposes, travelers should treat Nepal entry identically to the 2019 pre-pandemic experience.

Timeline: Nepal COVID Restrictions 2020–2025

Nepal first suspended all tourist visas on 22 March 2020, shortly after WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The border with India was formally closed from late March 2020. Nepal underwent several nationwide lockdowns between April 2020 and September 2021, with varying levels of movement restrictions. Tourism remained suspended for international visitors until September 2021, when Nepal cautiously reopened borders for vaccinated travelers with strict protocols.

From October 2021 through December 2022, Nepal required incoming travelers to present proof of full vaccination (both doses) recognized by Nepal authorities, or a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. Travelers were also required to complete an online health declaration form via the Department of Immigration portal. These measures applied to all international visitors including Indian nationals.

Nepal progressively relaxed these measures through 2023. The mandatory vaccination or PCR test requirement was dropped in January 2023. By mid-2023, the online health declaration form was made optional and eventually discontinued. The final formal COVID-related entry conditions were removed in May 2025, following sustained pressure from the tourism industry and a prolonged period of zero active government-mandated health screenings at borders.

Current Health Recommendations for Travelers

While no COVID restrictions exist in law, the WHO Nepal Country Office continues to recommend basic respiratory hygiene practices for travelers visiting high-altitude destinations and crowded religious sites. These recommendations are purely advisory and carry no legal enforcement. Carrying a small supply of face masks is prudent when visiting enclosed temple interiors, particularly at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu or at the main Muktinath temple sanctum, where large numbers of pilgrims gather in enclosed spaces.

Hand sanitizer is widely available in Kathmandu and Pokhara at pharmacies, but becomes increasingly scarce beyond Jomsom. Travelers are advised to carry a 100 ml bottle from the start of the journey. The CDC travel health guidance for Nepal (updated January 2026) also recommends ensuring routine vaccines (Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus-diphtheria) are current. This advice predates COVID and applies regardless of pandemic status. Standard food and water hygiene practices remain the most significant health precaution on any Nepal journey.

Travelers who are immunocompromised, elderly, or managing chronic conditions should consult their physician before travel. This is not specific to COVID but reflects general high-altitude travel best practice. A doctor's clearance is particularly advisable for individuals over 65, those with cardiac conditions, or those who have never traveled above 3,000 meters previously. The altitude at Muktinath (3,710 m) poses greater health risk than any residual COVID consideration.

Travel Insurance Importance

Despite the removal of COVID restrictions, comprehensive travel insurance remains strongly advisable for all Muktinath travelers. India's General Insurance Council and Nepal Tourism Board both recommend policies that include medical evacuation coverage, since road access to Muktinath from major hospitals is limited. The nearest fully equipped hospital is approximately 180 km away in Pokhara.

A standard travel insurance policy for Nepal should include: (1) medical expenses cover of at least USD 50,000, (2) helicopter evacuation coverage of at least USD 10,000, (3) trip cancellation due to weather (Jomsom flight cancellations can disrupt itineraries by 24–48 hours), and (4) lost baggage coverage. COVID-related claims. Including cancellation due to testing positive before departure. May or may not be covered depending on insurer policy, so check the specific policy wording. Several Indian insurers including HDFC ERGO, Bajaj Allianz, and Star Health offer Nepal-specific travel health plans starting from approximately INR 300–500 for a 5–7 day trip.

Nepal Health Infrastructure Along the Muktinath Route

Understanding the healthcare infrastructure along the route is essential for risk-informed travel, independent of COVID. Kathmandu is the most medically equipped city, home to facilities such as Norvic International Hospital, Grande International Hospital, and HAMS Hospital. All of which maintain 24-hour emergency departments and accept international health insurance. Pokhara has Western Regional Hospital, a government facility, as well as several private clinics including Manipal Teaching Hospital, which is the primary referral center for the Gandaki Province.

Between Pokhara and Jomsom (the last road/air access point before Muktinath), medical facilities are limited. Jomsom has a government health post (Mustang District Hospital) staffed by paramedics with basic emergency equipment. This facility can manage minor injuries, altitude sickness assessment, and emergency stabilization. It is not equipped for surgery, cardiac intervention, or complex trauma. The health post in Ranipauwa village (adjacent to Muktinath temple) is a smaller facility operated by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and handles basic primary care.

In the event of a serious medical emergency at Muktinath, helicopter evacuation to Pokhara takes approximately 40 minutes. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) maintains a list of licensed helicopter operators authorized for emergency medical evacuation in the Mustang district. Our tour packages coordinate with these operators, and guides carry satellite communication devices specifically for emergency coordination. Travelers with pre-existing cardiac, pulmonary, or neurological conditions should discuss the route's medical limitations explicitly with their treating physician before departure.