Last updated: August 2026. Card fees and NRB foreign-exchange limits change through circulars and each bank’s revised tariff. Every figure below is linked to the source it came from — confirm with your bank before applying.
You want to pay for a Canva subscription, a Udemy course, a domain renewal or a Steam game, and your Nepali debit card is refused. The fix is a dollar card — a foreign-currency prepaid card issued by a Nepali bank. Here is what it actually costs, what the legal limit is, and which banks publish their numbers.
The One Number That Governs Everything: USD 500
Nepal Rastra Bank permitted commercial banks and national-level development banks to issue foreign-currency prepaid cards through a circular issued in March 2021. The facility for an ordinary individual is USD 500 per year, or the equivalent.
That single figure explains most of what confuses people. Your card is not declined because the bank dislikes you — it is declined because you have used your annual quota. And no, opening a card at a second bank does not double it.
Earning From Abroad? Your Limit Is Higher
If you earn foreign currency — freelancing, remote work, service export — the ceiling rises to your foreign income plus USD 500, capped at USD 5,000 per year, against documentary proof of those earnings. Siddhartha Bank states this on its own product page, and it is the single most valuable thing on this page for Nepali freelancers.
“Documentary proof” means what it says: contracts, invoices, and inward payment evidence showing money genuinely arrived through a bank. This is one more reason to receive foreign income through a proper banking channel rather than informally — the paperwork you build up is what unlocks the higher limit.
Dollar Card vs Passport Facility: Two Different Things
These get conflated constantly, and conflating them leads people to the wrong counter.
| Dollar / e-com card | Passport facility | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Online payments from Nepal | Foreign exchange for actual travel |
| Typical limit | USD 500 per year (USD 5,000 with foreign income) | Reported at USD 3,000 per trip for non-India travel |
| Passport needed? | No | Yes — it is issued against the passport and visa |
| Triggered by | Wanting to pay an online service | Actually travelling |
The per-trip travel figure comes from reporting on the FY 2082/83 monetary policy rather than a page we could open on nrb.org.np, and travel entitlements are revised regularly — treat it as indicative and confirm at your bank’s foreign-exchange counter before you travel.
Published Fees: Bank by Bank
These are the banks that publish real numbers on their own websites. Everything here is quoted from the bank’s own product or tariff page.
| Bank & product | Issuance | Annual / renewal | Reload charge | Validity | Apply online? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global IME — Global E-Com Card | NPR 500 virtual NPR 600 physical | NPR 500 / year | Free via app NPR 100 at branch | 5 years | Yes (app) |
| Kumari — $eCom Card | NPR 500 | NPR 500 | NPR 500 | 5 years | Yes (Kumari Smart app) |
| Siddhartha — SBL E-Com Card | NPR 500 | Covered by the 5-year fee | NPR 250 from the second load | 5 years | Not stated |
| Nabil — Nabil iCard | NPR 1,000 subscription | Nil | Not published | 4 years | No — over the counter |
| Nepal Bank — Prepaid Dollar Card | Not published online | Not published online | Not published online | 4 years | No — branch, instant |
Reading the table properly: the issuance fee is the least important number on it. Global IME charges NPR 500 a year but reloads free through its app; Siddhartha charges nothing extra annually but NPR 250 every time you top up. If you load once a year, Siddhartha is cheaper. If you top up monthly, Global IME’s free app reload wins easily. Match the fee structure to how you actually use the card, not to the headline.
Siddhartha’s Travel Card: The Other Fees to Watch
Siddhartha also publishes a separate International Prepaid Travel Card at NPR 1,000 issuance and NPR 500 reload, and its tariff usefully discloses the charges most banks hide: USD 5 card replacement, international ATM withdrawal at USD 5 or 1%, whichever is higher, USD 1 for PIN reissue, and balance-inquiry charges of USD 0.5 domestic / USD 1 international.
Those ATM and balance-inquiry charges are worth internalising as a general warning: checking your balance at a foreign ATM can cost real money. Check it in the mobile app instead.
🤝 Need help setting this up with your bank?
Freelancers, IT exporters, students and businesses in Nepal — tell us what you are trying to do and Digital Solution will help you pick the right bank product and assemble the exact document set before you visit the branch.
Documents You Actually Need
Consistent across Nepal Bank, Kumari, Global IME, Siddhartha and Nabil:
- Citizenship certificate copy
- PAN card copy — mandatory, and the item most applicants are missing
- Completed card application form and self-declaration form
- Updated KYC at the bank
- An existing account at the issuing bank
- Proof of foreign earnings — only if you are claiming the higher USD 5,000 ceiling
You do not need a passport for a dollar card. That requirement belongs to the travel facility, and the confusion sends people home to fetch a document they were never asked for.
