Everest Base Camp Trek Permits: Sagarmatha, Khumbu & Rules

The Two Permits You Need

The Everest Base Camp trek lies inside Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Khumbu. It is a teahouse trek, not a mountaineering expedition, so there is no climbing permit, just two documents. Note that, unlike the Annapurna region, the Khumbu does not use a TIMS card, a local-government permit replaced it.

Figures are 2026 estimates; confirm current rates with the Nepal Tourism Board or your agency before you travel.

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit

The Sagarmatha National Park entry permit is the main permit, required to enter the protected Khumbu region. For foreign nationals it costs around NPR 3,000; SAARC nationals pay less. The fees fund conservation and local development.

You buy it in Kathmandu at the Nepal Tourism Board office, or at the Monjo park entrance on the trail. It is checked at Monjo and at points along the route, so keep it accessible with your passport. The permit is single-entry for your trek and non-transferable.

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit

The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit is a local-government fee that replaced the old TIMS card for this region. The revenue goes to the local municipality for trails and services. For foreign nationals it costs around NPR 2,000 per person.

Crucially, this permit is only issued locally, you obtain it at Lukla on arrival or at Monjo, not in advance in Kathmandu. A small additional fee may apply for stays beyond a set number of days. If you book a guided package, your operator handles it for you.

Where & How to Get Them

The two permits are obtained in different places, which catches some trekkers out:

• The Sagarmatha National Park permit can be bought in Kathmandu at the Nepal Tourism Board office, or at Monjo on the trail.
• The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu permit is issued locally at Lukla or Monjo only.

You will need:

• Your passport (and a photocopy).
• 2–4 passport-sized photos.
• The fees in Nepali rupees (cash).
• Your itinerary and emergency contact details.

If you book through a trekking agency, they routinely arrange both permits as part of the package, you simply hand over your passport details and photos. Budget roughly NPR 5,000 total; see the EBC cost guide.

The Licensed-Guide Rule

Nepal's tourism authority requires trekkers in its national parks and protected areas, including Sagarmatha (Everest), to be accompanied by a licensed guide, so fully independent, solo trekking is officially no longer permitted on routes like EBC.

• In practice, hiring a licensed guide (and usually a porter) is now the standard, safest and most reliable way to trek to Everest Base Camp.
• A guide handles permit logistics, the Lukla flight, lodge bookings, and, crucially, watches you for early signs of altitude sickness at the high altitudes EBC reaches.
• Rules and enforcement continue to evolve, confirm the current requirement with a registered agency or the NTB before you travel.

Guide costs are covered in the EBC cost guide.