Everest Base Camp Permit 2026: Cost, Where to Buy & Honest Guide

For the Everest Base Camp trek in 2026, you need two permits: the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit. Total cost for foreign nationals is NPR 6,000 (~USD 45); for SAARC nationals NPR 3,500 (~USD 27); for Nepali Tourist NPR 200. TIMS is optional and not required. Both permits are issued only on the trail, never in Kathmandu, and not available online, with the Khumbu permit available only at Lukla, and the Sagarmatha permit at Lukla in peak season or Monjo year-round. 

Only your passport is needed to buy them. Payment is in Nepali rupees only. The four checkpoints on the trail are Lukla, Monjo, the Namche checkpoint, and Phungi Thenga— nowhere else.

This guide covers everything about EBC permits in 2026 — costs by nationality, exactly where and when to buy them, payment, common mistakes, and the honest reality most other guides get wrong.

Key Takeaways

• Two permits are required for EBC: Sagarmatha National Park permit + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit.
• Total for foreign nationals: NPR 6,000 (~USD 45) in 2026.
• Total for SAARC nationals: NPR 3,500 — NPR 1,500 + NPR 2,000.
• Total for Nepali citizens: NPR 200 — NPR 100 + NPR 100.
• TIMS is optional — not required for the Everest region. It was replaced by the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit in 2018 and is not checked on the EBC trail.
• Both permits are obtained on the trail — the Khumbu permit only at Lukla; the Sagarmatha permit at Lukla (peak season) or Monjo.
• Neither permit is available in Kathmandu — this is one of the most common misconceptions online.
• No online permits. Neither permit can be obtained online in 2026 — both are issued in person at trail counters.
• Only your passport is required to buy the permits — no photos or additional documents.
• Payment: Nepali rupees only at every counter.
• Four checkpoints on the trail: Lukla (departure), Monjo (park entry gate), the Namche checkpoint (~20 min before Namche Bazaar), and Phungi Thenga (before Tengboche).

Quick Facts — EBC Permits 2026

What Permits Do You Need for the Everest Base Camp Trek?

Two permits are mandatory for the Everest Base Camp trek:

1. Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit — NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals
2. Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit — NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals

That's it. No TIMS card is required. No additional permits are needed for the standard EBC trek starting from Lukla.

If you trek the classic route starting from Jiri or Salleri instead of flying into Lukla, you'll additionally need a Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit — see Section 8.

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit

The Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit covers your entry into Sagarmatha National Park — the UNESCO World Heritage protected area that includes Mount Everest itself and the entire upper Khumbu.

Full 2026 Sagarmatha NP fee structure (all inclusive of tax):

Important — outdated pricing correction: Older websites and some AI answers still cite "NPR 3,000 + 13% VAT." This is outdated. VAT was absorbed into the base fee in 2019 — the NPR 3,000 figure is the total, all-inclusive cost. Nothing is added on top.

The NPR 1,500 guide fee is an annual professional renewal paid by the licensed guide as part of their license — not something a trekker pays separately per trek. Your guide's costs are covered in your trek package.

Where to buy: See Section 6 for the honest, season-by-season reality.

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit

This is the local permit that replaced TIMS in the Everest region in 2018. The revenue funds waste management, trail maintenance, community infrastructure, and Sherpa community welfare programs across the Khumbu.

2026 fees:

The fee for foreign nationals was raised from NPR 2,000 to NPR 3,000 in September 2024, so older websites still show the outdated price.

Where to buy: Only at Lukla. You cannot get this permit anywhere else — not at Monjo, not in Kathmandu, not from a trekking agency in advance, not online. See Section 6.

Total Cost of EBC Permits in 2026

By nationality:

These are the permit fees only — not the trek cost. For the complete trek breakdown (guide, porter, accommodation, food, Lukla flight, insurance), see our full EBC cost guide.

Is TIMS Required for the Everest Base Camp Trek?

TIMS is optional — but not required for the Everest region.

The Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card was replaced by the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit in 2018 when Nepal decentralized its permit system. The Khumbu Rural Municipality now handles what TIMS previously did for the Everest region.

The honest reality on TIMS for EBC in 2026:

• If you want a TIMS card, you can still get one voluntarily
• In practice, it does nothing on the Everest route — it is not checked at any checkpoint
• Government websites still describe TIMS as "helpful" for safety and identification, but on the EBC trail nobody asks to see it
• You don't need it to trek EBC, and having one changes nothing about your trek

If a trekking company tells you TIMS is required for EBC and charges you for it, they are either misinformed or upcharging.

Where Exactly to Get Your EBC Permits — the Honest 2026 Reality

This is where nearly every other guide gets it wrong. Here's the actual, on-the-ground reality:

Both permits are obtained on the trail — never in Kathmandu

• The Nepal Tourism Board office at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu is often listed on old websites as a place to get the Sagarmatha permit. In practice, this is no longer standard for EBC trekkers — the counter system operates at the trail.
• The Khumbu Rural Municipality permit is 100% only available at Lukla — regardless of what agencies or old blog posts say.
• Neither permit is available online. There is no e-permit system for the Everest region in 2026.
• If any agency tells you they have already secured your permits in Kathmandu, ask them to show you the actual documents — this is not standard practice for EBC.

The peak season reality (September-November, March-May)

• Both counters at Lukla are open — the Sagarmatha National Park counter and the Khumbu Rural Municipality counter
• But queues at Lukla are long during peak trekking months, and you don't want to be stuck there on the day you're supposed to start walking
• Smart approach: Get the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit at Lukla (you must — it's only available here), then skip the Sagarmatha counter at Lukla and buy that permit at Monjo instead, on Day 2. The Monjo counter has much shorter queues.

The off-season reality (December-February, June-August)

• The Sagarmatha counter at Lukla is closed during off-season
• You must get the Khumbu permit at Lukla and the Sagarmatha permit at Monjo
• Off-season queues are much shorter anyway, so the process is straightforward

If you're trekking with an operator

Your guide handles the permit process entirely — you just carry your passport and pay the fees. There's no paperwork to sort yourself, no queue anxiety, no risk of missing a document.

Payment — Nepali Rupees Only

Every permit counter accepts Nepali rupees only. Not USD, not EUR, not Indian rupees.

Practical implications:

• You can bring enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu to cover both permits (NPR 6,000 for foreign nationals), plus your initial teahouse costs
• Lukla and Namche has ATMs and exchange counters everywhere — no need to sort your cash in Thamel before leaving for Lukla
• There is ATM at Lukla or Namche counters — bring cash from Kathmandu

Permits for the Jiri or Salleri Classic Route

If you're doing the classic EBC route by trekking in from Jiri or Salleri (instead of flying to Lukla), you'll need one additional permit:

Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit (GCAP) — NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals

Where to buy: at Shivalaya on the trail from Jiri, or at the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu.

The two standard EBC permits (Sagarmatha + Khumbu) are still required — you'll pick them up when you reach Monjo/Lukla area.

Total permits for the Jiri classic route: 3 permits, roughly NPR 9,000 (~USD 68) for foreign nationals.

Do You Need a Guide for EBC?

Officially yes, in practice not enforced on the Everest Base Camp route. Here's the honest situation:

• In April 2023, Nepal introduced a rule requiring all trekkers in national parks to hire a licensed guide
• In practice, checkpoints on the EBC route do NOT check for a guide — they check your permit and passport, and nothing else
• Solo trekkers with just permits regularly complete EBC without being stopped

We honestly recommend a guide anyway — not because the rule requires it, but because at 5,000+ metres, if something goes wrong, having a licensed guide with altitude experience, first aid training, and emergency evacuation contacts is genuinely valuable. But if you're deciding based on legal necessity alone, EBC checkpoints do not currently enforce the guide requirement.

Where Are the Checkpoints on the EBC Trail?

