Marriage Visa in Nepal: What a Foreign Spouse of a Nepali Citizen Needs to Know Before Applying

If you are married to a Nepali citizen and want to live in Nepal on a spouse visa, the process starts with a registered marriage in Nepal and ends at the Department of Immigration (DoI) counter. There is no published, up-to-date DoI webpage that lists every document, fee, or timeline — rules shift, forms change, and local practice varies. What follows is a practical rundown of the steps that are legally established, plus the specific questions you must settle at the counter or with a licensed Nepali lawyer before you spend time or money.

Marriage registration comes first — and it happens locally

Under the National Civil Code, 2074 (2017), a marriage involving a foreign national must be registered in Nepal before any immigration benefit can be claimed. Since federalisation, the registering authority is usually the ward office of the municipality or rural municipality where the Nepali spouse resides, not the District Administration Office (DAO) in every case. Some DAOs still accept applications, but the ward office is now the primary venue. You will need the foreign spouse's passport, a valid visa (tourist is acceptable for registration), the Nepali spouse's citizenship certificate, a no-objection letter from the foreign embassy in Kathmandu, and two witnesses with their citizenship certificates. The ward office issues a marriage registration certificate (विवाह दर्ता प्रमाणपत्र) — not a relationship certificate (नाता प्रमाणित) — and that certificate is the document DoI will ask for.

Applying for the non-tourist (spouse) visa at the Department of Immigration

DoI does not use the term "marriage visa" in its official fee schedules or forms; the category is a non-tourist visa — spouse of a Nepali citizen. Applications are filed at the DoI headquarters in Kalikasthan, Kathmandu. As of 2026, there is no provision to file this category at a local-level office or DAO; the file moves through the central non-tourist section. Bring the marriage registration certificate, both passports, the Nepali spouse's citizenship certificate, recent passport-size photos, and proof of the foreign spouse's current legal stay in Nepal (visa page or arrival stamp). The officer may ask for additional documents — a police report from the foreign spouse's home country, a letter from the Nepali spouse's ward office confirming the marital household, or a notarised affidavit of support — and the list can change without notice.

What you must confirm at the counter (or with a lawyer) before you apply

• Initial validity and extension terms. Past practice has been a short initial grant (often six months) with yearly extensions, but DoI has not published a current circular confirming this. Ask the non-tourist section chief for the current validity and extension rules, and get the answer noted on your file.
• Whether the Nepali spouse must appear at renewal. Some officers require joint attendance; others accept a notarised authorisation. Confirm the current requirement for your file.
• Complete document checklist and fee schedule. Fees for grant and extension are set by DoI and revised periodically. Ask for the printed fee sheet dated the day you apply.
• Work authorisation. A spouse non-tourist visa does not automatically confer the right to work. If the foreign spouse intends to work, a separate labour permit from the Department of Labour is required — and the employer must sponsor it.

Where to go and who to ask

Ward office (municipality/rural municipality) — for marriage registration. Bring originals and two sets of photocopies.
Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu — Non-Tourist Visa Section, Ground Floor. Office hours 10:00–14:00 Sunday–Thursday; arrive early.
Licensed Nepali lawyer — Look for one registered with the Nepal Bar Council who practices immigration law. Ask for a written opinion on the current DoI practice for spouse visas, dated the week you engage them.

Quick reference: documents to have ready

• Marriage registration certificate (ward office original + 2 copies)
• Foreign spouse's passport (valid 6+ months) + current visa page
• Nepali spouse's citizenship certificate (original + 2 copies)
• No-objection letter from foreign embassy in Kathmandu (for registration)
• Two witnesses with citizenship certificates (for registration)
• 4–6 passport photos each (white background, recent)
• Police clearance from foreign spouse's home country (if requested)
• Ward office letter confirming shared residence (if requested)
• Notarised affidavit of support from Nepali spouse (if requested)

This article outlines the structural steps that are grounded in the National Civil Code and current DoI filing practice. Every timeline, fee, and documentary detail beyond that must be verified on the day you apply. Rules change, officers interpret them differently, and a single missing paper can cost you a return trip. Treat this as your checklist for the conversation at the counter — not a substitute for it.