Nepalese customs are very meticulous, so be prepared to have your luggage searched down to the last item. So it is not advisable to bring anything prohibited by Nepalese law - smuggling will almost certainly be detected.
What you can take into Nepal on an airplane:
- Foreign currency. You don't have to limit your funds when traveling to Nepal. Dollars, Euros or any national currency other than Nepalese currency can be brought into the country in any amount.
- Tobacco products. If you are over 18 years of age, you can have up to 100 pieces of cigarettes or up to 25 cigars in your luggage. Any quantity of smoking products above this small amount will be subject to additional duty.
- 15 sets of photographic film. If you are into film photography, Nepal's restrictions on the number of consumables will hardly make you happy.
- Personal items. Nepali customs has no special restrictions here.
There are a number of items which are required to be cleared separately as per Nepalese law. When crossing Nepal, you will have to additionally designate in your luggage a wristwatch, a movie or video camera, a tape recorder, a bicycle, a set of fountain pens, a radio and any electronic devices. All of this can only be carried in the amount of one item of each kind per person and only on completion of a declaration form with the obligation to take your belongings back.
What is prohibited to bring into Nepal:
- Drugs. Like most countries in Asia, Nepal has fairly strict laws related to drug trafficking, and customs regulations couldn't help but be affected by them.
- Weapons and military equipment. In relation to weapons, Nepal's laws are no less strict than when it comes to drugs. So you should not take even a sporting weapon just in case.
What is forbidden to take out of Nepal:
- Nepal Rupee (NPR). Nepal's national currency is not allowed to be taken outside Nepal. Therefore, surplus local money must be exchanged at one of the exchange offices at the airport in Kathmandu on your return. At the same time, you can exchange back no more than 15% of the amount you exchanged for local currency when you entered the country. So don't forget to take a receipt when you change money upon entry. Remember that currency cannot be exchanged at all at land border crossings, and any leftover local money may simply be confiscated from you.
- Precious Metals and Stones.
- Wild animals. Nepal's indigenous fauna is not allowed to be taken out of the country. The same applies to products made of skins, fur, horns and claws of the local fauna.
- Drugs and raw materials for their manufacture. This category includes a variety of herbal raw materials from which narcotic drugs can be prepared.
Foreigners usually have no problems with exporting souvenirs. And with a special certificate you can bring home even antiques, provided that its age will not be older than a hundred years. But for all sorts of images of gods, including paintings and metal figurines, you'll need permission directly from Nepal's Department of Archaeology.
How much alcohol can be brought into Nepal:
You can bring up to one and a half liters of any alcoholic beverage into Nepal. Or 12 0.5-liter cans of beer.
How much alcohol can you take out of Nepal:
There are no restrictions on taking alcohol out of Nepal and you can bring any amount of local drinks with you.
