Every season we get some version of the same message from clients three weeks before departure: "Do I need one permit or three?" For most Annapurna routes, the honest answer is one — the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). But "most" is doing some work in that sentence, and the gap between what you need for Base Camp versus what you need for Nar Phu Valley, or between buying your permit at the right office versus at a trailhead checkpoint, is worth sorting out before you land in Kathmandu.
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What the ACAP Actually Is
The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit is your entry document for the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) — at 7,629 square kilometres, Nepal's largest protected area, and its first, established in 1986. It's issued by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), not the government directly, and the fee funds trail maintenance, ranger posts, waste management, and community projects across the region rather than functioning as a general tax.
Without it, you cannot legally enter the conservation area, and checkpoint staff at Birethanti, Chhomrong, Jagat, and similar entry points check for it specifically — not TIMS, not your trekking company's paperwork, the ACAP itself. It's a single-entry permit that must match your passport name and stay with you for the whole trek.
What makes ACAP different from a national park permit like the one Everest region trekkers pay is the management model. The Annapurna Conservation Area runs on community-based management rather than strict park-style access control, meaning local communities — Gurung, Magar, Thakali, Manangi, and Tibetan-influenced villages across the region — are directly involved in how the fee gets spent. That's part of why the region has kept its teahouse economy intact rather than being administered top-down.
How Much Does the ACAP Cost in 2026?
The fee is fixed by nationality and doesn't change with trek length — a 5-day Mardi Himal trip and a 14-day Annapurna Circuit cost the same.
| Nationality | Fee (NPR) | Approx. USD* |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign nationals (non-SAARC) | NPR 3,000 | ~USD 22–23 |
| SAARC nationals (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Maldives, Afghanistan) | NPR 1,000 | ~USD 7–8 |
| Children under 10 | Free | Free |
*USD figures are approximate and move with the exchange rate — we quote clients the NPR figure and confirm the USD equivalent at time of payment, not months in advance.
If you pay online through the official portal rather than in person, a 2.9% payment gateway charge applies on top of the base fee. It's small, but it catches people off guard when the confirmation email shows a slightly different number than they expected.
Where and How to Get It
You have three practical routes to an ACAP:
In person at Kathmandu or Pokhara. The Nepal Tourism Board office at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, or the NTB/NTNC counter near Damside in Pokhara, both issue ACAP over the counter with a passport, two passport-sized photos, and payment in NPR. Processing typically takes under half an hour if the office isn't backed up.
Online, through the NTNC's digital application system, which lets you apply before you even arrive in Nepal. This is where the 2.9% surcharge applies, and you'll still need to carry a printed or digital copy at checkpoints.
Through your trekking agency, which is how the large majority of our clients handle it — we take your passport details, apply on your behalf, and hand you the physical permit at the pre-trek briefing in Kathmandu. No extra fee beyond the government rate.
What we'd steer you away from: waiting to buy it at a trailhead checkpoint. It's technically possible on some routes, but checkpoint-issued permits commonly cost close to double the office rate, and you're gambling on staff availability at a post that may not always be manned. Sort it in Kathmandu or Pokhara first.
One thing worth knowing if you're combining routes: a single ACAP covers multiple treks within the conservation area during the same trip, as long as you don't fully exit and re-enter after your visa's original entry stamp. A client doing Poon Hill first and then extending into Mardi Himal on the same visit doesn't need a second permit — the confusion usually comes from conflating "single-entry" with "single-route," which aren't the same thing.
Which Routes Need Just ACAP — and Which Need More
This is the part most guides gloss over. ACAP alone covers the classic Annapurna routes, but one popular extension requires an additional permit on top.
| Route | ACAP | Additional Permit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Base Camp | Required | None | Checked at Birethanti and Chhomrong |
| Annapurna Circuit | Required | None | Guide legally mandatory since April 2023 |
| Ghorepani Poon Hill | Required | None | Same ACAP covers the Ghandruk loop variant |
| Mardi Himal | Required | None | Confirmed on our own trip page as the sole permit listed |
| Nar Phu Valley | Required | Restricted Area Permit (RAP) | RAP only through a registered agency — no independent applications |
The Nar Phu Valley Restricted Area Permit sits on top of ACAP because the route pushes into Narpa and Nasho rural municipalities near the Tibet border, an area the Department of Immigration classes separately. It runs USD 100 per person for the first 7 days in September–November, dropping to USD 75 for the same period December–August, plus USD 15 per additional day beyond that. As of March 2026, the old rule requiring a minimum of two foreign trekkers to apply for a Restricted Area Permit together was removed — solo trekkers can now get one through an agency, though the guide requirement still stands. Sources differ on the exact date this took effect in March, so we'd confirm the specifics with your agency at booking rather than treat the date itself as fixed.
