Passport & ID Requirements for Nepal Travel
What identification documents Indian citizens need for entering Nepal and visiting Muktinath.
Accepted ID Documents
Indian citizens can enter Nepal with one of two documents: a valid Indian Passport (strongly recommended) or a Voter ID card (EPIC). These are the only two forms of identification accepted by Nepal immigration for Indian nationals.
Documents that are NOT accepted on their own include Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence, and ration card. If your only government ID is Aadhaar, you must apply for a passport or Voter ID before planning your Muktinath yatra.
Passport vs Voter ID. When Each Works
A passport is needed for all air travel. Both international flights to Kathmandu and domestic Nepal flights such as Pokhara-to-Jomsom. Airlines will not issue a boarding pass without a valid passport. It is also the required ID for hotel check-ins across Nepal and for exchanging currency at banks.
A Voter ID card works only at land border crossings (Sunauli-Bhairahawa, Raxaul-Birgunj, Kakarbhitta, etc.). If your entire Muktinath journey is overland, a Voter ID is legally sufficient. However, we recommend carrying a passport even on overland trips because it is universally accepted and simplifies every interaction from hotel check-in to permit applications.
Documents by Travel Mode
Flight packages (Kathmandu → Pokhara → Jomsom): Passport is mandatory. You will board three flights. Helicopter packages: Passport required for the domestic charter flight. Overland via Sunauli or Raxaul: Voter ID is acceptable at the border, but a passport is strongly recommended for domestic flights within Nepal if your itinerary includes one.
If you are booking our combined flight-and-jeep packages, a passport is essential since the journey involves a domestic flight segment from Pokhara to Jomsom.
Documents for Children
The best document for a child is their own passport. It works everywhere without question. For land border crossings, a birth certificate together with the accompanying parent's photo ID is generally accepted. School ID cards are not reliable and may be refused.
If one parent is travelling without the other, carry a notarised authorisation letter from the absent parent along with a copy of their ID. This is not always checked, but immigration officers may request it, especially at airports.
Copies & Backup Strategy
Carry at least two photocopies of your passport or Voter ID. One in your daypack and one in your main luggage. Save a digital scan on your phone and email it to yourself so you can access it from anywhere.
Bring four passport-size photographs (35 mm × 45 mm, white background) for ACAP permit processing and any unforeseen requirements. Keep originals in the hotel safe when visiting the temple; your guide will carry a photocopy for checkpoint verification.
No. Aadhaar card alone is NOT accepted at any Nepal entry point. Airport or land border. You need a valid passport or Voter ID card.
Yes. Airlines operating Pokhara-Jomsom and other domestic routes require a passport for Indian nationals. Voter ID is not accepted for any flight.
Contact the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu (Lainchaur) immediately for an Emergency Certificate. Our team can assist with the process and local police report. Keep digital scans as backup.
For flights, yes. Every passenger including infants needs a passport. For land border crossings, a birth certificate with parent's photo ID is generally accepted.
Carry a photocopy, not the original. Leave the original in your hotel safe in Ranipauwa or Jomsom. Your guide carries a copy for any checkpoint checks along the way.
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