Everything you need to know about necessary permits | Updated information
Before October 1st, 2017
Tourism Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) issues and implement the Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) Card. In Everest this system existed until September 30th 2017. There used to be two separate types of TIMS Card:
TIMS Card for Independent Trekker
- Green in color
- Rs 2000 Per Person
- Required two copies of photos
- Need to be self present on TIMS Counter
TIMS Card for Organized Trekker
- Blue in color
- Rs 1000 Per Person
- Required one copy of photo
- Arranged by local trekking agency
Note: TIMS Card is still valid in other trekking regions of Nepal.
After October 1st 2017
With decentralization now giving basic rights to local authority TIMS Card is no longer valid for Everest Base Camp Trek. The new local permit system is enforced and it can be obtained only in Lukla. This will cost Rs 2000 for both organized and individual independent trekkers. You do not need photo for this permit.
Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit
You still need to obtain the Sagarmatha National Park (SNP) Entry Permit, worth Rs 3000 plus 13% tax, i.e. Rs 3390 Per Person. You do not need a photo for this permit. This permit can be issued directly in National Park Entrance at Monjo or you can issue it in Tourism Board Kathmandu.
Additional Permit for Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek
Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) Entry Permit
Certain parts of Jiri to Everest Base Camp is protected under Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project. So you need to obtain the entry permit. It will cost Rs 2000 for both organized and independent trekker and you have to issue this in Tourism Board Kathmandu.
If you are trekking independently, then you will need two photos and you have to fill up the form. If you want to save time, then just download, print and fill up this application form and go to the Tourism Board. For organized trekkers you will need only one photo and this will be issued by your agency.
Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) Card
You will still need the TIMS card, as there are TIMS checkpoints on route from Jiri to Lukla.
Summary of Necessary Permits for Everest Base Camp Trek
- Local Entry Permit Rs. 2000 | Can be obtained in Lukla | Do not a need photo
- Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit Rs 3390 | Can be obtained in Tourism Board, Kathmandu or National Park Entrance at Monjo | Do not a need photo
Additional to above permits for Jiri to Everest Base Camp
- Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) | Rs 2000 | Need two photo for independent trekkers and one photo for organized trekkers | Have to be issued in Tourism Board Kathmandu
- Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) | Green in color, Rs 2000 and two photos for independent trekker | Blue in color, Rs 1000 and one photo for organized trekker
Bonus read: Detailed information about where, when and how to issue the necessary permits for independent trekker for Everest Base Camp Trek.
Hello,
So just to confirm if I was independently doing EBC October 2018 I do not need the Green TIMS card? And I don’t need to get any permits in Kathmandu, I can get all permits from Lukla and Monjo?
Thanks!
Hi did you have any problems with pemits? I cant find anymore info regarding tims anywhere
Regards Rob
Hi Robert,
TIMS card is not applicable for trekking in Everest. I assure you that there won’t be any problem with the permits you have to buy one in Lukla (NPR 2000) and one in Monjo (NPR 3390).
If you go from Jiri you will need Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project Entry Permit (NPR 3000).
Would be great to hear from Laura about her experience 🙂
Regards Pradeep,
Yes, you do not need Green TIMS Card and all the permits can be obtained in Lukla and Monjo. There is no need to issue any permits in Kathmandu.
Enjoy your hike!
Hello,
This information really helpful.
I have booked flight to Lukla on weekend.
Can we issue the permit in Lukla on Saturday?
Thanks
Yes, you can issue the permits on Saturday. Office will remain open.
Enjoy your hike!
Hi, may i ask how do we get free copy of trekking nepal map ebc and local city bus route? Is it in airport or nepal tourism board, tims counter kathmandu or hostel, do they have one? Thanks!
Sim card what is the best options if data can we use at trek ebc?and how much? Tq so much
Free outline map can be found in Tourism Board and for the local city bus route better contact your hostel. For the sim card you can either use Ncell or NTC, both work somehow equally.
Check this map to plan your trip: https://www.magicalnepal.com/everest-base-camp-trek-map/
Enjoy your hike!
How long is the permit valid for? We are doing three pass trek in November, so just to reconfirm we need local entry permit and national park entry permit only?
Permit is valid for single entry and remains valid as long as you want to stay. Yes, just local permit and national park entry permit only and cost Rs. 5390
Enjoy your hike!
