Everest Base Camp Trek Permits: Complete Guide to Costs, Requirements & Where to Get Them

 

Before you fly to Lukla, you need to know which permits the Everest Base Camp trek requires, what they cost, and where each one is issued. The rules are simple in principle. 

Short answer:

• Permits: Most foreign trekkers need two, the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Trek-Card.
• Cost: NPR 3,000 each, so about NPR 6,000 in total (roughly US$40–45).
• Where to get them: The park permit is sold in Kathmandu or at the park entry point. The Trek-Card is issued in Lukla.
• Orbit Nepal Adventure: Yes, we can help arrange the required permits and paperwork as part of an organized EBC trek, where applicable.

Note: Permit fees and trekking regulations in Nepal can change. The costs and requirements below should be verified with the relevant Nepal government authorities before departure.

 

What Permits Do You Need for Everest Base Camp?

Quick answer: Most foreign trekkers need two permits for Everest Base Camp. These are the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Trek-Card (NPR 3,000), about NPR 6,000 in total. SAARC nationals pay NPR 3,500. 

Permit / Fee	Who Needs It	Cost	Where to Obtain	Mandatory?
Sagarmatha National Park   entry permit	All visitors 10 and over (foreigners,   SAARC   nationals, Nepali citizens at   different rates)	NPR 3,000 foreigners; NPR 1,500   SAARC; NPR 100 Nepali	Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Tourist Service Center,   Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, or the park entry point	Yes
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu   Rural   Municipality Trek-Card	Trekkers entering the Khumbu region	NPR 3,000 most foreigners; NPR   2,000   SAARC nationals and Chinese   nationals	Tourist Information Center, Lukla	Yes
TIMS card	Depends	NPR 2,000 (others) / NPR 1,000   (SAARC), via a registered agency	Online, through a registered trekking agency	Disputed. Listed by NTB for   EBC. Confirm with your agency.
Gaurishankar Conservation   Area permit	Only if you walk in from Jiri	NPR 3,000 foreigners; NPR 1,000   SAARC	Route-dependent. Confirm with your agency.	Only on that approach

Sources: NTB Park Entry Fees and TIMS pages; Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Trek-Card page.

 

 

Everest Base Camp Permit Cost

Here is what the standard Lukla-based trek costs in permit and entry fees. Nepal charges in rupees, so the dollar figures are rough (about NPR 135–150 per US$) and will move with the exchange rate.

Traveler	Sagarmatha National Park	Khumbu Trek-Card	Total (NPR)	Approx. USD
Foreign nationals (most countries)	NPR 3,000	NPR 3,000	NPR 6,000	~US$40–45
SAARC nationals	NPR 1,500	NPR 2,000	NPR 3,500	~US$24–26
Chinese nationals	NPR 3,000	NPR 2,000	NPR 5,000	~US$34–37
Nepali citizens	NPR 100	Not published on the municipality page. Confirm locally.	Confirm locally	n/a
Children under 10	Free	Not published. Confirm before you travel.	n/a	n/a

Some points about the table:

• Older blogs quote NPR 2,000 for the Khumbu fee. The municipality's own page now lists NPR 3,000 for most foreign visitors.
• Some websites add 13% VAT to the park fee. NTB's published table shows NPR 3,000 with no tax line. If a counter charges more, ask for an itemized receipt.
• Guide, porter, flight and teahouse costs are separate. Our Everest Base Camp trek cost guide covers the full budget.

 

Sagarmatha National Park Permit

What it is: Sagarmatha National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and includes Mount Everest and most of the upper Khumbu. Its entry permit is the national protected-area fee.

Why it's required: The whole EBC trail above Monjo lies inside the park. Fees support conservation and park management.

Current cost:

NPR 3,000 for foreigners

NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals

NPR 100 for Nepali citizens

Children under 10 are free (NTB).

Who needs it: Everyone entering the park, with the rates above.

Where to get it:

• Kathmandu: NTB's Tourist Service Center at Bhrikutimandap.
• On the route: NTB says park fees may also be paid at the entry points. Monjo, where the park gate stands, is the entry point on the EBC route.

What happens at the checkpoint: Park staff at Monjo check your permit and record your passport details before you continue toward Namche Bazaar. Keep your receipt handy.

Note: Buying in Kathmandu means one less task on arrival day, especially if your Lukla flight leaves early.

 

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Fee

This local fee is separate from the national park permit. Paying one does not cover the other.

What it is: The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality is the local government of the Everest region. Its Trek-Card is a digital registration and safety-tracking system for visitors, and the fee supports local services.

