Everest Base Camp Trek Permit: What You Need, Cost and How to Get It

Everest Base Camp trek permit requirements cover two mandatory documents. The two permits are the Sagarmatha National Park permit (NPR 3,000 / ~ $23 USD for foreigners, NPR 1,500 / ~ $11 USD for SAARC nationals) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Municipality permit (NPR 3,000 / ~ $23 USD for all foreign nationals). All trekkers pay NPR 6,000 (~ $46 USD) total, regardless of agency or independent booking. The TIMS card is NOT required for the EBC trek.

Rangers verify both permits at designated checkpoints on the Nepal side of the EBC route. The Monjo gate, between Phakding (2,610 m / 8,563 ft) and Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft), checks the Sagarmatha National Park permit. The Khumbu Municipality permit is collected at the Lukla airport exit on arrival day.

Children under 10 years are exempt from all EBC permit fees. SAARC nationals (India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Maldives) pay NPR 1,500 (~$11 USD) for the Sagarmatha permit, half the standard foreign rate. Nepal visa fees ($30 to $100) are separate from trek permits.

What permits do you need for the Everest Base Camp trek?

Two mandatory permits cover the Nepal-side EBC route. Both are verified at checkpoints between Lukla and base camp. A TAAN-registered agency includes both in a complete EBC package. The two required permits:

• Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit: authorizes entry to the national park at the Monjo gate

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit: local infrastructure charge paid at Lukla airport

A TIMS card is NOT required for the EBC trek (abolished October 2018).

What is the Sagarmatha National Park Permit and how much does it cost?

The Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit is issued by Nepal's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). The permit authorizes entry to Sagarmatha National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the entire Khumbu trekking zone.

Permit cost by nationality:

• Foreign nationals: NPR 3,000 (~$22 USD) per person

• SAARC nationals: NPR 1,500 (~$11 USD) per person

• Nepali citizens: NPR 100 per person

The permit is stamped at the Monjo entry gate between Phakding (2,610 m / 8,563 ft) and Namche Bazaar (3,440 m / 11,286 ft). Purchase at the DNPWC office, Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu, or at the Monjo gate. Himalaya Trekking Nepal obtains this permit in advance for all clients; no office visit is required.

What is the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit?

The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality (KPLRM) fee was introduced in 2017 as a local government infrastructure charge. The fee funds trail maintenance, bridge construction, and public facilities across the Khumbu trekking zone.

Cost: NPR 3,000 (~ $23 USD) per person for all foreign nationals (increased from NPR 2,000 in September 2024). SAARC nationals pay NPR 2,000 (~ $15 USD).

Retain the fee receipt throughout the trek. The Namche Bazaar police checkpoint occasionally requests it alongside the TIMS card and national park permit. Himalaya Trekking Nepal guides carry copies of all client permit documents as backup.

Where do you buy Everest Base Camp trek permits?

EBC permits are purchased in Kathmandu before the Lukla flight or at relevant checkpoints on route. Buying in Kathmandu is more reliable; it avoids queuing at the Monjo gate on a trekking day.

Permit purchase locations in Kathmandu:

• Sagarmatha National Park permit: DNPWC office, Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu (Sunday–Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm) or Monjo gate

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu permit: Collected at the Lukla airport exit on arrival day (not sold in Kathmandu).

How much do all Everest Base Camp permits cost in total?

All foretrekkers: $6,000 NPR (~$46 USD) (same for agency and independent bookings).

• Sagarmatha National Park permit: NPR 3,000 (~ $23 USD)

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu permit: NPR 3,000 (~ $23 USD)

SAARC nationals total: NPR 3,500 (~ $26 USD)

• Sagarmatha National Park permit: NPR 1,500 (~ $11 USD)

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu permit: NPR 2,000 (~ $15 USD)

Children under 10 are exempt from all fees.

What documents do you need to get Everest Base Camp permits?

Required documents:

• Passport (original): Required for both permit applications; rangers verify the original, not a photocopy

• Two passport-sized photos (35mm x 45mm, white background): May be requested for Khumbu permit (bring 2–4)

• Travel insurance (recommended): Should include helicopter evacuation coverage, though not mandatory for permits

Nepal visa: Your tourist visa must cover the full trek duration.

Where are permit checkpoints on the Everest Base Camp trek route?

Two primary checkpoints verify EBC permits on the Nepal route:

Checkpoint 1, Lukla airport exit (Day 1):

• The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu permit is collected here at the airport exit gate

• No trekker exits Lukla airport without this permit

Checkpoint 2, Monjo National Park gate (Day 2, between Phakding and Namche):

• The most thorough checkpoint on the route

• Rangers verify the Sagarmatha permit against your passport

• No trekker proceeds past Monjo gate without a valid national park permit

Namche Bazaar police post (optional):

• Occasional Sagarmatha permit check at town entrance

• Less detailed than Monjo; operates during peak season

What happens if you trek Everest Base Camp without a permit?

Trekking without EBC permits results in fines, forced purchase at checkpoint rates, and possible removal from Sagarmatha National Park. Rangers at Monjo gate physically block trekkers without a valid national park permit.

• No Sagarmatha permit at Monjo: NPR 5,000 to 10,000 fine plus forced purchase

• No Khumbu permit at Lukla: NPR 3,000 fine plus on-route issuance

Enforcement has increased since 2019. Nepal's Department of National Parks added permanent rangers at Monjo and rotating teams at Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche. Counterfeit permit fraud results in immediate park deportation when detected at Monjo's permit verification system.

Can a trekking agency handle all permits for the Everest Base Camp trek?

Yes, a TAAN registered agency handles all three EBC permits as part of a complete package. Clients avoid permit offices, queues, and permit currency management entirely.

What agencies handle:

• Sagarmatha permit: Purchased at DNPWC in Kathmandu before trek departure

• Khumbu permit: Either pre-arranged or guide assists at Lukla airport on Day 1.

Confirm at booking whether the Khumbu municipality fee is included; this is the one permit sometimes listed separately. Himalaya Trekking Nepal states all three permit inclusions clearly in the package quote. No hidden permit fees arise mid-trek for any Himalaya Trekking Nepal client.

Frequently Asked Questions About Everest Base Camp Permits

Are EBC permits available year-round?

Sagarmatha National Park and TIMS permits are issued year round without seasonal closure. The Khumbu municipality fee is collected at Lukla year-round. Permit offices operate Sunday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed on Nepali public holidays.

Can I extend my EBC permit if my trek takes longer than planned?

The Sagarmatha permit covers your declared trek duration. Extension requests at the Namche park office are theoretically possible but uncommon in practice. 

Do children need permits for the EBC trek?

Children under 10 years of age are exempt from all EBC permit fees. Children aged 10 and above pay the same fees as adults. All children require passport identification at checkpoints regardless of age-based fee status.

Is the permit different for a helicopter return trek?

No. Permit requirements are identical for all Nepal-side EBC trek variations, whether you return by foot or take a helicopter from Gorak Shep. The Sagarmatha National Park permit does not differentiate by return mode.

Are EBC permit fees refundable if the trek is cancelled?

Is the TIMS card required for the Everest Base Camp trek?

No. The TIMS card was abolished for EBC in October 2018. Only two permits are required: Sagarmatha National Park permit and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Municipality permit.

Sagarmatha permits, TIMS cards, and Khumbu municipality fees are non-refundable once issued. Travel insurance with trek cancellation coverage partially offsets permit costs in medical emergency situations. Verify the trek disruption clause with your insurer before departure.