Nepal Set to Launch Digital Nomad Visa to Attract Remote Workers

Nepal is preparing to launch a digital nomad visa aimed at attracting remote workers and freelancers from around the world. The upcoming five-year, multiple-entry visa, expected to roll out within a year, is part of a broader Economic Reform Implementing Work Plan 2025 focused on boosting tourism and driving economic growth.

To qualify, applicants must meet financial criteria: a minimum monthly income of $1,500 or a bank balance of over $20,000, along with health insurance coverage of at least $100,000 valid for treatment in Nepali hospitals.

Visa holders will be allowed to:

• Live in Nepal for at least one year at a time
• Open local bank accounts
• Transfer excess savings abroad if they exceed $50,000
• Fully withdraw bank balances if the visa is not renewed after five years
• Purchase and register vehicles

Spouses of visa holders will also be eligible for a visa. Additionally, foreign driving licenses will be recognized, and Nepal plans to support nomads with better internet infrastructure and more coworking spaces.

Digital nomads who reside in Nepal for more than 186 days per year will be subject to a 5% income tax.

This initiative positions Nepal among rising digital nomad hubs like Kazakhstan, El Salvador, and soon the Philippines, offering attractive incentives to location-independent professionals.

As the government stated:

“The government plans to introduce a digital nomad policy within a year that allows remote workers to obtain a digital nomad visa and additional facilities such as vehicle ownership.”