Short answer: No. Do Nepalis need a passport for India? Not when they travel to India from Nepal, by land or by air. India's Bureau of Immigration says citizens of Nepal coming from Nepal "are exempted from the requirement of Passport and an Indian visa", but they must carry a government-approved document that proves Nepali nationality and shows a photo, name, date of birth and issuing authority. For flights, the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi names two documents: a passport or a Nepali citizenship certificate. A passport becomes compulsory the moment India is not a simple Nepal and back trip: if you fly into India from a third country, or fly on from India to somewhere else. If you enter India from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan, you need a passport and an Indian visa as well.
That is the rule in one paragraph. The detail is where people get stuck at the check-in counter: which ID does each airline actually accept, what a child needs, whether the new National ID card counts, what happens at Sonauli or Raxaul, and why a Nepali flying from Delhi to Dubai can be turned away without the right papers. This guide goes through each of those, quotes the official source for every rule, and says plainly where sources disagree. If you are still deciding where to go in India, start with our complete India travel guide, then come back here before you pack.
| Dated rule box | What the official source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Passport and visa for Nepali citizens coming from Nepal | Not required, by land or air. A government-approved document proving nationality is required. | Bureau of Immigration, India (page last updated 22 Oct 2026). Checked: 27 Oct 2026 |
| Legal basis | Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, S.O. 3997(E), Ministry of Home Affairs, dated 1 Sep 2025 | Gazette of India copy. Checked: 27 Oct 2026 |
| ID for flights to India | "Either passport or Nepali citizenship certificate" | Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi, consular FAQ. Checked: 27 Oct 2026 |
| Entering or leaving India to or from a third country | Valid passport required | Bureau of Immigration, India. Checked: 27 Oct 2026 |
| Entering India from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan | Passport and Indian visa required | Bureau of Immigration, India. Checked: 27 Oct 2026 |
| National ID (NID) card | Nepal has asked India to accept it; no acceptance announced in the sources we checked | The Kathmandu Post, 25 Jul 2026. Checked: 27 Oct 2026 |
| Airline lists | Differ from each other, especially for children and voter ID (details below) | Nepal Airlines and IndiGo travel document pages. Checked: 27 Oct 2026 |
Rules on identity documents are set by governments, but airlines apply them at check-in, and airline wording can be stricter or simply older than the government text. Treat this article as a careful map, not a guarantee. Before every trip, confirm with your airline and, if anything is unclear, with the Embassy of India in Kathmandu or the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi.
Do Nepali citizens need a passport to travel to India?
Nepali citizens do not need a passport to travel to India from Nepal, whether they cross the land border or fly from Kathmandu or another Nepali airport. They also do not need an Indian visa. What they do need is proof that they are Nepali, and the most widely accepted proofs are the Nepali passport and the original Nepali citizenship certificate.
What the Indian government says
The clearest statement is on the website of India's Bureau of Immigration, which runs immigration at Indian airports and land checkpoints. It says that citizens of Nepal and Bhutan "visiting India from Nepal or Bhutan by land or air are exempted from the requirement of Passport and an Indian visa." It then adds the condition that matters: "they are required to hold any such Government approved document authenticating their Nationality which shall bear their Photograph along with information viz., Given Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Nationality, Issuing Authority, Period of Validity etc." (Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Bureau of Immigration, India; page shows "last updated on 22.10.2026".)
Notice what that sentence does and does not do. It sets out what a valid document must show. It does not publish a closed list of documents. That is why the practical answer comes from a mix of sources: the Embassy of Nepal, the airlines and, for older rules, the Indian government's own past statements.
The law behind the rule
The current legal basis is India's Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 1 September 2025 under the new Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Paragraph 3(1)(c) exempts "a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan" from the passport and visa requirement when "entering into India by land or air over the Nepal or Bhutan border", and also when the person "possesses a valid passport while entering or exiting India from or to a place other than Nepal or Bhutan but not from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan." In plain words: no passport needed from Nepal; a passport (but no visa) for most other routes; and the exemption does not cover arrivals from those four places. India's public broadcaster reported the order on 3 September 2025, saying citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering by land or air "will not be required to furnish a passport or visa" as before.
The deeper background is the 1950 India and Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed in Kathmandu on 31 July 1950. In the treaty text as commonly reproduced, Article 7 gives the nationals of each country the same privileges in the other "in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement". When people say "Nepalis don't need a visa for India because of the 1950 treaty", they are right about the history, but the day to day rule at an airport is the 2025 Exemption Order and the documents listed below.
