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Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal · study

Study Visa (study, research and approved teaching)

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 12 September 2026. Full-review date shown above.

For study, research or the specifically approved teaching branch in Nepal. Education Ministry recommendation is required; teaching also needs Home Ministry work agreement and Labour approval.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyThe issued visa and ministry recommendation determine the period. Renewal requires the continuing approved study, research or teaching basis; ordinary students must retain enrolment.
Processing time
Indicative only. It depends on the Ministry of Education recommendation and your institution; confirm current timing on the official immigration.gov.np page.
Government fees
Indicative only. Visa fees apply; refer to the official page for current amounts.
Typical duration
The issued visa and ministry recommendation determine the period. Renewal requires the continuing approved study, research or teaching basis; ordinary students must retain enrolment.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗

In short

For study, research or the specifically approved teaching branch in Nepal. Education Ministry recommendation is required; teaching also needs Home Ministry work agreement and Labour approval. Guidance updated 12 September 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/nepal/student-visa#answer

What is the Study Visa (study, research and approved teaching) in Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal?

Study Visa (study, research and approved teaching) is an unsponsored Nepal route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only. Visa fees apply; refer to the official page for current amounts; indicative processing time is Indicative only. It depends on the Ministry of Education recommendation and your institution; confirm current timing on the official immigration.gov.np page; typical duration is The issued visa and ministry recommendation determine the period. Renewal requires the continuing approved study, research or teaching basis; ordinary students must retain enrolment. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The Department of Immigration issues Study Visas for academic or non-academic study, research and a separate teaching branch. Ordinary students must maintain the approved course and enrolment and cannot work. A teacher needs the Education Ministry recommendation, Home Ministry work agreement and Department of Labour approval before using the teaching branch. The recommendation and approved activity determine the stay: admission alone does not authorise teaching, and a teaching appointment is not ordinary student employment permission.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm the study or research place, or the teaching appointment and its distinct approval requirements.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Obtain the Education Ministry recommendation and supporting documents; teachers also need the Home work agreement and Labour approval.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply at the Department of Immigration for the Study Visa through the official channel.

  4. After approval

    After approval, maintain the authorised study, research or teaching basis and renew before the issued visa expires.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Study Visa (study, research and approved teaching), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Coordinate enrolment and attendance with the institution. Check the actual work conditions before accepting a job or freelance work.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Study Visa (study, research and approved teaching) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Nepal

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Study Visa (study, research and approved teaching) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Study Visa (study, research and approved teaching).

    Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Who recommends my Study Visa?+

The Study Visa is issued by the Department of Immigration on the recommendation of the line agency, which is the Ministry of Education. So your admission to a recognised institution and that ministry recommendation are central to the application. Confirm exactly what is needed for your course on the official immigration.gov.np page.

Can I work while studying in Nepal?+

Ordinary Study Visa holders cannot work. DOI identifies a separate teaching branch of Study Visa: teaching requires the Education Ministry recommendation, Home Ministry work agreement and Department of Labour approval. It is not permission for an ordinary student to take a part-time job. Other employment generally uses the Working Visa route.

I'm finishing my studies in Nepal - how do I switch to a visa that lets me work?+

The Study Visa is built around your enrolment and does not authorise work, so to take a job you move onto the Working (Non-Tourist) Visa, which is the only visa that allows you to work in Nepal. That route is granted on the strength of a job or firm offer, a labour permit from the Department of Labour, and a recommendation from the relevant line ministry, applied for at the Department of Immigration. Plan it as a separate application and confirm the current steps on the official immigration.gov.np page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Nepal

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

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