There are four permit checkpoints on the entire EBC trail:

1. Lukla checkpoint — permits are inspected on departure from Lukla, before you start the walk toward Phakding. This is also where you buy the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit.
2. Monjo checkpoint — the Sagarmatha National Park entry gate, before reaching Namche Bazaar. This is the main park entry inspection.
3. Namche checkpoint — a separate checkpoint about 20 minutes before you reach Namche Bazaar itself. Often missed by other guides, but genuinely there.
4. Phungi Thenga checkpoint — on the way up to Tengboche, between Namche and Tengboche.

Nowhere else on the trail — not at Dingboche, not at Lobuche, not at Base Camp. If someone above Phungi Thenga asks to see your permit, they are not an official checkpoint.

Keep your permits accessible on all four inspection days. Above Phungi Thenga you can stow them safely in your daypack.

Film & Shooting Permits in Sagarmatha National Park

If you're planning to shoot commercial video, a documentary, or a film inside Sagarmatha National Park, additional permits apply:

This is real and enforced. If you're a content creator planning to publish YouTube travel content, a documentary, or a commercial project involving the trek, you need to declare it and pay these fees in advance.

Standard personal photos and phone video for your own memories do not require these permits.

What Documents Do You Need to Get EBC Permits?

Only your passport.

You do not need:

• Passport-sized photos (some websites still list this as required — not true for EBC counters)
• A guide letter
• A visa copy
• Trekking company paperwork

Just bring your original passport to the counter. That's the entire document requirement.

What If You Lose Your Permit on the Trail?

Honest answer: you have to buy it again, at full price.

There's no reissue at a discounted rate. If your permit is lost — dropped in a river, blown away by wind, stolen — you'll pay the full NPR 3,000 again for whichever permit went missing.

Practical protection:

• If you're trekking with an operator: your guide carries and manages all permit documents. Losing them is not a realistic concern.
• If you're trekking solo: keep permits in a waterproof pouch, and consider carrying photocopies as backup identification (though copies won't work at checkpoints — you'll still need the originals).

Bring the originals, not photocopies — checkpoints reject copies.

Permits for Related Everest Region Treks

The same two permits (Sagarmatha NP + Khumbu Rural Municipality) cover the following treks:

• Everest Base Camp — this guide
• Everest Base Camp via Ramechhap — same permits
• Gokyo Lakes Trek — same permits
• Three Passes Trek — same permits
• Everest View / Panorama Trek — same permits

If your trek stays within Sagarmatha National Park and the Khumbu Rural Municipality boundaries — which all standard Everest region treks do — you don't need additional permits.

Common Permit Mistakes We See Trekkers Make

1. Trying to buy permits in Kathmandu at NTB — the system now operates at the trail. The NTB office may still process the Sagarmatha permit, but it's no longer standard for EBC.
2. Looking for online e-permits — none exist in 2026 for the Everest region.
3. Paying an agency in advance for permits they didn't actually secure — some low-cost operators charge for permits they intend to buy on the trail anyway. Ask to see documented permits, not just fee line items.
4. Bringing USD or foreign currency — rupees only at counters. Exchange in Thamel before flying to Lukla.
5. Getting stuck in Lukla queues in peak season — get the Khumbu permit at Lukla and the Sagarmatha at Monjo instead.
6. Losing the physical permit — full re-purchase required. Keep them safe.
7. Not carrying passport at checkpoints — you'll need it for verification along with the permit.
8. Buying a TIMS card thinking it's required — it isn't, for EBC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to get to Everest Base Camp?

Yes. Two permits are mandatory: the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit. Both must be obtained on the trail — the Khumbu permit at Lukla only, the Sagarmatha permit at Lukla (peak season) or Monjo.

How much does an Everest Base Camp permit cost in 2026?

For foreign nationals, NPR 6,000 (~USD 45) total. For SAARC nationals, NPR 3,500 (~USD 27). For Nepali citizens, NPR 200. These prices are all-inclusive of tax — VAT was absorbed into the fee in 2019.

Can a normal person go to Everest Base Camp?