So why do so many Nepalis carry a passport anyway?
Because a passport removes almost every argument. It meets every attribute in the Bureau of Immigration's description, including a period of validity. It is accepted by every airline list we checked. It is required for domestic flights inside India on at least one major Indian airline (more on that below). And it is the only document that works if your plans change and you fly on from India to another country. If you have a valid passport, our advice is simple: take it, and take your citizenship certificate as a backup. If your passport is close to expiry, our Nepali e-passport guide is worth reading well before you travel.
Which ID documents are accepted for flights to India?
For flights from Nepal to India, a valid Nepali passport or an original Nepali citizenship certificate is the safe choice, because both appear in the Embassy of Nepal's answer and in the airline lists we checked. Voter ID is named by some airlines but not by the Embassy. Other cards, such as a driving licence, are not named by any source we found for Nepali nationals.
The Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi
The Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi answers the question "Which ID should Nepali nationals have to travel to India by air?" in one line: "Nepali nationals should possess either passport or Nepali citizenship certificate to travel to India." (Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi, consular services FAQ. The page shows no date.) The Kathmandu Post, reporting on the National ID proposal in July 2026, described the current rule the same way: "Nepali citizens travelling to India, particularly by air, must carry either a passport or a citizenship certificate."
What the airlines publish
Airlines check your document before they print a boarding pass, so their lists matter as much as the government's. Here is what we found on the day of writing, quoted as closely as possible.
| Source | Passport | Citizenship certificate | Nepal voter ID | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi | Yes | Yes | Not mentioned | "Either passport or Nepali citizenship certificate" |
| Nepal Airlines | Yes | Listed ("Original citizenship card") | Yes ("Original Voter ID, issued by govt. of Nepal") | Under 18: "a photo ID with dob proof" |
| IndiGo (section headed "travel to Kathmandu (Nepal)") | Yes | Only for under 18s travelling with a parent or guardian | Yes, for ages 18 to 65 | Ages 18 to 65: "Only valid Voter ID or Passport" |
| Buddha Air (travel notice dated 17 May 2022) | Yes | Yes | Not mentioned | Notice lists "Citizenship or Passport"; it is from 2022 |
| Air India | We could not find an Air India page listing documents for Nepali nationals. Ask Air India directly. | |||
Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Nepal Airlines "Documents Required for Nepalese and Indian Passengers travelling to Nepal/India"; IndiGo "Travel Documents"; Buddha Air blog; Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi.
Where the sources disagree
Two differences are worth knowing before you choose which document to carry.
- Citizenship certificate for adults on IndiGo. The Embassy of Nepal and Nepal Airlines both list the citizenship certificate. IndiGo's page, in its section for Nepali nationals, lists the citizenship certificate only for under 18s travelling with a parent or guardian, and says that for ages 18 to 65 "Only valid Voter ID or Passport is valid to travel to Nepal." That section is written for travel to Kathmandu, and it may simply not reflect the India-bound direction, but we cannot tell from the page. If you are flying IndiGo with only a citizenship certificate, ask IndiGo before you book.
- Nepal Airlines layout. Nepal Airlines shows "Valid Passport or Original Voter ID (Issued by govt. of Nepal)" as one bullet point and "Original citizenship card" as the next, without the word "or" between them. Read with the Embassy of Nepal's answer, it most likely means the citizenship card is one of the accepted documents, not an extra one you must carry with your passport, but the page does not say so in words. Confirm with Nepal Airlines before you fly.
Older Indian government lists
India's visa portal still carries an older instruction titled "Requirement of identification papers to establish their identity as Nepalese or Indian for persons entering India or Nepal from either country by air." It lists a "valid national passport" and, for Nepali citizens, an emergency certificate issued by the Embassy of Nepal in Delhi, among other items. A 2000 answer in India's Lok Sabha (Unstarred Question No. 541, 26 July 2000) listed a passport, a "Photo identity card issued by the Government of Nepal" and an Embassy of Nepal emergency certificate for Nepali air travellers. These show how the rule has developed, but they are old. Rely on the current Bureau of Immigration wording, the Embassy of Nepal and your airline.
What happens on arrival in India
Flights from Kathmandu are international flights, so you land at the international arrivals area in Delhi, Varanasi or another Indian city, where officials can ask to see your document again. Keep the same original document you showed at check-in in your hand luggage, not in a checked bag. If you are new to the airport routine, our first-time flight tips and Kathmandu airport international departure guide walk through check-in, security and boarding step by step.
