Moving to the UK from Nepal: Complete Guide

Visiting Rather Than Moving

Nepal is on the UK's visa national list, so a Nepali citizen needs a visit visa before travelling, even for a short trip. The £20 electronic travel authorisation is not an option: it is for people who are not visa nationals. A visit visa does not let you work or settle, and a stay of more than 6 months needs one of the routes below.

Visa Routes for Nepali Nationals

Student Visa

The Student visa is one of the most popular routes for Nepali nationals. The number of Nepali students in the UK has grown significantly in recent years. You need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed UK institution and must demonstrate sufficient funds for tuition and living costs.

After completing your degree, the Graduate route allows 2 years of work without a sponsor (3 years for PhD) if you apply on or before 31 December 2026; for applications on or after 1 January 2027 it is 18 months (still 3 years for PhD). Many Nepali graduates then switch to a Skilled Worker visa.

Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa is used by Nepali professionals in healthcare, IT, hospitality, and other sectors. You need a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer with a sponsor licence. The job must pay at least £41,700 a year, or the published going rate for the occupation code if that is higher, and since 22 July 2025 a new applicant's job must be at graduate level (RQF 6). If the occupation is on the Immigration Salary List, the salary threshold and the application fee are lower, but the full going rate for the occupation still applies.

The Health and Care Worker variant is used by Nepali nurses and care workers. It costs less — £324 for 3 years or less, £628 for more than 3 years — and you do not pay the healthcare surcharge.

Gurkha Settlement Provisions

The UK has special immigration provisions for former Gurkha soldiers and their families, reflecting the long military relationship between Nepal and Britain:

• Former Gurkhas discharged before 1 July 1997. Can apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) under Appendix Gurkha and Hong Kong military unit veteran discharged before 1 July 1997. The rule asks for established military service of at least 4 continuous years, unless the veteran receives a Ministry of Defence disability pension or holds a Ministry of Defence medal for gallantry. This recognises that pre-1997 Gurkhas were based in Hong Kong and the Far East rather than the UK, and so did not have the same settlement rights as other British Army soldiers.
• Former Gurkhas discharged on or after 1 July 1997. Apply under Appendix Armed Forces, in line with other foreign and Commonwealth members of HM Armed Forces, after at least 4 years' reckonable service.
• Family of a Gurkha veteran. A partner, a child and a dependent adult child can apply to settle on the same route. So can the partner or child of a Gurkha veteran who has died.

Nepali settlement through the Gurkha route is concentrated around Aldershot, Folkestone and other towns near military bases. If you are a Gurkha family member, take advice from a regulated immigration adviser or a solicitor: these rules are more intricate than the ordinary routes.

Spouse and Family Visa

The Spouse visa is used by Nepali nationals joining partners in the UK. The UK sponsor must meet the £29,000 financial requirement.

Nepali Document Requirements

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Attestation

Nepal is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents must be attested through the following process:

1. Verification by the issuing body. Educational certificates must be verified by the relevant body (e.g., Tribhuvan University, the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, or the relevant education board).
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) attestation. Submit verified documents to MOFA in Kathmandu for official attestation. MOFA confirms the document is genuine.
3. British Embassy legalisation. After MOFA attestation, some documents may need further legalisation by the British Embassy in Kathmandu.
4. Certified translation. Documents in Nepali must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Nepal Police Clearance

Apply for a police clearance certificate at the Metropolitan Police Range in Kathmandu or District Police Offices outside the capital. You need your citizenship certificate (Nagarikta) and passport. Processing typically takes 1 to 3 weeks. The certificate confirms you have no criminal record in Nepal.

Citizenship Certificate (Nagarikta)

The Nepali citizenship certificate (Nagarikta) is a fundamental identity document in Nepal. You may need to provide this alongside your passport for document verification purposes. Ensure the details on your Nagarikta match your passport exactly. If there are discrepancies (particularly in spelling of names transliterated from Devanagari to Roman script), obtain a correction from the relevant District Administration Office.

Financial Documents

Key points for financial evidence from Nepal:

• Bank statements from Nepali banks should be on official letterhead with the bank's stamp.
• The Home Office converts other currencies into pounds using the exchange rate on the date of your application, so the balance you need in rupees is not fixed.
• If parents are sponsoring a student, provide a sponsorship letter, proof of relationship, and the sponsor's bank statements and income evidence.
• Remittance income (common for Nepali families with members working abroad) should be supported by remittance receipts and the sender's employment evidence.
• Nepal Rastra Bank (central bank) regulations may apply to large outward remittances. Check current rules before transferring funds.

Tuberculosis Test Requirement

Nepal is on the Home Office list of countries where a tuberculosis test is needed. You need a certificate before you apply for any visa of 6 months or more, from a clinic the Home Office has approved; there are approved clinics in Nepal. The test is a chest x-ray, and if the x-ray is not clear you may also be asked for a sputum sample. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray.

Each clinic sets its own fee and GOV.UK does not publish a price, so this guide gives none. Children under 11 are not normally x-rayed, but they must still see a clinician at an approved clinic.

