Quick Answer (TL;DR)

USD 500/FY, one card at a time. Apply at any Class-A bank with citizenship + PAN (+ passport at most banks), load in NPR at selling rate + issuance Rs 500–1,500 + reload ~1%, use for online USD payments only. Expires/renews yearly — unspent cap does not roll over.

$500 Facility — Rules That Matter

Annual capUSD 500 per person per FY across all banks (not per bank)
One-card ruleOnly one active prepaid dollar card — close old before opening new bank’s
LoadNPR → USD at bank selling rate on load day + issuance/reload fees
Banned usesIndia/Bhutan INR settlement, forex/crypto, betting, NRB restricted imports

Which Bank + Documents + Fees

Fast issuers (3–7 days)Nabil, NIC Asia, Global IME, Everest, NMB, Machhapuchhre — all Class-A; pick where you already hold NPR account
DocumentsCitizenship + PAN + passport (most banks) + photo + filled forex form + account
Typical feesIssuance Rs 500–1,500 + annual renewal similar + reload ~0.5–1% + cross-currency markup
Top-upVia branch/ibanking request; USD credited in 1–2 working days; keep load slips for NRB audit

How to Apply — Step by Step

  1. Open/keep an NPR account at your chosen bank with active mobile/ibanking
  2. Submit forex + prepaid card form with citizenship + PAN + passport + photo
  3. Bank verifies single-card + $500 FY usage → issues card in 3–7 working days
  4. Load NPR → USD (start small, e.g., $50 test) → enable e-com + 3D Secure → test $1 payment
  5. Track spend vs $500 cap; request renewal before expiry — balance refunded to NPR on closure

Mistakes That Block Your Card

  • Applying at 2 banks simultaneously — second rejected under one-card rule
  • Trying INR payments for India (use INR draft/card channel, not USD prepaid)
  • Letting card expire with balance — refund takes weeks; renew early
  • Freelancers receiving income: dollar card is for spending, not receiving — receive via bank TT + prove income for tax

Official Sources & Final Note

Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (nrb.org.np) Unified Foreign Exchange Circular + bank prepaid-card notices. Cap/fees revise by NRB notice — $500 working cap verified as of October 11, 2026 against the reported Circular 2082 pattern; confirm the live circular with your bank before applying.

Last updated: September 27, 2026. SolutionsNepal is an educational guide, not NRB.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dollar card limit?

Working facility as of October 2026: USD 500 per fiscal year per person under NRB's prepaid-card facility — one active card at a time. Reports of the cap being raised or removed circulate periodically but could not be verified against a live NRB Unified Forex Circular 2082 notice — verify the current circular on nrb.org.np before applying (verified against published NRB guidance pattern as of October 11, 2026). You top up in NPR at the bank's selling rate; unused balance does not carry extra allowance beyond the yearly cap.

Do I need a passport?

NRB's framework is commonly described as allowing citizenship + PAN, but most Class-A banks are reported to still ask for a passport in practice — bank practice varies, so confirm with your branch. Carry citizenship + PAN + passport + photo + bank account — approval in 3–7 working days at most banks (bank-reported timeline).

What can I pay with it?

International online payments: domain/hosting, ads, SaaS, exam fees (GRE/IELTS/TOEFL), app stores. NOT for India/Bhutan INR payments, forex trading, gambling, or NRB-restricted purposes. ATM cash abroad follows bank-specific sub-limits.

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Written by SolutionsNepal Team

Nepal banking researchers