The good news: getting your trekking permits in Kathmandu is genuinely straightforward. The slightly less good news: it involves a walk, some queueing, and the kind of bureaucratic mildness that is entirely manageable as long as you don't leave it to the morning you're due to set off. Get it done a day or two before your trek begins, bring the right documents, and you'll be out of the office and back in Thamel in time for a second breakfast.
This article covers the practical specifics for Kathmandu. For an overview of the full Nepal permit system – which permits exist, what they cost, and which routes require what – see our main guide: How to Get Trekking Permits in Nepal.
Almost everything you need can be obtained in a single stop: the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Tourist Service Centre at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. This is the main government hub for trekking permits and TIMS cards, and the place the vast majority of independent trekkers should head first.
The office sits on Pradarshani Marg, roughly a 15-minute walk south of Thamel – an easy stroll through the streets around Ratna Park. If you prefer not to walk, taxis from Thamel should cost NPR 300–500, and ride-sharing apps like Pathao and InDrive tend to be cheaper still. It's also well within walking distance of the Kathmandu Durbar Square area if you fancy combining it with some sightseeing.
If you need a Restricted Area Permit (for Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Dolpo, or other controlled zones), that's a separate stop: the Department of Immigration at Kalikasthan, Kathmandu. Restricted area permits cannot be obtained at the NTB office and must be processed through your registered trekking agency, who will take you through the process. See our guide to restricted areas in How to Get Trekking Permits in Nepal for full details.
Opening Hours
The NTB Tourist Service Centre is officially open Sunday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, with a lunch break typically between 1pm and 2pm. Saturday hours are inconsistent – sometimes open, sometimes not – so don't plan around Saturday if you can avoid it.
During major Nepali festivals (Dashain, Tihar, and others), hours may be reduced or the office closed entirely, regardless of what official sources say. If your trip falls around a festival period, check in advance and build in an extra day of buffer. The mountains will still be there.
Peak season – October and November, and again March to May – brings longer queues. Arriving when the office opens, rather than after lunch, will save you time.
What to Bring
Turning up unprepared adds unnecessary time to what is otherwise a quick process. Bring all of the following:
Your passport (original, plus at least two photocopies)
Two passport-sized photographs – printed, not digital. Photo shops near the NTB office can produce these quickly and cheaply if you've forgotten
A copy of your Nepal visa
Cash in Nepali rupees – the office does not accept cards. Bring enough to cover all permits you need, plus a little extra
Your trekking itinerary – a rough one is fine; you'll need to note your planned route and approximate dates on the application forms
Travel insurance details – required for some permits, particularly for higher-altitude routes
The Process, Step by Step
If you're trekking independently, the process at the NTB office is as follows:
Step 1: Collect the relevant permit application forms at the counter. For most treks you'll need a TIMS card form and a national park or conservation area permit form. Staff are generally helpful if you're unsure which forms apply to your route.
Step 2: Fill in the forms. This is straightforward – personal details, passport number, trek route, approximate dates, emergency contact. Budget 10–15 minutes.
Step 3: Submit your forms along with your documents and photographs at the relevant counter. Different permits are sometimes handled at different windows, so follow the signs or ask.
Step 4: Pay the fees. Have your rupees ready and counted. You'll receive a receipt – keep it.
Step 5: Collect your permits. In most cases these are issued immediately or within a short wait. During peak season, allow up to a couple of hours; off-season you may be in and out in 30 minutes.
If you're using a trekking agency, they will handle all of this on your behalf, typically the day or two before your trek departs. You'll need to provide them with copies of your passport, visa, and insurance, and they'll return with the permits ready. Easy.
A Note on the TIMS Card
As covered in our main permits guide, the TIMS card system is currently in a state of transition. It remains an official requirement on several routes but is not being consistently enforced at checkpoints. Rather than advise you to skip it, we'd suggest asking the NTB office directly when you arrive: staff are generally candid about what's actually being checked on your specific route. It costs relatively little and provides legitimate emergency registration, so the case for getting it remains reasonable even if enforcement is patchy.
Photocopies: Do Them Before You Go
This is not the most glamorous travel tip, but it is one of the most useful. Checkpoint staff throughout Nepal will ask for photocopies of your permits and passport – sometimes one copy, sometimes several. Having a small stack of photocopies ready before you hit the trail saves time, money, and mild frustration at checkpoints in places where the nearest photocopier is a two-hour walk behind you. Most guesthouses and shops in Thamel offer copying services for a few rupees per page.
Getting There
On foot from Thamel: Head south from Thamel towards Ratna Park, then continue along Pradarshani Marg. The NTB Tourist Service Centre is on your left, set back slightly from the road within the Bhrikutimandap complex. The walk takes around 15 minutes at an easy pace and is straightforward to navigate.
By taxi or ride-share: Tell the driver "Nepal Tourism Board, Bhrikutimandap" – most drivers will know it. Agree on the fare before you get in, or use Pathao or InDrive for metered pricing. From Thamel, NPR 300–500 is a fair fare by taxi.
By public bus: Buses from Ratna Park pass near the office for NPR 20–30, though navigating the Kathmandu bus system with a rucksack and paperwork in hand is a particular form of adventure we'll leave to your discretion.