Flying inside India after you arrive
This is a trap many first-time Nepali travellers to India do not see coming. If your trip includes a domestic flight within India, for example Delhi to Goa or Kolkata to Bagdogra, check the airline's ID rule for foreign nationals. IndiGo's travel document page says: "For Foreign Nationals who travel on domestic flights, the only valid photo ID for travel is a Passport." (Checked: 27 Oct 2026, IndiGo.) The page does not make a separate rule for Nepali citizens, and Nepali citizens are not Indian nationals. Until an airline tells you otherwise in writing, assume you need your passport for domestic flights inside India. Train travel has its own booking and ID rules, covered in our guide to getting around India by train, flight and road.
What do you need to cross the land border?
To cross the India and Nepal land border at Sonauli, Raxaul or any other official crossing, Nepali citizens need no passport and no visa, and the same Bureau of Immigration rule applies: carry a government-approved document proving Nepali nationality. In practice that means your original citizenship certificate or passport. We could not find an official list naming specific documents for Nepali citizens at the land border, so carry the same documents you would carry for a flight.
How the land border works for Nepalis
The India and Nepal border is open for citizens of the two countries. The main crossings used by travellers include Belahiya and Sonauli (near Bhairahawa), Birgunj and Raxaul, Kakarbhitta and Panitanki, Biratnagar and Jogbani, Nepalgunj and Rupaidiha, and the far-western crossing between Kanchanpur district and Banbasa. Nepali and Indian citizens normally cross without a passport stamp. Third-country citizens, such as a foreign friend travelling with you, must use a designated crossing, show a passport and visa, and get stamped.
Security forces on both sides can stop you and ask who you are, especially on buses and at busy crossings, and checks can be stricter at some times, for example around elections or security alerts. That is why you should never cross with no ID at all, even if neighbours tell you that "nobody checks". If you are travelling on to Varanasi, Kushinagar or Bodh Gaya, you will also need ID for hotels and trains in India.
| Question | By air from Nepal | By land from Nepal |
|---|---|---|
| Passport required? | No, if coming from Nepal | No |
| Indian visa required? | No | No |
| Proof of Nepali nationality required? | Yes | Yes (Bureau of Immigration rule covers land and air) |
| Documents named by an official source | Passport or citizenship certificate (Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi) | No document list found; carry passport or citizenship certificate |
| Who checks | Airline at check-in, then officials on arrival | Border security and police; checks vary by crossing and day |
| Passport stamp | Not for Nepalis on a Nepal and India trip | Not for Nepalis |
| Children | Airline rules apply (see next section) | No official list found; carry birth certificate or Minor Identity Card and a photo ID |
Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Bureau of Immigration, India; Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi.
Driving your own vehicle
Crossing the border in your own car or motorbike involves customs paperwork for the vehicle on both sides, in addition to your personal ID. Those rules are separate from the identity rules in this article and change from time to time, so ask the customs office at your crossing before you set off.
Pilgrim routes through the border
Many Nepali families cross by land for pilgrimages: Varanasi and Sarnath through Sonauli, Kushinagar and Bodh Gaya for Buddhist pilgrims, or a longer Char Dham journey in the Indian Himalaya. Our guide to things to do in Varanasi covers the Sonauli road route in detail, and our Char Dham Yatra guide explains registration and timing for the four Himalayan shrines. On these trips, elderly parents often travel with only a citizenship certificate. That is fine for crossing the border, but if the plan includes a domestic flight in India, see the passport note above.
What documents do children need?
Children are where the sources differ most, and there is no single published rule that covers every airline. On flights, IndiGo asks for an original birth certificate for ages 0 to 4 and accepts a citizenship certificate, a school ID or a school letter with photo for under 18s travelling with a parent or guardian. Nepal Airlines asks under 18s for "a photo ID with dob proof". A child travelling alone needs a passport on IndiGo. If your child has a passport, carry it.