Current cost: 

NPR 3,000 for citizens of countries other than SAARC countries and China

NPR 2,000 for SAARC countries and China.

Where it's paid: The municipality lists the Tourist Information Center in Lukla as the service office. It states a service time of about 15 minutes and lists a passport as the required document. The page also links a Trek-Card registration app and QR code.

Where the checkpoint is: The registration desk sits on the trail just after you leave Lukla through the Pasang Lhamu gate.

Why keep proof: Trek-Card details are checked at later points on the route, and your receipt or card shows you're registered. Keep it in a waterproof pouch and take a photo of it on your phone.

 

Do You Need a TIMS Card for Everest Base Camp?

Short answer: In practice, the Khumbu Trek-Card is the regional registration for EBC. The official national position is less clear, so ask your agency to confirm your itinerary's requirements in writing.

Two sources point in different directions:

• NTB's TIMS page says a Revised TIMS Provision took effect on 31 March 2023. It requires a licensed guide and an agency-issued TIMS card in listed areas. Everest Base Camp Trek, Gokyo, Cho La, Three Passes and Everest View are on that list.
• The Khumbu municipality runs its own Trek-Card system. Many operators say TIMS isn't requested at Khumbu checkpoints.

Here is what's confirmed about TIMS itself:

• Issued by: NTB, through a registered trekking agency. Individual trekkers can't buy it directly.
• Fee: NPR 2,000 for most applicants, NPR 1,000 for SAARC applicants, paid online.
• Format: An e-card with a QR code.

Independent trekkers vs. agency trekkers: Under NTB's published provision, an agency arranges both the guide and the TIMS card, so this distinction mostly disappears. Some travelers report entering Khumbu without a guide, but that isn't the written national rule, and we wouldn't plan a trek around it.

Note:  Whichever way this settles, a registered agency can confirm what applies to your dates and route. That's much safer than relying on a forum post. You can contact us, Orbit Nepal Adventure for the information.

 

Where Can You Get Everest Base Camp Permits?

Permit / Fee	Kathmandu	Lukla / Phakding	Monjo / Namche	Other
Sagarmatha National Park   permit	Yes. NTB Tourist Service Center,   Bhrikutimandap	Not confirmed by official   sources	Yes (Monjo entry point)	n/a
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu   Trek-Card	Not offered per the municipality page	Yes. Tourist Information   Center, Lukla	Not listed on the official page. Some operators report Monjo for   trekkers who start elsewhere.	Registration app/QR on the   municipality page
TIMS (if applicable)	Through a registered agency (online)	n/a	n/a	Agency-only system

Note: Only locations confirmed by NTB or the municipality are marked "Yes." Nothing is sold as a single online package, so expect at least two separate stops or steps. Bring cash in Nepali rupees. Card payments aren't reliable on the trail.

 

Can Orbit Nepal Adventure Arrange the Permits?

Yes. Permits are one of the practical reasons to book through a registered trekking agency. With an organized trek, Orbit Nepal Adventure can help arrange the required permits and documentation, where applicable to your itinerary. That means confirming the current rules, preparing the registration details and having your guide handle the desk visits, so you aren't sorting out paperwork on the morning of your flight to Lukla.

Insider Tip: Booking through an agency also covers the guide requirement. The exact permits and fees can vary by route, nationality and season, so we confirm them with you before departure. You can see the trek structure in our Everest Base Camp trek itinerary.

 

Documents You May Need

Mandatory

• ☐ Original passport with a valid Nepal visa (the municipality lists a passport as its required document). Check visa rules with the Department of Immigration, Nepal.
• ☐ Cash in Nepali rupees for fees paid on the trail.
• ☐ Agency documents, where your trek is booked through one, so your guide and TIMS details (if applicable) match your registration.

Useful to carry (not listed as mandatory by the authorities above)

• ☐ Photocopy of your passport.
• ☐ Two or three passport-size photos. The municipality doesn't list them, but some offices have asked for them in the past.
• ☐ Travel insurance details, ideally with high-altitude and helicopter evacuation cover.
• ☐ Digital photos of every permit and receipt.

 

 

Permit Checkpoints on the Everest Base Camp Route

Checks happen in a few places, and not every village has one. Here is what's confirmed and what's only reported.

Kathmandu → Lukla: The Trek-Card desk is just past the Pasang Lhamu gate (municipality-confirmed).

Lukla → Phakding → Monjo: Trek-Card scans are reported at Toktok. The Sagarmatha National Park gate is at Monjo, where your park permit is checked.

Namche Bazaar: A further check is commonly reported here. Namche is also the main acclimatization stop.

