ACAP Permit for Muktinath
The ACAP permit is mandatory for entering the Annapurna Conservation Area where Muktinath Temple is located.
What Is the ACAP Permit?
ACAP stands for Annapurna Conservation Area Project. A government-managed conservation programme established in 1986 to protect the ecology and cultural heritage of the Annapurna region. The Muktinath Temple sits at 3,710 m inside this protected zone, so every visitor. Pilgrim or trekker. Must hold a valid ACAP entry permit.
Travelling without the permit is illegal. Checkpoints at Birethanti (for trekkers) and Jomsom (for flight arrivals) verify permits, and anyone found without one faces an on-the-spot fine plus the permit fee. The revenue funds trail maintenance, reforestation, and community health posts along the Muktinath route.
Cost & Fee Structure
For Indian and other SAARC nationals the ACAP permit costs INR 1,875. Non-SAARC foreign nationals pay the equivalent amount as well. Children under 10 years of age are exempt from the fee entirely. Carry a photocopy of the child's passport or birth certificate as proof of age.
Payment is accepted in Nepali Rupees at all issuing counters. Some offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara also accept card payments, but it is safest to carry cash. Keep the receipt. You will need to show it at checkpoints.
Where to Get the ACAP Permit
The most convenient location is the Nepal Tourism Board counter at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu (open Sun–Fri, 10 AM – 5 PM, closed Saturdays and public holidays). In Pokhara, the ACAP Counter at the Tourist Service Center on Lakeside Road is open the same hours and is the counter most Muktinath-bound travellers use.
A third option is the checkpoint counter at Jomsom. Useful as a last resort if you arrive by flight and somehow missed the earlier offices. However, queues can form when multiple flights land simultaneously, so we strongly recommend obtaining the permit in Pokhara the day before your Jomsom flight.
Required Documents
You will need two recent passport-size photographs (35 mm × 45 mm, white background) and a valid photo ID. Either your passport or Voter ID card. Carry the original plus one photocopy. An application form is filled out on the spot at the counter; no advance download is necessary.
Aadhaar card alone is not accepted as a valid ID for the ACAP permit. If you only have Aadhaar, arrange a passport or Voter ID well before your travel date.
How Our Packages Handle the ACAP Permit
On all Muktinath Tour Nepal packages the ACAP permit fee is included in the tour price. Our Pokhara-based team processes the permit on Day 1 or Day 2 of your itinerary while you rest or explore Lakeside. You simply hand over two photos and a photocopy of your ID, and we take care of the rest.
This means zero office visits, zero queues, and zero risk of forgetting the permit before your early-morning Jomsom flight. The original permit is handed to you before departure and our guide carries a backup copy throughout the journey.
INR 1,875 for Indian and all SAARC nationals. Children under 10 are completely free.
Yes, a counter at Jomsom issues ACAP permits on arrival. However, queues can be long when multiple flights land. We recommend getting it in Pokhara the day before for a smoother experience.
Children under 10 are exempt from the ACAP fee. Carry a photocopy of the child's passport or birth certificate as age proof to show at the checkpoint.
Report the loss to the nearest checkpoint or ACAP office immediately. You will likely need to pay for a replacement permit and show your ID again. Our guides carry a backup photocopy to expedite reissue.
No. TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) is a separate card required for independent trekkers on certain trails. For standard Muktinath pilgrimage packages via Jomsom, only the ACAP permit is required. TIMS is not needed.
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