Short answer
Get a prepaid dollar card from a Nepali bank and load it from your rupee account. It works for subscriptions, software and shopping on foreign sites. How much you can spend depends on Nepal Rastra Bank's rules and your bank. The old USD 500 a year cap was reportedly relaxed in 2026, so ask your bank what its limit is now.
The details
How to get one
- Ask your bank for a USD prepaid card. Most commercial banks offer one and some issue it as a virtual card inside their mobile app.
- Bring your citizenship, or your passport if the bank asks for it. Banks apply NRB's limits, so they may ask what you're paying for.
- Load it from your rupee account. The money is converted at the bank's selling rate and the bank adds card and issuance fees.
Limits
From 2021 NRB capped general prepaid dollar cards at USD 500 a year. Reports from April 2026 say that flat cap was removed and banks now set limits based on the customer. There are separate higher limits for freelancers spending their own foreign earnings and for IT businesses. Check the current limit with your bank before you count on it.
Common problems
- Some merchants reject prepaid cards for free trials or recurring billing. If one card fails, try the virtual card or the physical one.
- Currency conversion. Paying in anything other than USD adds a conversion fee on top of the bank's rate.
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
- Nepal Rastra Bank, foreign exchange directivesnrb.org.np
- Techlekh: NRB allows prepaid dollar cards (2021)techlekh.com
Written from the sources above and last checked on 7 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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