Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal · residence general
Residential Visa (long-stay, proof of income)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
For you if you want to live in Nepal long term without doing business: the Residential Visa is a long-stay route that requires proof of income - but please read the honesty note, because it is not a settled-status or citizenship pathway.
- Processing time
- Indicative only. It depends on your basis and supporting documents; confirm current timing on the official immigration.gov.np page.
- Government fees
- Indicative only. Fees apply and differ between the non-business and investment routes; refer to the official page for current amounts.
- Typical duration
- A renewable long-stay residential status (commonly issued annually); it is not a permanent-residence or citizenship route for ordinary foreigners.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Overview
The Residential Visa lets certain foreigners and their families live in Nepal long term. It is issued in a few situations: to people who want to reside in Nepal without conducting business (who must show proof of income), to those who invest a qualifying amount in an industrial enterprise, and to individuals of international reputation who can make an extraordinary contribution to Nepal's culture, society or economy. Honesty box - please read: for ordinary foreigners there is no clear pathway from this visa to permanent residence and on to citizenship - it is a renewable long-stay status, not settled status. The proof-of-income requirement is central for the non-business route, and the figure is indicative. Confirm the current requirements on the official immigration.gov.np page.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓You fit one of the bases: living in Nepal without business (with proof of income), qualifying industrial investment, or international-reputation contribution.Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
- ✓For the non-business route, you can show the required proof of income (the figure is indicative).Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
- ✓You provide the documents and any recommendation your basis requires.Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
- ✓You apply at the Department of Immigration for the Residential Visa.Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
Common blockers
- !Expecting it to lead to permanent residence and citizenship - there is no clear such pathway for ordinary foreigners.Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
- !Being unable to show the proof of income the non-business route requires.Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
- !Not meeting the qualifying investment or contribution for the other bases.Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Valid passport and the completed application.Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
- ·Proof of income or means to support yourself (for the non-business route).Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
- ·Investment documents (for the qualifying-investment route).Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
- ·Evidence of reputation or contribution (for that route), or other documents the official page requests.Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Identify which basis for the Residential Visa fits you and confirm its requirements.
Build the evidence pack
Assemble the evidence for that basis - proof of income, investment records or contribution evidence.
Submit through the official channel
Apply at the Department of Immigration for the Residential Visa through the official channel.
After approval
After approval, keep your status and documents valid and renew the visa as required.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Residential Visa (long-stay, proof of income) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Residential Visa (long-stay, proof of income).
Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) · verified
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Related routes
Business Visa (foreign investors and representatives)
For you if you are an approved foreign investor or business representative in Nepal: the Business Visa is the long-stay route for people investing in or running an approved business, granted on a recommendation from the relevant authority.
Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Visa
For you if you are of Nepali origin and hold an NRN identity card: the NRN Visa is a long-stay route for the Nepali diaspora, and recent law changes have made it more generous - including free issuance.
Relation (Dependent) Visa
For you if you have a close family member in Nepal: the Relation Visa lets relatives of a Nepali citizen, or dependents of certain visa holders, stay on the basis of the family relationship.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Residential Visa lead to permanent residence or citizenship?+
Not in a clear way for ordinary foreigners. The Residential Visa is a renewable long-stay status, but Nepal does not offer an obvious pathway from it to permanent residence and on to citizenship for most foreigners. So treat it as a way to live in Nepal long term rather than a route to settled status, and confirm the current rules on the official immigration.gov.np page.
What proof of income do I need?+
For the route where you live in Nepal without doing business, proof of income is central - you need to show you can support yourself. The exact figure is set by the rules and can change, so treat any amount you read online as indicative and confirm the current requirement on the official page. Other bases, such as qualifying industrial investment, have their own requirements instead.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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