Yes — Everest Base Camp is a trek, not a climb. Thousands of ordinary people with no mountaineering experience complete it every year. What you need is reasonable fitness (able to walk 5-7 hours a day for 12+ days), the two required permits, respect for altitude (proper acclimatization stops at Namche and Dingboche), and honest expectations about pace. You don't need technical skills, ropes, ice axes, or previous expedition experience.

Can I get the EBC permit online?

No. Neither the Sagarmatha National Park permit nor the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit can be obtained online in 2026. Both must be issued at physical counters on the trail — Khumbu at Lukla only, Sagarmatha at Lukla (peak season) or Monjo. There is no e-permit system for the Everest region.

What's the EBC permit cost for SAARC nationals or Nepali citizens?

For SAARC nationals (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Afghanistan), the total is NPR 3,500 — NPR 1,500 for the Sagarmatha National Park permit and NPR 2,000 for the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit. For Nepali citizens, the total is NPR 100— NPR 100 for each permit.

Do I need a TIMS card for Everest Base Camp?

TIMS is optional for the Everest region — not required. You can get one if you want, but it's not checked at any point on the EBC trail. It was replaced by the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit in 2018.

Where can I buy the EBC permits?

Both permits are obtained on the trail — the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit only at Lukla, and the Sagarmatha National Park permit at Lukla (peak season) or Monjo. Neither is genuinely available in Kathmandu anymore, and neither can be bought online.

Can I get the permits in Kathmandu before I start?

No — this is a common misconception. The Khumbu Rural Municipality permit is only issued at Lukla. Most current trekkers get both permits on the trail, not in Kathmandu.

What documents do I need to get EBC permits?

Only your passport. No photos or other documents required at the counters.

What if I lose my permit on the trail?

You'll have to buy a replacement at full price. There's no discounted reissue. Trekkers with a guide have their permits managed for them.

Do I need a guide to trek to Everest Base Camp?

Officially yes since April 2023, but in practice, EBC checkpoints do not enforce the guide requirement. Only your permit and passport are checked. We recommend a guide for safety reasons at altitude, not legal ones.

Do children need EBC permits?

Children under 10 are free for the Sagarmatha National Park permit. The Khumbu Rural Municipality permit fee may still apply — confirm at the counter.

What if I want to film or documentary?

Commercial filming inside Sagarmatha National Park requires an additional film permit: NPR 10,000 for Nepali/SAARC nationals, USD 1,500 for other foreign nationals, plus a 25% surcharge if you're using a drone. Personal photos and casual phone video for your own use do not require this.

Where are the checkpoints on the EBC trail?

Four checkpoints: Lukla (departure), Monjo (Sagarmatha NP entry gate), the Namche checkpoint (~20 minutes before Namche Bazaar itself), and Phungi Thenga (before Tengboche). Nowhere else on the trail.

Do the same permits work for Gokyo and Three Passes?

Yes. The Sagarmatha NP + Khumbu Rural Municipality permits cover all standard Everest region treks — EBC, Gokyo, Three Passes, and Everest Panorama.

Conclusion — Get Your Permits Right, Focus on the Walk

The EBC permit system is actually simple: two permits, obtained on the trail — NPR 6,000 for foreigners, NPR 3,500 for SAARC nationals, NPR 200 for Nepalis. Where nearly every other blog gets confused is by repeating outdated information about TIMS, Kathmandu offices, online e-permits, and complicated document requirements that just don't exist anymore.

If you're trekking with a competent operator, permits are entirely handled — you won't touch a counter or think about paperwork. If you're going solo, get the Khumbu permit at Lukla, the Sagarmatha permit at Monjo (or at Lukla in peak season), bring your passport and Nepali rupees, and you're set.

The permits themselves are the easy part. Save your focus and energy for the walk itself.

→ See our Everest Base Camp Trek (14 days) — permits and logistics fully handled
→ Full EBC Cost Breakdown — what everything else actually costs
→ Namche Bazaar Complete Guide — your first proper stop in the Khumbu