English Language Requirement

Nepal is not a majority English-speaking country. You must pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT):

• Student visa: CEFR B2 for degree-level courses and above (B1 below degree level)
• Skilled Worker: CEFR B2 for new applications from 8 January 2026 (B1 is still accepted when extending on the same route)
• Spouse visa (initial): CEFR A1
• Settlement (indefinite leave to remain): CEFR B1, rising to B2 from 26 March 2027 for people settling from the Skilled Worker, Global Talent and several other routes

IELTS for UKVI is available through the British Council in Kathmandu. PTE Academic is also available. Degree holders from recognised English-taught institutions may be exempt from the SELT. Test places fill up quickly during peak season, so book early.

VFS Global in Nepal

After completing your online application on GOV.UK, book a biometric appointment at:

• Kathmandu: The main UK visa application centre in Nepal, operated by VFS Global. Full services including priority processing are available.

Processing Times from Nepal

• Student visa: usually within 3 weeks (standard), or within 5 working days with the £500 priority service
• Skilled Worker visa: usually within 3 weeks (standard)
• Spouse visa: usually within 12 weeks
• Visitor visa: usually within 3 weeks

What It Costs

The Home Office publishes its fees in pounds. It does not publish a rupee price, and the exchange rate it applies is the rate on the day you pay, so this guide gives no conversion.

• Student visa: £558
• Skilled Worker visa, applying from outside the UK: £819 for 3 years or less, £1,618 for more than 3 years
• Health and Care Worker visa: £324 for 3 years or less, £628 for more than 3 years
• Partner (spouse) visa from outside the UK: £2,064
• Healthcare surcharge: £1,035 a year, or £776 a year for students, their dependants and anyone under 18
• Priority service, for a faster decision: £500
• Settlement (indefinite leave to remain): £3,226
• Becoming a British citizen: £1,709, plus a £130 ceremony fee

GOV.UK publishes no price for a tuberculosis test, an English language test, a police clearance certificate, attestation or a certified translation. Each clinic, test provider and authority sets its own fee, so this guide gives none. See our UK visa fees guide and our healthcare surcharge guide for full details.

Paying the healthcare surcharge does not make the National Health Service free at the point of use. In England a prescription costs £9.90 and dental treatment is charged in bands of £27.90, £76.60 and £332.10. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Common Issues for Nepali Applicants

• Name transliteration discrepancies. Nepali names transliterated from Devanagari to Roman script can vary between documents (e.g., "Shrestha" vs "Shresth", "Raj" as first name on one document and middle name on another). Ensure consistency across your passport, Nagarikta, and all supporting documents. If discrepancies exist, provide an affidavit explaining the variations.
• Genuine student intent. The Home Office assesses whether you genuinely intend to study. Nepali student visa applicants should be prepared to explain why they chose the UK, the specific course, the university, and their career plans after graduation.
• Financial evidence from remittances. Many Nepali families fund education through remittances from family members working in the Gulf states, Malaysia, or other countries. Provide clear evidence of the source of funds, including the sender's employment contract, salary slips, and bank statements showing regular remittance transfers.
• Document attestation delays. MOFA attestation and education board verification can take several weeks. Start the process at least 2 months before your planned visa application date.
• Seasonal challenges. Political events, festivals (especially Dashain and Tihar), and the monsoon season can affect government office operations and travel to Kathmandu. Plan your application timeline around these periods.

Practical Tips for Moving from Nepal

Flights

There are no direct flights from Kathmandu to London. Most routes connect via the Gulf (Qatar Airways via Doha is one of the most popular), Delhi, or other Asian hubs. Total journey time is typically 12 to 18 hours. Some budget travellers transit through Delhi and connect to a separate London flight.

Nepali Community in the UK

The Home Office does not publish a count of Nepali nationals resident in the UK, so this guide gives none. The community is centred on areas with Gurkha military connections. The largest concentrations are in Aldershot and Farnborough (Hampshire), Folkestone (Kent), Reading, Rushmoor, and parts of southeast London. Gurkha welfare organisations, Nepali community centres, Hindu and Buddhist temples, and restaurants are well established in these areas. The community celebrates Dashain, Tihar, and other Nepali festivals and provides strong support for new arrivals.

First Steps After Arrival

• Set up your eVisa through your UK Visas and Immigration account (biometric residence permits are no longer issued).
• Apply for a National Insurance number.
• Register with a GP.
• Open a bank account.
• Register for Council Tax.

Path to Settlement and Citizenship

Most work visa routes lead to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after 5 years, which costs £3,226. Gurkha veterans have their own route to settlement, described above. You must pass the Life in the UK test and meet the B1 English requirement (B2 from 26 March 2027 if you settle from the Skilled Worker, Global Talent or several other routes). After settlement, you can apply for British citizenship after 12 months.

Nepal does not allow dual citizenship, so naturalising as a British citizen means giving up Nepali citizenship. That affects property ownership and other matters in Nepal. Some people keep settlement rather than naturalise for that reason. Take advice on the Nepali side of it before deciding.

Next Steps

Identify your visa route. If you have a Gurkha family connection, investigate the special settlement provisions. Otherwise, start gathering your documents, MOFA attestation, and police clearance well in advance.

For official information, visit GOV.UK.

Related guides:

• Student visa: complete guide
• Skilled Worker visa: complete guide
• Spouse visa: complete guide
• UK visa fees: complete breakdown
• Settlement (indefinite leave to remain): complete guide

Questions and answers