The short version
TIMS, ACAP, Sagarmatha, Khumbu, restricted-area permits — Nepal's trekking permit system explained simply. Which permits each region needs, what they cost, and how to get them in 2026.
- Every Nepal trek needs permits; the combination depends on the region — your agency normally arranges them all.
- The TIMS card (~$15) is the baseline; conservation/national-park permits add ~$22 each.
- Budget roughly $35–45 for a standard Annapurna or Everest trek (plus the Khumbu fee).
- Restricted areas (Upper Mustang $50/day, Manaslu from $100/week) require a registered guide and a minimum group of two.
Nepal's permit system, simplified
Every trek in Nepal requires permits, and the combination depends on where you go. Here is the complete, plain-English breakdown for 2026. Your agency normally arranges all of these — but it helps to understand what you are paying for.
The TIMS card
The Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card is the baseline permit for most trekking areas, costing around NPR 2,000 (~$15). It registers your trek for safety and is checked at trail checkpoints.
Conservation Area & National Park permits
ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area): ~NPR 3,000 ($22) — covers all Annapurna treks (ABC, Circuit, Poon Hill, Mardi).
Sagarmatha National Park (Everest): ~NPR 3,000 ($22).
Khumbu Rural Municipality fee (Everest): ~NPR 3,000 ($23) — replaced the old TIMS in Khumbu.
Langtang National Park: ~NPR 3,000 ($22).
Manaslu Conservation Area (MCAP) / Shey Phoksundo NP: ~NPR 3,000 ($22).
| Permit | Approx. cost | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| TIMS card | ~$15 | Most trekking areas (safety registration) |
| ACAP | ~$22 | ABC, Circuit, Poon Hill, Mardi |
| Sagarmatha NP | ~$22 | Everest region |
| Khumbu Rural Municipality | ~$23 | Everest (replaced old TIMS) |
| Langtang NP | ~$22 | Langtang region |
| Upper Mustang RAP | $50 per day (≈$523 / 10 days) | Restricted region |
| Manaslu RAP | from $100 / week | Restricted region |
Restricted Area Permits (RAP)
Some regions require special, costlier permits and a registered guide plus a minimum group of two:
Upper Mustang: $50 per person per day (about $500 for a 10-day trek).
Manaslu: from $100/week (Sep–Nov), less off-season.
Tsum Valley, Nar Phu, Upper Dolpo, Kanchenjunga: each has its own RAP fee.
Restricted-area permits can only be obtained through a registered trekking agency — you cannot get them as a solo independent trekker, and a minimum group of two is required.
How to get them
Most permits are issued in Kathmandu (Nepal Tourism Board) or Pokhara. Restricted-area permits can only be obtained through a registered trekking agency — you cannot get them as a solo independent trekker. You'll need passport copies and passport photos.
You'll need passport copies and passport photos for every permit, so carry a few spare photos from home to save time in Kathmandu.
What your trek actually needs — by region
Permits are easier to understand per trek than per permit, because the combinations differ and one region does not use TIMS at all.
| Your trek | Permits needed | Total per person |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna — ABC, Circuit, Poon Hill, Mardi | ACAP (NPR 3,000) + TIMS (NPR 2,000) | NPR 5,000 ≈ US$38 |
| Everest — EBC, Gokyo, Three Passes | Sagarmatha NP (NPR 3,000) + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu (NPR 3,000). No TIMS. | NPR 6,000 ≈ US$46 |
| Langtang — Valley, Gosaikunda | Langtang NP (NPR 3,000) + TIMS (NPR 2,000) | NPR 5,000 ≈ US$38 |
| Manaslu Circuit (restricted) | RAP (US$100 first 7 days Sep–Nov, then US$15/day) + MCAP US$30 + ACAP US$23 | ≈ US$250 for 14 days in autumn |
| Upper Mustang (restricted) | RAP US$50 per day + ACAP US$23 | ≈ US$523 for 10 days |
The Everest exception is the one people get wrong. TIMS was withdrawn in the Khumbu and replaced by the local municipality permit, so an EBC trekker needs two permits and neither of them is TIMS. Annapurna is the opposite — ACAP and TIMS, both still required and both still checked.
The guide rule, and what it means for permits
Since April 2023 foreign trekkers must be accompanied by a licensed guide in Nepal's national parks and conservation areas, and this is now enforced rather than advisory. In practice that means your permits come through a registered agency whichever region you choose — not just in the restricted areas.
You will still see older guides telling you to queue at the Nepal Tourism Board and buy a TIMS card over the counter as an independent trekker. That route has effectively closed for foreigners on the main trekking routes.
What has genuinely not changed: you need your passport and passport photographs for every permit, so carry a few spare photos from home rather than hunting for a photo shop in Thamel.
The bottom line
Budget about US$38 for an Annapurna trek, US$46 for Everest, and US$250 or more for a restricted area like Manaslu or Upper Mustang. Confirm which permits your specific route needs before you pay for anything, and let a registered agency file them — which, since 2023, is how it works anyway.
For a deeper region-by-region breakdown, see our full Nepal trekking permits hub, and plan your overall budget with the Nepal trekking cost guide. Not sure which trek to choose? Browse the best treks in Nepal or contact us to have every permit arranged for you.
Can I get trekking permits as a solo independent trekker?
Not in practice, and not since April 2023. Foreign trekkers must be accompanied by a licensed guide in Nepal's national parks and conservation areas, so permits for Annapurna, Everest and Langtang now come through a registered agency rather than over the counter. Restricted areas go further still — Upper Mustang, Manaslu, Nar Phu, Dolpo and Kanchenjunga require an agency and a minimum of two trekkers on the permit.
Do I need a TIMS card for Everest Base Camp?
No — and this is the detail most guides get wrong. TIMS was withdrawn in the Khumbu and replaced by the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit. An EBC trekker needs the Sagarmatha National Park permit (NPR 3,000) and the municipality permit (NPR 3,000), about US$46 in total, and no TIMS card at all. Annapurna is the opposite: ACAP and TIMS are both required there.
Which region has the cheapest permits?
Annapurna and Langtang, at about US$38 per person. Everest is slightly more at US$46 because it uses two park-and-municipality permits rather than a park permit plus TIMS. Restricted areas are in another bracket entirely — roughly US$250 for a 14-day Manaslu Circuit in autumn and about US$523 for ten days in Upper Mustang.
How much should I budget for permits on a standard trek?
Roughly $35–45 for a standard Annapurna or Everest trek, including the TIMS card and the relevant conservation-area or Khumbu fee. Restricted areas cost significantly more — Upper Mustang alone is $50 per person per day — about $523 for 10 days.
Use our free Nepal permit cost calculator to price every region in NPR and USD, or browse all Nepal trekking permits and costs.
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Written by
Travel Himalaya NepalPokhara-based, NMA-certified trekking guides. We’ve led 5,000+ treks across the Annapurna and Everest regions since 1998 — every word here comes from the trail. More from this author →
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