The TIMS Card Question
This is where a lot of online advice contradicts itself, and we'd rather tell you that plainly than pretend there's a clean answer. Some sources say the independent TIMS card was abolished outright in 2023. Others still list a TIMS fee alongside ACAP for Annapurna routes in 2026. What we can say with confidence, based on what our guides encounter at checkpoints season after season, is that ACAP is the document that gets checked and enforced on Annapurna trails right now — Birethanti, Chhomrong, and the other posts along the route ask for it specifically. If TIMS enforcement changes on these routes, we'll update this guide rather than leave outdated instructions live, which is more than we can say for some of what's currently ranking on this topic.
The Guide Requirement You Can't Permit Your Way Around
Since 1 April 2023, every foreign trekker entering a Nepali conservation area — Annapurna included — must be accompanied by a licensed guide booked through a government-registered, TAAN-affiliated agency. This isn't optional and it isn't loosely enforced the way some older permit rules were; checkpoints ask for it alongside your ACAP. Independent trekking without a guide, which used to be a common budget option on routes like Base Camp and the Circuit, is no longer permitted regardless of your experience level.
Documents to Bring
Whether you apply in person or have your agency handle it, have these ready:
- Passport, valid for your full stay in Nepal
- Two passport-sized photos (some counters accept a digital photo for the online portal)
- Your trek itinerary, including entry and exit dates for the conservation area
- Your guide's name and licence details, if applying independently before booking
What Happens If You Show Up Without One
You'll be turned back at the first checkpoint, at your own expense, with no route around it — this isn't a fine-and-continue situation. We've had clients arrive at Birethanti assuming their flight booking or hotel voucher counted as proof of permit; it doesn't. If you're booking through an agency, confirm in writing that ACAP is included before you fly, and if you're arranging your own, get it sorted in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you leave for the trailhead.
FAQ
Do I need a TIMS card for Annapurna treks in 2026? The situation is genuinely unsettled — some sources say TIMS was abolished in 2023, others still reference it — but on the ground, ACAP is the permit that's consistently checked at Annapurna checkpoints in 2026. Confirm the current position with your agency before departure.
How much does the ACAP permit cost for foreign trekkers? NPR 3,000 (approximately USD 22–23) for non-SAARC foreign nationals, NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and free for children under 10. The fee is the same regardless of trek length.
Can I buy my ACAP permit online before arriving in Nepal? Yes, through the NTNC's online application portal, with a 2.9% payment gateway surcharge added to the base fee. You'll still need to carry a copy of the permit at trail checkpoints.
What happens if I reach a checkpoint without an ACAP permit? You'll be turned back and required to obtain the permit before continuing, at your own cost and delay. Permits purchased directly at checkpoints, where available, typically cost close to double the Kathmandu or Pokhara office rate.
Does the Annapurna Circuit need any permit besides ACAP? No — ACAP is the only conservation area permit required. A licensed guide is also mandatory, a separate requirement from the permit itself, in effect since April 2023.
Is the Nar Phu Valley Restricted Area Permit separate from ACAP? Yes. Nar Phu Valley requires ACAP plus a Restricted Area Permit costing USD 100 for the first 7 days in peak season (September–November) or USD 75 in the off-season, applied for only through a registered agency.
Do children need an ACAP permit? No, children under 10 are exempt from the ACAP fee entirely.
Can I get my ACAP permit myself, or do I need an agency? You can apply yourself in person in Kathmandu or Pokhara, or online — an agency isn't legally required for ACAP itself, though you'll need a licensed guide for the trek regardless, and most trekkers let their agency handle both together.
Planning Your Annapurna Trek?
Permits are one part of a trip that's easy to get wrong from a distance — routing, season, and altitude pacing matter just as much. If you're weighing Annapurna Base Camp against the full Annapurna Circuit, or wondering whether Mardi Himal fits your timeline better, reach out at annapurnaregion@gmail.com or info@annapurnaencounter.com and we'll help you plan it properly — permits included, handled before you land.
