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Vehicle Permit

Vehicle Permit



Although there is a large movement of cross border vehicular traffic between India and Nepal, there is no bilateral Motor Vehicle Agreement. Motor vehicle movement between the two countries is allowed on the basis of understanding reached between the two governments in 1960s, which continues till date. The details of the present arrangements are as follows:

1. Nepal registered vehicles

  1. Nepali vehicles, including two wheelers, have free cross border access to the nearest municipal town/market place or railhead in India provided the vehicle returns to Nepal on the same day. No permit is required nor any levy or tax payable for such visits.
  2. For Nepali vehicles going to the interior parts of India (i.e. beyond the nearest market place or railhead) or for vehicles staying in India for more than a day i.e. night halt, the owners of the vehicles are required to obtain a "Vehicle Permit" from the Embassy of India, Kathmandu or Consulate General of India, Birgunj. (The CDOs or other officers of Government of Nepal are not authorized to issue these permits).
  3. Vehicle permits are issued on payment of specified fees and completion of prescribed formalities including submission of a bank guarantee of the requisite amount.  The vehicle permits can be obtained for a maximum validity of 3 or 6 months and for single/double/multiple entries. The 'Permits' are required to be stamped by the Indian Border Check Post both on entering and exiting the Indian territory. 
  4. The Consulate General of India, Birgunj issues vehicle permits in respect of vehicles falling under the 8 districts of its consular jurisdiction namely, Parsa, Bara, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusha and registered either with Narayani or Janakpur Zonal Transport Office. Accordingly, only the vehicles having registration number with prefix 'Na' and 'Ja' are advised to approach the Consulate General of India, Birgunj, for issue of vehicle permits. Applications can be made on any working day between 0930-1230 hrs. The permits are normally issued within 3 working days. The relevant forms/details can be downloaded from the list below:
  1. Application Form
  2. Types of Permit and Fee Structure
  3. Requirement of documents etc. and amount of bank guarantee
  4. Proforma of bank guarantee
  5. List of border check posts in India and Nepal
  6. Format for Letter of Authority

2. Indian registered vehicles

  1. 1. Indian registered vehicles such as two wheelers, motorcars, vans, jeeps, trucks, tractors, lorries, etc. are allowed to be temporarily imported into Nepal on payment of Customs Duty. Indian travellers may also register the requisite particulars online in advance through the Nepal National Single Window (NNSW) portal (https://nnsw.gov.np/tiv/gen) for issuance of the Temporary Import Vehicle (TIV/Bhansar) Permit, thereby facilitating quicker processing upon arrival at the Nepal border.
  2. Indian registered vehicles are allowed to stay in Nepal for a total of 30 days only in a calendar year and cannot stay in Nepal for more than 30 days in all in a year, even on payment of charges.
  3. Indian registered vehicles, including two wheelers, can visit the nearest municipal area/market in Nepal for a day long visit without payment of any Customs duty. However, the vehicle owners are required to register their vehicle at the Nepalese border check post and obtain a ‘Day Pass/Challan’.
  4. If any Indian registered vehicle enters Nepal on a ‘Day Pass’, then it must return back to India on the same day and while returning back, the Pass has to be compulsorily returned back to Nepal Customs (Bhansar).
  5. The Indian registered vehicles going beyond the nearest Nepali town or for staying overnight in Nepal are required to register the entry of vehicles for the specific number of days on payment of charges varying from NRs. 200/- to 600/- per day depending on the type of vehicle.
  6. The vehicle owners must ensure that at the time of entering into Nepal, they obtain the pass for correct number of days of their stay in Nepal and pay the charges accordingly.
  7. The vehicles with ‘Pass’ issued for specific duration must exit Nepal before the expiry of the 'Pass' and then it may re-enter Nepal on a new 'Pass', subject to the overall limit of 30 days in a year. Penalty is liable for an Overstay beyond the duration mentioned in the permit.
  8. If due to any reason the Indian registered vehicle has to overstay in Nepal, the vehicle owner should immediately approach the nearest Nepalese Customs Office (Bhansar) for extension of period of the 'Pass'. The extension must be sought before the expiry of the existing 'Pass'. In Kathmandu, the extension of pass can be done at Nepal Customs office at Tribhuvan international Airport Cargo complex.
  9. It is important to note that the Pass/Challan issued by the Nepal Customs should be available for inspection all the time by any authority like Police and the Pass should be surrendered to the Nepali Customs at the time of exit from Nepal.
  10. It is important to note Indian registered vehicles caught in Nepalese territory without ‘Pass’ or without valid ‘Pass’ are treated as having been illegally smuggled into Nepal and invite very harsh action from authorities. Such vehicles may be seized and confiscated by the Nepalese authorities.

DISCLAIMER:-

The aforesaid information is only for guidance of owners of the Indian vehicles entering into Nepal and should not be construed as the exact legal position. For detailed information on provisions related import of vehicles into Nepal, latest Nepal Customs Tariff available at www.customs.gov.np may please be referred to.