How do I get a SIM card or eSIM in Nepal?
सिम कार्ड वा इसिम कसरी लिने?
Buy an NTC or Ncell SIM in person with your original ID, or an NTC eSIM online since May 2026. Documents, eSIM switching and checking the owner.
- Cost
- About Rs 100
- An NTC prepaid SIM was reported at Rs 90 in 2026, before any recharge.
- How long
- Same day
- Where
- Nepal Telecom eSIM portal
- Last checked
- 8 Oct 2026
- Awaiting official confirmation
What it is
Every SIM in Nepal has to be registered to the person using it, so you need your original ID and must be there in person to buy one. Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell are the two mobile operators.
Since May 2026 there's also an online route: Nepal Telecom sells eSIMs through its own portal, paid by digital wallet, with the number delivered as a QR code.
Who needs it
- Anyone getting a new mobile number, replacing a lost SIM or switching to eSIM.
What you need
- Official
Original citizenship, passport or voter ID, plus a copy
You must show the original. Someone else's citizenship brought by a third person isn't accepted.
- Official
A passport-size photo
- Official
Your passport and visa, if you're a foreign visitor
How it works
- 1
Go in person
Visit an NTC or Ncell centre or authorised seller. The person the SIM will be registered to must be there.
- 2
Fill in the form and show your ID
Staff check your details against the original document before activating the SIM.
- 3
Or get an NTC eSIM online
Since May 2026 Nepal Telecom sells new prepaid eSIMs at esim.ntc.net.np. Register, pick a number, fill in the form, pay by wallet and scan the QR code you receive.
- 4
Switch an existing number to eSIM
Ask at a customer centre or use the operator's app. A 2026 report put the fee at Rs 50 for NTC and Rs 100 for Ncell.
- 5
Check the SIM is in your name
Dial *922# on NTC or *9966# on Ncell to see the registered owner.
Where to go
Nepal Telecom eSIM portal
esim.ntc.net.npNTC and Ncell customer centres
Also at Tribhuvan International Airport for visitors
Cost and time
- Official fee
- About Rs 100
- An NTC prepaid SIM was reported at Rs 90 in 2026, before any recharge.
- Processing time
- Same day
Common problems
Can I use a SIM registered in someone else's name?
Don't. NTA rules require SIMs to be registered to the actual user, and anything done with that number is traced to the registered owner.
I'm a tourist.
Buy a SIM at the airport or an operator centre with your original passport.
How do I use my Nepali SIM in India?
Activate international roaming with your operator before you travel and check the roaming rates and packs.
My phone was bought abroad.
Phones from abroad may need registering in NTA's device system. See the page on bringing a phone from abroad.
Real experiences
Been through this recently? Tell the next person which office you went to and what they asked for. Reports are published as community notes, apart from the official information.
Share your experienceSources
- NepaliTelecom: NTC launches online eSIM portal (May 2026)nepalitelecom.com
- NepaliTelecom: NTA bars SIM sales without original IDnepalitelecom.com
- NepaliTelecom: how to check the registered name on a SIMnepalitelecom.com
Written from the sources above and last checked on 8 Oct 2026. Some details aren't confirmed against an official page yet, so check fees and documents with the office before you go.
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