Eligibility is broad: Nepali citizens generally qualify, and Siddhartha, Kumari, Global IME and Nabil all state that firms, companies and organisations may hold cards too. Students paying application fees, travellers, and freelancers are all covered as individuals.
What the Card Cannot Legally Be Used For
The circular limits the card to online payment for goods and services permitted under Nepali law, and prohibits cash withdrawal and capital-account transactions. That last phrase is the one that matters most:
- Cryptocurrency of any kind — Bitcoin, USDT, NFTs. Trading and dealing in crypto is illegal in Nepal.
- Online forex trading platforms. NRB has publicly named unlicensed platforms operating here; the activity itself is prohibited under foreign-exchange law.
- Online gambling and betting, which is illegal in Nepal regardless of payment method. See our guide on why crypto and forex trading are banned in Nepal.
- Investing abroad — buying foreign shares or funds is a capital transaction, not an online purchase.
Banks may ask for bills or proof of purchase for card transactions. Using the facility for a prohibited activity risks the card, the account relationship and legal exposure — a poor trade for a subscription.
Choosing Your Card in Four Questions
- How often will you load it? Frequent top-ups → prioritise a free or cheap reload. Once a year → prioritise low issuance and annual fees.
- Do you want it today? Some banks issue instantly at the counter; others issue through the app.
- Do you earn foreign currency? Then ask specifically about the higher ceiling and what proof they accept — before you apply.
- Do you already bank there? An existing account and current KYC is a requirement everywhere, so your own bank is usually the fastest route.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dollar card limit in Nepal?
USD 500 per year for an ordinary individual under the NRB prepaid-card facility. Those with documented foreign income can go up to USD 5,000 per year.
Can I have dollar cards at two banks to get a bigger limit?
No. The circular permits only one prepaid card per person across all banks, and the USD 500 is a per-person annual ceiling.
Do I need a passport to get a dollar card?
No. Citizenship and PAN are the core documents. The passport belongs to the separate travel foreign-exchange facility.
Which bank has the cheapest dollar card in Nepal?
It depends on usage. Global IME’s free in-app reload suits frequent top-ups; Siddhartha’s no-extra-annual-fee structure suits a single yearly load. Compare issuance, annual fee and reload together.
Can I withdraw cash with a dollar card?
The prepaid facility does not permit cash withdrawal. Separate travel cards may allow international ATM withdrawal — at a real cost, such as USD 5 or 1% per withdrawal.
Can I use a dollar card to buy crypto or trade forex?
No. Both activities are illegal in Nepal, so paying for them by card is illegal too.
Can I apply for a dollar card online?
At some banks, yes — Global IME and Kumari both offer application through their apps. Others still require a branch visit.
What happens to unused balance when the card expires?
Ask your bank before loading a large amount. Card validity is typically 4–5 years, and each bank has its own procedure for the remaining balance and for replacement, which is separately chargeable.
Sources
- NRB Circular 10/2077-78 (March 2021) amending the Unified Foreign Exchange Circular 2076 — prepaid-card facility, USD 500 annual limit, one-card rule and usage restrictions.
- Bank product and tariff pages: Global IME, Kumari, Siddhartha, Nabil, Nepal Bank.
- Travel/passport facility figures come from reporting on the FY 2082/83 monetary policy, not a primary NRB page we could open — treated as indicative above.
One discrepancy, disclosed: Global IME’s own product page states NPR 500 annual renewal while some secondary write-ups say NPR 300. We have used the bank’s own page.
Related Reading
- SWIFT codes of all banks in Nepal — for receiving money rather than spending it.
- NRB’s National ID rule for digital wallets — the KYC direction behind these requirements.
- Essential mobile apps every Nepali should have.
Disclaimer: Digital Solution Nepal is an independent educational and digital-service assistance website — not a bank, not a financial institution and not a licensed financial adviser. Bank fees, limits, eligibility rules and Nepal Rastra Bank directives change frequently and vary between customer segments. Every figure here is sourced and dated, but the bank’s own current schedule of charges and NRB’s current directives are final. Confirm with your branch before acting on anything in this article.
Rabin Paudel
Rabin Paudel is the Founder of Digital Solution, a Content Creator, and an AI Trainer. He shares practical and easy-to-understand content on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy, Online Services, FinTech, and Technology. His mission is to make technology simple, accessible, and useful for everyone.
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