Standard Visitor visa — apply online, biometrics at VFS Global in Kathmandu, NPR 26,236 for a short-term (up to 6 months) visa.
Nepali citizens need a Standard Visitor visa for any UK visit — tourism, family visits, or short business trips. There's no e-visa or visa-on-arrival option. You apply online via gov.uk, then attend a biometrics appointment at a VFS Global centre in Kathmandu. Standard processing is around 3 weeks after biometrics; faster paid options exist but aren't guaranteed.
Fee: NPR 26,236 for a short-term visa (up to 6 months, single or multiple entry), as of the official UK government fee schedule for Nepal. Longer multi-entry visas (2/5/10-year) cost significantly more. Priority service +NPR ~67,000 (£500); Super Priority +NPR ~134,000 (£1,000).
Processing: Around 3 weeks standard, after your biometrics appointment. Priority (5 working days) and Super Priority (next working day) are optional paid upgrades, subject to availability.
Stay: Up to 6 months per visit on a standard visitor visa, regardless of the visa's overall validity period
Steps
Apply online — Complete the Standard Visitor visa application on gov.uk, specifying the length of visa you need (short-term up to 6 months, or longer multi-entry options up to 10 years).
Pay the visa fee — Fees are set in GBP but charged in NPR. Pay through the official application process — do not pay anyone offering to bypass this.
Book a biometrics appointment — Schedule your appointment at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Kathmandu (or via TLScontact, depending on current provider) to submit fingerprints and a photo.
Attend your appointment and wait for a decision — Standard processing is roughly 3 weeks from your biometrics appointment. Priority (5 working days, +£500) and Super Priority (next working day, +£1,000) services exist but availability isn't guaranteed.
Documents
Valid Nepali passport with at least one blank page
Passport-sized digital photo meeting UK visa photo rules
Bank statements covering the last 6 months, showing sufficient funds for your trip (state figures in both NPR and the GBP equivalent using the official exchange rate at the time of application)
Employment verification letter (or business registration if self-employed), plus a letter from your employer confirming approved leave if you're employed
Travel itinerary and accommodation details for your UK visit
Evidence of ties to Nepal supporting your intent to return — property documents, family ties, or employment
Details of any previous international travel (old passports with visa/entry stamps), if you have them
TB test results, if required based on where you're applying from
Certified English translation for any document not already in English
Can I get a multi-year visa instead of applying every time?
Yes — the UK Standard Visitor visa can be issued for 6 months, or as a longer 2, 5, or 10-year multi-entry visa (at a higher fee), letting you make repeat visits without reapplying each time.
Does my bank statement need to be in GBP?
No — it can stay in NPR, but UKVI expects your application to also state the GBP equivalent using the official exchange rate at the time you apply, so include that conversion alongside your NPR figures.