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Connections at KTM: the honest numbers
The indicative minimum international-to-international connection at Kathmandu Tribhuvan is 90 minutes on a single booking with bags checked through. On separate tickets, add roughly 90 minutes: you'll collect bags, recheck them, and re-clear security — and no airline is obliged to help if the first leg runs late.
Transfer specifics
- Tribhuvan is Nepal's only international airport and has two buildings: an International Terminal for all overseas flights and a separate Domestic Terminal for flights within Nepal. They sit roughly 500 metres apart, linked by a free shuttle bus. Every international flight uses the same international building, so there is no terminal number to check before you fly — airlines are simply assigned different check-in rows and gates inside it.
- That simplicity ends at the domestic connection. Moving to the domestic terminal means clearing immigration and therefore holding a visa, which matters if you are connecting onward to Pokhara or Lukla on a separate ticket.
- Nepal's visa system is unusually accommodating. Visa on arrival is available to most nationalities and runs 24 hours a day. The tourist rates are US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 and US$125 for 90 — and there is a separate transit visa at US$5, which almost no guide mentions and which is the right product if you are simply passing through. Bring clean USD cash: card machines exist but fail often.
- Not everyone qualifies. Nationals of a defined list of countries — including Afghanistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Iraq among others — must obtain a visa from a Nepali mission before travelling, as must holders of refugee travel documents. Indian nationals need no visa at all, and SAARC nationals other than Afghans get 30 days free once per visa year. Confirm current eligibility on the Department of Immigration's site, as Nepal's rules and fees change.
Leaving KTM during a layover
Most other nationalities get visa on arrival, available 24/7 at Tribhuvan: US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30, US$125 for 90, or US$5 for a transit visa. Fill in the online form beforehand and you can skip the arrival kiosks and go straight to the payment counter. Passports need six months' validity and payment is smoothest in clean USD cash. The process typically takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on how many flights have landed — budget for that, not for the advertised speed. The city is about 30 minutes away one-way; as a rule of thumb you want 5+ hours before exiting is worth the queues, and you should be back through security 90 minutes before boarding.
Worth your hours in Kathmandu
- Kathmandu Durbar Square is the classic stop and sits about 6 km from the airport, close enough for a moderate layover if the visa queue cooperates.
- Boudhanath Stupa is the closest major site to the airport and the most efficient use of a short window — one of the largest stupas in the world and genuinely worth the trip.
- Thamel is where most travellers end up: dense, walkable, and the place to change money. Traffic in Kathmandu is heavy, so budget generously in both directions.
Staying airside instead
- The international terminal is functional rather than modern and can feel chaotic on busy days. A larger replacement is planned but as of mid-2026 construction had not started, so what you see is what there is.
- Facilities are limited by the standards of most airports on this site. Wifi is inconsistent, and several travellers report being unable to connect to the immigration wifi at all.
- Exchange money in Thamel rather than at the airport if you are heading into the city — the rates and queues are both better.
Sleeping, showers and lounges at KTM
Sleep: There is no airside transit hotel. Hotels near the airport and in Thamel are the alternative, and reaching them means clearing immigration — which the $5 transit visa or a tourist visa on arrival makes possible for most nationalities. The terminal is not a comfortable overnight prospect. Airport hotels & sleep pods
Showers: Facilities are limited and shower access is not something to plan around here. On a long connection a nearby hotel is the realistic answer.
Lounges: Lounge provision is modest, with a small number of options including pay-per-use access. Expect a quiet room rather than a full-service facility. Book an airport lounge for your layover
Dietary needs: Nepali dal bhat is rice-based and naturally gluten-free, and vegetarian food is widely available and well understood. Momos are wheat-wrapped, so not a coeliac option.
Overnight reality: Kathmandu's international schedule concentrates in the morning and evening, and the terminal is not built for overnight waits. With visa on arrival available around the clock, going to a hotel is usually the better plan — just budget for the immigration queue in both directions.
KTM layover FAQ
Do I need a visa for a Kathmandu layover?
Only if you leave the airport or move to the domestic terminal. Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Tribhuvan, available 24 hours a day — and there is a transit visa at US$5 specifically for passing through, which most guides never mention. Indian nationals need no visa; SAARC nationals other than Afghans get 30 days free once per visa year. A defined list of countries must arrange a visa in advance through a Nepali mission.
How much is a Nepal visa on arrival?
US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days, plus a US$5 transit visa. Payment is in USD or another major convertible currency and cash is far more reliable than cards, which fail often. Your passport needs at least six months' validity. Fees change, so confirm on the Department of Immigration's site before travelling.
How long does immigration take at Kathmandu?
Typically 30 to 90 minutes depending on how many flights have landed. You can shorten it considerably by completing the online visa form before you arrive — if it is within 15 days of arrival you can skip the kiosks in the arrival hall and go straight to the payment counter.
How do I get between the international and domestic terminals?
They sit about 500 metres apart and are linked by a free shuttle bus. Note that moving between them means clearing immigration, so a connection onto a domestic flight to Pokhara or Lukla requires a visa even though you never intended to enter Nepal properly.
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Minimum connection times are indicative and vary by airline, terminal pair and season; visa notes are simplified general guidance, not immigration advice. Facts on this page were last verified on 2026-08-11. If anything has changed, tell us and we'll fix it fast.