Airline rules for Nepali children, side by side
| Age | IndiGo (Nepali nationals) | Nepal Airlines (Nepali passengers) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 years | "Valid Original Birth certificate on which DOB mentioned with parents' name" | Under 18 rule applies: photo ID with proof of date of birth |
| Under 18, with a parent or guardian | Nepalese citizenship certificate, or original school ID, or a school letterhead with photo and the principal's stamp and signature | "A photo ID with dob proof" |
| Under 18, travelling alone | "A valid passport if travelling alone" | Not stated separately; ask the airline |
| 18 and over | Ages 18 to 65: voter ID or passport | Passport, voter ID or citizenship card |
Checked: 27 Oct 2026, IndiGo "Travel Documents" (section for Nepali nationals); Nepal Airlines documents page.
Which Nepali documents fit those rules?
- Birth registration certificate. Nepal's birth registration certificate shows the child's date of birth and the parents' names, which matches IndiGo's wording for ages 0 to 4. Carry the original.
- Minor Identity Card (नाबालक परिचयपत्र). It is a Nepal government photo ID for children that shows the date of birth. It appears to fit Nepal Airlines' "photo ID with dob proof", but none of the sources we checked names it, so confirm with your airline.
- School ID or school letter. IndiGo accepts an original school ID, or a letter on school letterhead with the child's photo and the principal's stamp and signature, for under 18s with a parent or guardian. This option can suit students at boarding schools in India who travel home with a parent for Dashain and Tihar.
- Passport. A child's passport covers every scenario, including unaccompanied travel and onward flights. Our e-passport guide covers passports for children too.
Older rules you may hear about
You may hear older family members say that "small children don't need any ID for India". That idea has a real source: the 2000 Lok Sabha answer said "Children up to the age of 10 years will not require the above-mentioned documents." Buddha Air's 2022 travel notice also mentioned an exemption for children below 5, though that notice was written for pandemic-era travel protocols. Both are old. Current airline pages ask for documents even for infants, so carry proof of age and identity for every child.
Students and young adults
We found no special identity rule for Nepali students travelling to India. Students over 18 follow the adult rule: passport or citizenship certificate, and a passport for domestic flights inside India or for onward travel. Students under 18 can use the school ID option on IndiGo when travelling with a parent or guardian. Students living in India who plan to fly on to the Gulf should read the onward travel section below, because the Embassy of Nepal's No Objection Certificate rule applies to Nepali nationals flying to listed Gulf and Middle East countries from Indian airports.
Is Nepal's national ID card accepted for India travel?
Not yet, as far as we can confirm. Nepal has formally asked India to recognise the biometric National Identity (NID) card as a travel document for both air and land travel, but in the sources we checked no acceptance had been announced as of 27 Oct 2026. Until India and your airline confirm it in writing, do not travel with an NID card as your only document.
What we know about the request
The Kathmandu Post reported on 25 July 2026 that Nepal's Department of Immigration had proposed the NID card as a third valid travel document for Nepali citizens, alongside the passport and citizenship certificate, and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had forwarded the proposal to the Indian side. Department of Immigration Director General Ram Chandra Tiwari was quoted: "We have already forwarded the proposal to the Indian side through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." According to the report, an Indian Embassy team that met immigration officials appeared "positive" and had sent the request to New Delhi for consideration. Biometric Update, citing the same reporting on 29 July 2026, added that more than 4.5 million Nepalis had received the card and that the government aims to eventually replace citizenship certificates with the NID.
The Bureau of Immigration page, updated on 22 October 2026, still describes the required document in general terms and does not name the NID card. We were not able to run further searches for a later announcement on the day of writing, so if you are reading this after October 2026, check the Embassy of India in Kathmandu and your airline for news. We will update this article when the position changes.
Other documents: what to rely on and what not to
| Document | Status for Nepali citizens going to India | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Nepali passport (valid) | Accepted by every source we checked | Best single document; required for onward travel |
| Citizenship certificate (original) | Named by the Embassy of Nepal, Nepal Airlines and Buddha Air | Accepted for most trips from Nepal; confirm with IndiGo |
| Voter ID card (original) | Named by Nepal Airlines and IndiGo; not named by the Embassy of Nepal | Carry as a backup, not as your only document |
| National ID (NID) card | Requested by Nepal; acceptance not confirmed | Do not rely on it yet |
| Driving licence | Not named for Nepali nationals by any source we found | Do not rely on it |
| Photocopy or phone photo of any document | Airline lists say "original" | Carry originals; keep copies only as backup |
| NRN card | Not on any list we found as a travel document for India | Not a substitute for a passport or citizenship |
Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi; Nepal Airlines; IndiGo; The Kathmandu Post (25 Jul 2026).
