Everest Base Camp Trek Permit — The Honest Guide for Indian Trekkers 2025-26

Most EBC permit guides are written for a global audience. They list fees in USD, assume you need a Nepal visa, and tell you TIMS is mandatory. None of that is accurate for Indian trekkers in 2025-26.

Here is what the permit process actually looks like when you’re flying in from Delhi or Mumbai.

Quick answer for Indian trekkers:
2 permits needed: Sagarmatha National Park + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Municipality
Indians pay NPR 1,500 for the National Park permit — half what other foreigners pay
TIMS card is not required for EBC region from 2025
No Nepal visa required — just your valid Indian passport
Total permit cost for Indians: ~NPR 3,500 (~₹2,100)

Why Indian Trekkers Are Different from Other EBC Visitors

India is a SAARC member nation. Nepal’s protected area fee structure gives SAARC nationals a 50% reduction on the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit — NPR 1,500 instead of NPR 3,000. This is built into official Nepal government policy, not a discretionary discount.

On top of that, Indian passport holders enter Nepal without any visa at all. There’s no visa-on-arrival fee, no prior application, and no visa stamp in your passport. You walk through Tribhuvan International Airport immigration on your Indian passport and that’s it. Most permit guides skip both these points entirely because they’re writing for British or American trekkers, not Indian ones.

The 2 Permits You Actually Need

Permit 1 — Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit

Sagarmatha National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every trekker entering the Khumbu region — guided or independent — needs this permit. The park boundaries begin before Namche Bazaar and the Monjo checkpost is where most trekkers show this permit for the first time.

Permit 2 — Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit

Introduced in October 2018, this local government entry permit replaced the TIMS card specifically for the Khumbu region. The revenue goes directly to the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu local government for trail maintenance and community development.

What about the TIMS card?
The TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card is NOT required for EBC region trekkers in 2025.
The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Municipality Permit replaced TIMS here from October 2018.
Some operators and outdated blogs still list TIMS as mandatory. Ask your operator specifically — if they charge for TIMS on an EBC trek, push back.

Total Permit Cost for Indians — Summary

Where to Get Permits — Two Options

Kathmandu (Strongly Recommended)

Sorting permits in Kathmandu before your Lukla flight avoids any queue risk on Day 1 of the trek. During October, the Monjo checkpost sees 200+ trekkers per day and queues can run 60 to 90 minutes. A tight itinerary cannot afford that.

•       Nepal Tourism Board office, Bhrikuti Mandap — near Dasarath Stadium, Kathmandu

•       Bring original passport, 2 passport photos, and NPR in cash. No card payments at permit offices.

•       A registered trekking operator can collect permits on your behalf — confirm this is included in your package, not charged as an extra

On the Trail

•       Sagarmatha NP Permit: Monjo checkpost, between Lukla and Namche Bazaar

•       Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Permit: Lukla arrival checkpoint or Monjo

•       Carry NPR cash from Kathmandu — ATMs exist only in Namche Bazaar, and queues here in October can be 30 minutes

•       Trail permits are fine for trekkers with relaxed Day 1 itineraries. If you are pushing to Namche on Day 1, Kathmandu is the right call.

3 Mistakes Indian Trekkers Make with EBC Permits

Carrying USD Instead of NPR

Every permit office, every checkpost, every teahouse above Namche Bazaar runs on Nepali Rupees. Some checkpost officers may take USD but at poor rates. Withdraw NPR at a Kathmandu airport ATM immediately after landing. Exchange at Thamel money changers also works well. Do not rely on trail ATMs.

No Physical Passport Photos

Permit applications need physical photos, not phone screenshots. Many Indian trekkers pack everything digitally and then scramble in Kathmandu. Pack 4 extra passport photos from India before you leave. They’re also needed for some teahouse registration forms above Namche.

Not Checking Permit Dates

If your operator arranges permits, verify the physical documents in Kathmandu before you board the Lukla flight. Your name, passport number, and validity dates must be correct. A permit expiring before your return creates a genuine problem at the Monjo checkpost on the way back — and fixing an expired permit on the trail is not straightforward.

Combining EBC with Island Peak? One More Permit

The October acclimatisation window and the Khumbu approach make EBC and Island Peak a natural combination. Many Indian trekkers do both in one trip. If that’s your plan, there is one additional permit on top of the two EBC permits.

Island Peak requires an NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association) Trekking Peak Permit. From September 2025, this costs USD 350 per person for both spring and autumn seasons. Your Sagarmatha NP and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu permits remain valid and cover the approach route. The NMA permit covers only the Island Peak climbing section above base camp.

The full breakdown of Island Peak costs, itinerary, and planning is here: [Island Peak Climbing — Complete Guide for Indian Trekkers].

Book Your EBC Trek with Trekyaari

Trekyaari manages all permit arrangements as part of EBC packages — both permits, verified correct before you leave Kathmandu. For a full breakdown of what EBC costs from India, see our Everest Base Camp Trek Cost — Complete Budget Guide

For groups combining EBC with Island Peak, we handle the NMA permit alongside standard EBC permits through the same October window. Planning costs for both peaks

Toll Free: 1800 889 1805  |  WhatsApp: +91 9310545460

www.trekyaari.com