Tengboche → Dingboche → Lobuche → Gorak Shep → Everest Base Camp: The municipality has described Trek-Card checkpoints across Khumbu, but exact locations can change and we haven't found an official list. Your guide will know which ones are operating.

Note:  For the full trek plan, see our Everest Base Camp itinerary.

 

 

Do You Need Separate Permits for Gokyo or Other Everest Region Routes?

• Gokyo Lakes, Everest Base Camp + Gokyo, and Three Passes: These routes stay inside Sagarmatha National Park and the Khumbu municipality, so the same two permits apply. NTB's TIMS page also lists Gokyo, Cho La and Three Passes alongside EBC, so the TIMS question in section 6 applies to them too.
• Jiri approach: Walking in from Jiri adds a Gaurishankar Conservation Area permit. NTB lists it at NPR 3,000 for foreigners.
• Mera Peak and climbing routes: These may involve other protected areas and separate climbing permits. They aren't covered by an EBC permit.

Note: If your itinerary mixes routes, ask your agency to confirm the permit list in writing. See our guides to the best time for Everest Base Camp and EBC vs other Nepal treks for route planning.

 

What Happens If You Trek Without the Required Permit?

Entering Sagarmatha National Park without a permit is an offence under Nepal's protected-area rules, and trekkers without valid documents can be stopped at a checkpoint. In practice that usually means delays, paying the missing fee, possibly a fine, and in more serious cases being turned back. Penalties can change.

Insider Tip: The simple way to avoid this is to buy each permit from the correct office, keep your receipts, and have your guide check your paperwork at each checkpoint. For other regions, see our Nepal trekking permits guide.

 

Everest Base Camp Permit Checklist

• ☐ Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
• ☐ Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee (Trek-Card)
• ☐ TIMS, if your agency confirms it applies
• ☐ Original passport with a valid visa
• ☐ Agency and trekking documentation
• ☐ Permit and payment receipts (originals in a waterproof pouch, photos on your phone)
• ☐ Nepali rupees in cash for on-trail fees

Note: Also see our EBC packing list.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many permits are required for Everest Base Camp?

➤ Most foreign trekkers need two: the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Trek-Card. A third document, TIMS, is listed by NTB but handled differently on the ground (section 6).

Q. How much does an Everest Base Camp permit cost?

➤ About NPR 6,000 in total for most foreign trekkers (NPR 3,000 + NPR 3,000), roughly US$40–45. SAARC nationals pay NPR 3,500.

Q. Do I need a TIMS card for Everest Base Camp?

➤ NTB's page lists EBC under its TIMS provision, while the Khumbu Trek-Card acts as the regional registration in practice. Your agency should confirm what applies to your trek.

Q. Can I get the EBC permit in Kathmandu?

➤ The Sagarmatha National Park permit, yes, at NTB's Tourist Service Center. The Khumbu Trek-Card is issued in Lukla.

Q. Can I get permits in Lukla?

➤ The Trek-Card, yes. The park permit is sold at the park's entry point in Monjo.

Q. Can I trek to Everest Base Camp without a guide?

➤ NTB's published provision lists EBC among routes requiring a licensed guide. Some independent trekkers report otherwise, but we recommend planning around the written rule and confirming the current position before you go.

Q. Does Orbit Nepal Adventure arrange EBC permits?

➤ Yes, we can help arrange the required permits and documentation as part of an organized EBC trek, where applicable.

Q. Do SAARC citizens pay different permit fees?

➤ Yes: NPR 1,500 for the park permit and NPR 2,000 for the Trek-Card, NPR 3,500 in total.

Q. Do children need an Everest Base Camp permit?

➤ NTB lists children under 10 as free for park entry. The municipality doesn't publish a child rate for the Trek-Card, so confirm it before you travel.

Q. Are permits included in an EBC trekking package?

➤ It depends on the package. Check the inclusions list, or ask us to confirm in writing which fees are covered.

Q. Do I need additional permits for Gokyo Lakes?

➤ Not beyond the standard two, since Gokyo lies inside the same park and municipality. 

Q.  Do permit prices change during the year?

➤ Fees are set by the authorities in rupees and can be revised. Older figures such as NPR 2,000 for the Khumbu fee are still widely quoted, so check the current rate before you travel.

 

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Conclusion

The Everest Base Camp Trek is a life-changing adventure combining culture, challenge, and incredible Himalayan scenery. With proper planning, the right season, and a trusted operator, this trek is achievable and deeply rewarding.

 

Ready to stand at the  world's tallest mountain? Contact Orbit Nepal Adventure today for expert guidance and  customized itineraries for easier and adventurous trek.

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