Photocopies and digital copies
The airline lists we checked use the word "original" again and again: "Original Voter ID", "Original citizenship card", "School ID proof (original)". Even India's own Embassy in Kathmandu, writing for Indian travellers to Nepal, warns that a "Downloaded or online print Voter ID card" is not acceptable. Do not expect a photocopy, a laminated copy made from a scan, or a photo on your phone to work at check-in. Do keep a scan of your passport or citizenship certificate in your email or cloud storage: it will not get you on a plane, but it makes a replacement much faster if the original is lost. Our pre-trip checklist includes tips on keeping copies of your travel documents.
What if you fly onward from India to a third country?
You need a valid Nepali passport. The Bureau of Immigration says citizens of Nepal "must be in possession of a valid Passport while entering/ exiting India from/ to a place other than their respective country." A citizenship certificate is not enough for any journey that starts or ends outside Nepal. You also need whatever visa or entry permission your final destination requires, and for some Gulf and Middle East countries the Embassy of Nepal requires a No Objection Certificate when you travel via Indian airports.
The common scenarios
| Your route | Passport | Indian visa | What else to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu to Delhi and back | Not required | Not required | Passport or citizenship certificate as proof of nationality |
| Kathmandu to Delhi, then a domestic flight to Goa | Not required by immigration, but IndiGo says foreign nationals need a passport on domestic flights | Not required | Ask your domestic airline before booking |
| Kathmandu to Delhi, then on to Dubai | Required | Not required | UAE visa; Embassy of Nepal No Objection Certificate for travel to the UAE via Indian airports |
| London (or another third country) to Delhi | Required | Not required | Rules of the country you are leaving |
| Hong Kong, Macau, China or Pakistan to India | Required | Required | Confirm with the Embassy of India before booking, including for connections |
| Delhi to Kathmandu (returning home) | Not required | Not required | Passport or citizenship certificate |
Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Bureau of Immigration, India; Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025; Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi; IndiGo.
The No Objection Certificate for Gulf routes
The Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi says: "NOC is required only for Nepali nationals travelling to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Libya and Lebanon using Indian airports." (Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi, consular services FAQ.) The certificate is issued by the Embassy of Nepal, not by India. Onward rules like this catch people out. In May 2019 The Kathmandu Post reported Nepalis being stopped at Indian airports on journeys to third countries, one of them refused boarding for lack of a no-objection certificate and another forfeiting the entire fare. Those cases involved flights to the United States and Europe under the rules of that time, which shows that the list can change, so always check the current one. If Dubai, Doha or Riyadh is your final stop and India is your connection, read the Embassy's page before you buy the ticket, or fly to the Gulf directly from Kathmandu. For the UAE entry side, see our UAE visa guidance.
Why airlines, not immigration, often make the call
In late 2025, a Nepali traveller flying Kathmandu to Delhi on Air India, then on to Germany with Qatar Airways, was stopped at Delhi and flown back to Kathmandu. India's Ministry of Home Affairs said "the Indian immigration authorities have no role to play in this entire episode" and that "It was the airlines which decided not to let her undertake her onward travel to Germany", "considering her visa validity" (reported by The Tribune, 2 Nov 2025). The lesson for Nepali travellers is that every airline on your ticket checks your documents against your final destination. A rule being satisfied for India does not mean you are cleared for the next country.
Separate tickets and connections in India
If you book Kathmandu to Delhi on one airline and Delhi onward on another, you may have to collect bags and check in again. IndiGo's page says: "Passengers with onward connections on other airlines from Delhi need to clear immigrations and customs." That is one more reason to travel with your passport on any trip that leaves India for a third country. If your work abroad is through foreign employment, Nepal's foreign employment rules also apply; check with Nepal's Department of Foreign Employment, as those rules are outside the scope of this article.
Coming home to Nepal through India
Many Nepalis living abroad fly home through Delhi or another Indian city. Coming from most countries, you enter India with your passport and no Indian visa. Coming from Hong Kong, Macau, China or Pakistan, the Bureau of Immigration says you need a passport and an Indian visa to enter India. Whether a same-day connection counts as entering India depends on the airport, the ticket and the airline, so ask the Embassy of India and your airline before booking. If you are planning a wider trip, our list of visa-free countries for Nepali passport holders is a useful companion.
Which emergency and identity certificates are valid, and for whom?
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu issues Emergency Certificates and Identity Certificates, but these are for Indian nationals returning to India, not for Nepali citizens. For Nepali citizens in India who do not have a passport, the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi issues a one-way travel document for the journey home to Nepal.