Hello,
I plan to arrive Lukla on Saturday. Does the local authority in Lukla open on Saturday for issuing the permit?
Thanks.
Yes, the permit office will be open on Saturday. Enjoy your hike!
Hello,we will be hiking independently to EBC and going through Cho La pass to Gokyo. I understand that TIMs permit is no longer required. I believe that for the treks I’m doing, we only need the local permit and Sagarmatha national park entry permit. Any idea where exactly in Lukla that we go to issue both permits? And also what time does the place for permit issuance open and close?
Thank you
Yes, you will need only local permit and national park permit for Gokyo Chola Pass EBC Trek.
Both permit offices are right on the trail, they will make sure you obtain the permit 🙂
It will be open from early morning, I will say around 6:00 am they will be opened and also around 6:00 pm they will close.
Hope this help Aliza. Enjoy your hike!
Hi Pradeep,
Thank you for the info, this helps.
Cheers
No worries, enjoy your hike! If you like contribute to this blog then do let me know, I can publish your trip report and photos if you want.
Hello – we are planning to walk from Jiri, by-passing Lukla in Oct 2018. If we by-pass Lukla are we able to obtain all necessary permits in Kathmandu and Monjo?
Very interesting, actually when you walk from Jiri you will most likely by-pass Lukla, and I am not sure about the permit office in Phakding for local permit.
I will ask one of local guide from Lukla and let you know about the local permit.
I am doing the ebc trek next march solo.
Do i not need passes from Kathmandu?
Where in lukla do i get passes etc.
Ron, March is a good month for this trek. You don’t need passes from Kathmandu. Checkpoint office is right on the trail and they will make sure you obtain a one.
Enjoy your hike!
Hey, we’re from Bangladesh going for 3 passes trek on 28th. We’ll go by salleri-namche route… For that we won’t need to go to Lukla. So, do we actually need that local permit? If so, then where we can get that except Kathmandu?
This is I am also not sure, as you will directly go to Phakding via Surke without going to Lukla. May be they will have a checkpoint ahead of Lukla where you should be able to buy.
I am trying to contact some local guide about this. May be you can update how things goes
once you complete the trek.
Enjoy your hike!
You can get the Pasang Lhamu pemit in the Namche check post of the trail just before you enter Namche
Thanks Sujoy, I will update the information on this page soon.
Hello.
Can you get permits in Lukla or Monjo on a Sunday ?
Going to do ebc in Dec.
Thank you
Yes, Joanne you can get permits in Lukla and Monjo on a Sunday. You will get local permit in Lukla and national park permit in Monjo.
Are you planning to hike from Lukla to Monjo in one day? It is doable, but check this 14 days itinerary for Lukla to Everest Base Camp: http://www.everestbasecamptrek.org/everest-trek-itinerary/14-days-lukla-everest-base-camp-trekking-itinerary/
Enjoy your trek!
Hi,
I will arrive Lukla on Sunday. Will the local authority in Lukla be open on Sunday for issuing the permit?
Thanks.
Yes it will be open in Sunday.
Hi Pradeep, thank you for lots of important information.
We are goint to do EBC trek through Gokyo Chola Pass EBC Trek. one way we will fly to Lukla so we need Local Entry Permit & Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit. This is clear. But we will come back to Kathmandu not by plane but through Saleri or Jiri (but probably to Saleri). So can you please let us know do we need this additional permits for Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) and Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS)?
After EBC we will go to Annapurna Circuit and others Parks so how should we fulfill TIMS registration form? especially in the part regarding”trekking area” and “route of trakking”?
We will be three months in Nepal so we woud like to do some more trekkings than only EBC and Annapurna 🙂
Thank You for the answer !
If you come back from Salleri (Phaplu) you will not need Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) Permit and TIMS Card. You can check the online map which shows the area of GCAP (Certain part of below Kinja only):
https://magicalnepal.com/everest-base-camp-trek-map/
But I am not very sure about how it will goes if you come down all the way to Jiri. TIMS and Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) for Annapurna Circuit can be obtained
from Nepal Tourism Board, check this article to know more about where, when &
how to issue the ACAP and TIMS:
http://www.everestbasecamptrek.org/everest-trek-information/where-when-how-issue-trekking-permits/
If you need any further information don’t hesitate to contact me.
Where do I get the necessary permits in Lukla? At the airport of somewhere else?
