TIMS card fee by nationality
Issued by Nepal Tourism Board, through registered trekking agencies. Read 2026-10-30.
TIMS card · per person
Foreigner
SAARC / Indian
Nepali citizen
| Per person | Foreigner | SAARC / Indian | Nepali | Under 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIMS card | Rs 2,000 | Rs 1,000 | not needed | no card; details recorded |
How to get a TIMS card
- Book with a trekking agency registered with the Department of Tourism. Individual (FIT) cards stopped on 1 April 2023; only an agency can issue one now.
- The agency enters you, your licensed guide and your route at tims.ntb.gov.np and pays through ConnectIPS or NepalPay.
- Each trekker gets an e-card with a QR code. Carry it with your other permits; it is checked on the trail.
Who needs it
- Foreigners and SAARC nationals on the Nepal Tourism Board's list of routes: Annapurna (Base Camp, Circuit, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal), Langtang, Gosaikunda, Helambu, Manaslu, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Mustang, Dolpo, Humla and others.
- Not the Everest region: the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality's fee replaced TIMS there on 1 October 2017.
- Not Rara Lake, which is not on NTB's list.
- Not Nepali citizens: NTB lists only SAARC and "other" rates.
- Restricted areas are disputed: NTB lists the routes, but its 2023 guidelines, as reported, exempt holders of a restricted-area permit.
Cost of the whole trek, by nationality: Annapurna Base Camp · Annapurna Circuit · Ghorepani Poon Hill · Mardi Himal · Langtang Valley · Gosaikunda.
What changed, and when
- 1 Oct 2017The Everest region stops using TIMS; the Khumbu municipality's fee replaces it.
- 1 Apr 2023TIMS cards only through a registered agency, with a licensed guide, on the listed routes (the start date is also reported as 31 Mar and 31 May).
What the sources disagree on
- Whether restricted-area permit holders (Manaslu, Upper Mustang and others) still need a TIMS card: NTB's route list says yes; its 2023 guidelines, as reported, say no.
- Whether VAT is added: no official page says.
Common questions
Is a TIMS card needed for Everest Base Camp?
No. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality's fee (Rs 3,000, SAARC Rs 2,000) replaced TIMS in the Everest region on 1 October 2017. You still need the Sagarmatha National Park permit.
Do Nepali citizens need a TIMS card?
No. The Nepal Tourism Board sets a rate for SAARC nationals and for others only; Nepali citizens trek without one.
How much is a TIMS card for Indians?
Rs 1,000, the SAARC rate. Foreigners from outside SAARC pay Rs 2,000.
Can I get a TIMS card without an agency?
No, not since 1 April 2023: cards are issued only through a registered trekking agency, which also arranges the licensed guide the rule requires.