This is a common confusion, so it helps to see who does what.
| Document | Issued by | For whom | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Certificate | Embassy of India, Kathmandu | Indian nationals | Single journey back to India (Nepal Department of Immigration; IndiGo) |
| Identity Certificate | Embassy of India, Kathmandu | Indian nationals | Single journey back to India (Nepal Department of Immigration; IndiGo) |
| Certificate of Registration | Embassy of India, Kathmandu | Indian nationals registered with the Embassy | Not valid for travel between India and Nepal (IndiGo; Nepal Department of Immigration) |
| One-way travel document | Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi | Nepali citizens in India without a passport | Returning to Nepal |
| No Objection Certificate | Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi | Nepali nationals flying to listed Gulf and Middle East countries via Indian airports | Onward travel from India |
Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi; Nepal Department of Immigration (information for Indian nationals); IndiGo.
If you lose your documents in India, contact the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi. A scan of your citizenship certificate or passport in your email makes that conversation easier, which is why we recommend keeping one.
What if family members hold other passports?
Many Nepali families now travel with relatives who hold a different nationality: an Indian spouse or in-laws, or children and parents in the diaspora who have become citizens of another country. Each person follows the rule for their own passport, not the family's.
Relatives with foreign passports
Nepal does not allow dual citizenship, so a former Nepali who now holds, for example, a US, UK or Australian passport travels to India as a foreign national. The Nepal and Bhutan exemption does not apply to them, and they need an Indian visa or e-Visa. An NRN card does not change that. If anyone in your group is not a Nepali or Bhutanese citizen, see our India visa guidance and check the official site for that passport well before the trip.
Indian relatives travelling with you
Indian nationals have their own document rules for travel between India and Nepal, and the published lists differ: for example, Nepal's Department of Immigration names Election Commission ID and Embassy of India certificates and has age exemptions, while the Embassy of India page names only the passport and voter ID. If an Indian family member is travelling with you, compare these and confirm with the airline and the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.
| Source | Adults | Children and seniors | Not accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embassy of India, Kathmandu (air travel) | Valid Indian passport, or original Indian voter ID with photograph | Not addressed on the page | Downloaded voter ID, Aadhaar, PAN card, driving licence, Embassy registration |
| Nepal Department of Immigration (Indian nationals by air; notice dated 2075 BS, which is 2018) | Passport, Election Commission of India ID, or Embassy of India Emergency or Identity Certificate | Under 15 and over 65 may use a photo document showing age; 15 to 18 may use a school principal's identity certificate | Aadhaar; Certificate of Registration |
| IndiGo (Indian nationals to Nepal) | 18 and over: voter ID or passport | 0 to 3: birth certificate; under 18 with parent: school ID or school letter | Aadhaar; Certificate of Registration |
Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Embassy of India, Kathmandu "Valid Travel Documents"; Nepal Department of Immigration; IndiGo.
The safest choice for an Indian adult is the same as for a Nepali adult: a valid passport.
What should you check before you go?
Before any India trip, check four things: that you have an original, valid document proving Nepali nationality (ideally your passport); what your specific airline lists for Nepali nationals, especially for children; whether your plan includes a domestic flight in India or an onward flight to another country, which means you need your passport; and whether anyone in your group holds a non-Nepali passport. Then check the official sources again in the week you travel, because these rules are reviewed from time to time.
A simple document checklist
| Traveller | Carry | Also useful |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, Nepal and India trip only | Passport or original citizenship certificate | Voter ID as a backup; scans in your email |
| Adult, domestic flights inside India | Passport | Citizenship certificate as a backup |
| Adult, flying on from India to another country | Passport with enough validity for the destination | Destination visa; Embassy of Nepal NOC for listed Gulf countries |
| Child 0 to 4 | Original birth registration certificate | Passport if the child has one |
| Child under 18 with a parent | Passport, citizenship certificate, or school ID or school letter (check airline) | Birth certificate and Minor Identity Card |
| Child travelling alone | Passport | Airline's unaccompanied minor forms |
| Elderly parent | Original citizenship certificate or passport | Passport if any domestic flight is planned |
| Family member on a foreign passport | Passport and Indian visa or e-Visa | Check the official site for that passport |
Where to confirm the rules
- Bureau of Immigration, India: the passport and visa exemption and its exceptions.
- Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi: accepted ID for air travel, the No Objection Certificate list, and help if you lose documents in India.
- Embassy of India, Kathmandu: any change in Indian rules, including the National ID question.
- Your airline: the final word at check-in, especially for children, voter ID and domestic flights in India.
Other things to sort before an India trip
Identity is the first item, not the only one. Check our guide to the foreign currency limit from Nepal before you change money, and read what to look for in travel insurance from Nepal, because a hospital stay away from home can be expensive. For timing, our guide to the best time to visit India covers the season for each region. Remember that India is 15 minutes behind Nepal, so set your phone clock before you read a flight or train time. If India is one of several places on your list, our roundup of the best travel destinations for Nepali travellers compares it with other easy trips from Kathmandu. When you are ready to plan, browse our India tour packages for ready-made routes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly to Delhi with my citizenship certificate?
Yes, in most cases. The Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi says Nepali nationals need "either passport or Nepali citizenship certificate" to travel to India by air, and Nepal Airlines lists the original citizenship card. IndiGo's page lists it only for under 18s, so confirm with IndiGo. Carry the original, not a copy. Checked: 27 Oct 2026.
Is a voter ID card valid for flights to India?
Some airlines accept it. Nepal Airlines lists an "Original Voter ID" issued by the Government of Nepal, and IndiGo lists voter ID or passport for ages 18 to 65. The Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi names only the passport and citizenship certificate, so treat a Nepal voter ID as a backup, not your only document.
Do children need a passport for India?
No, not for travel to India from Nepal with a parent. Airlines still ask for ID: IndiGo wants an original birth certificate for ages 0 to 4 and a citizenship certificate, school ID or school letter for under 18s; Nepal Airlines wants a photo ID with proof of date of birth. A child travelling alone needs a passport on IndiGo.
Is Nepal's national ID card accepted in India?
Not confirmed. Nepal asked India in July 2026 to recognise the biometric National ID card for air and land travel, and the request was reported as under consideration in New Delhi. We found no acceptance announcement as of 27 Oct 2026. Until India and your airline confirm it, travel with a passport or citizenship certificate.
Do Nepalis need a visa for India?
No. Under India's Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, Nepali citizens coming from Nepal by land or air need neither a passport nor an Indian visa. Coming from another country they need a passport but no visa, unless they enter India from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan, when a passport and Indian visa are required.
Can I travel with a photocopy of my citizenship?
No. Airline lists for travel between Nepal and India ask for originals: Nepal Airlines says "Original citizenship card" and "Original Voter ID". A photocopy or phone photo will not get you a boarding pass for India. Keep a scan in your email as a backup, because it helps if you lose the original and need help from the Embassy of Nepal.
Which ID do I need at Sonauli or Raxaul?
At Sonauli, Raxaul and other land crossings, Nepali citizens need no passport or visa for India, but India's Bureau of Immigration says they must hold a government document proving Nepali nationality. We found no official list for the land border, so carry your original citizenship certificate or passport, and ID for every child in the group.
Do I need a passport to fly from India to Dubai?
Yes. India's Bureau of Immigration says Nepali citizens need a valid passport when leaving India for a place other than Nepal. You also need UAE entry permission, and the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi requires a No Objection Certificate for Nepali nationals travelling to the UAE and eight other countries via Indian airports.
Will airlines in Kathmandu accept a driving licence?
Do not rely on it. No airline or government list we checked names a Nepali driving licence as a travel document for India. IndiGo lists a driving licence among IDs for its domestic flights inside India, but says foreign nationals on domestic flights need a passport. For flights from Kathmandu to India, carry a passport or original citizenship certificate.
Can I take a domestic flight inside India without a passport?
Possibly not. IndiGo's travel document page says that for foreign nationals on domestic flights "the only valid photo ID for travel is a Passport", and it makes no exception for Nepali citizens. If your India trip includes a flight such as Delhi to Goa, carry your Nepali passport, or get written confirmation from the airline first.
India jana passport chahinchha ki chahindaina?
Nepal bata India janda passport ra visa chahindaina, jahaj ma hos ya sadak bato. Tara Nepali nagarik ho bhanne praman chahinchha: passport wa nagarikta ko original. India bata Dubai jasto arko desh jana ra India bhitra domestic flight ma passport chahinchha. (In English: no passport or visa is needed from Nepal to India, but carry an original passport or citizenship certificate; a passport is needed for onward and domestic flights.)
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