Local entry permit you will get little outside of the airport, it is right on the main trekking trail you cannot miss it! For the national park you will get it Monjo (National park headquarter)
Hi, is there a chance that we could trace the name and location of the guide that my friend hired?
She met an accident along the way.
I am sorry to hear that your friend met an accident ! Do you have any local contact or other details of the guide?
My partner and I are flying to Kathmandu next Friday (2nd Nov) and plan to start our trip to EBC by travelling from Kathmandu to Salleri by bus on the 3rd. we arrive in Kathmandu mid day and want to make sure we have enough time to organise our TIMS, permits etc. What would you advise?
You do not need to obtain TIMS and any other permits in Kathmandu if you want to start the trip from Salleri. You can go to Salleri and start your hike, buy first local permit in Phakding and
National Park Entry Permit in Monjo.
Actually I need to update the information but I couldn’t because of my busy schedule. I will be updating it with a nice map explaining all the details.
Enjoy your hike, have a good one!
Dear Pradeep ji,
Your informative replies are appreciated.
Local entry permit fees to be paid at Lukla is Rs. 2000/- Is this same for Indian Nationals, being member of SARC members? TIMS had a concessional fees.
Hi Sunil,
You don’t need TIMS these days for Everest. For Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit there will be a cheaper price for SAARC. With local entry permit I am not sure about the different
price for Indian. Please update once you are there!
Have a nice trek.
Hi Pradeep,
Is there any specification on the photo such as must be passport size color photo?
Hi Mint,
You don’t need photo for local entry permit and sagarmatha national park entry permit. You will only need if you are going from Jiri for Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) Entry Permit.
And there is no such restriction, just a normal passport size color photo is good enough.
Have a nice hike!
Hi Pradeep,
May I ask where I can get a guide just for Cho La Pass? Plan to climb EBC Cho La Pass next year on our own. Understand I can get the nec permits in Lukia and Monjo, rgt?
Very much appreciate your advice.
Willie
Yes, necessary permits can be obtained in Lukla and Monjo. About the guide for Chola Pass you can try to get the one in Dzongla or Thangnak, depending on from which side you cross the
pass.
Please note most of these local guides will just take you to the top of the pass and you have to manage to descend on other side on your own. Discuss this issue with local guide before.
You can also follow other groups along the way, not necessarily need to have a guide for Chola Pass.
TIMS checkpoints on Jiri to Lukla? Where? (I’m not aware of any.)
I have done this trek couple years ago and I am very sure there was a checkpoint in Kinja Village or somewhere else. These days you do not need TIMS even for Jiri to Lukla. I will be updating the
information on this page very soon.
Thanks for pointing it out!
Dear Pradeep ji,
I am planning for EBC and Gokiyo Ri with my wife ( mid of may 2019). We will start from Lukla and come down via salleri. We are Indian. please guide me what type of permit we need and what is the cost of same ?
You need to obtain local entry permit in Lukla which will cost you NPR 2000 Per Person. And you need to obtain the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit in Monjo, which will cost you NPR 1695 Per Person as you are Indian Citizens. Other than that you do not need any permit.
Have a nice trek!
Dear Pradeep ji
Thanks for your valuable reply. Due to uncertainty of flight , we will start from Phaplu . I heard that now car are going to Nunthala , is it true ? Will we get local entry permit (fee) at Monjo as we are not going through lukla ? Is there any need of Gauri shankar national park permit or TIMS ?
I am not sure about the road from Phaplu to Nunthala, you can figure out when you are in Phaplu. Yes, you will get both national park entry permit and local entry permit in Monjo.
You do not need Gauri Shankar National Park Permit and TIMS if you are starting your trek from Phaplu.
May is a very good month for this trekking, have a good one.
Thank you for he up to date information about permit, it seems easier for solo travelers these days to obtain the necessary permits.
Yes, it is easier these days. Same cost as before and you can obtain right on the trail without any pass photos. Enjoy your hike to base camp.
Hi Pradeep,
I have few questions and would love to hear from you. I am planing solo everest base camp in Apr.
1- Can i rent a bike in Katmandu and reach Namche bazar?
2- As u mentioned earlier for Indian national (2000 +1695) 3695 would be permit , is this correct? Do i need any more permit?
3- Any idea on accommodation on my way to base camp? Also approximate budget for lodging and food.
4- Can i stay in base camp for couple of days?
Thank you in advance!!
Namaste