Nepal now accepts foreign QR payments via local digital wallets like eSewa & Khalti. Discover how this aims to boost tourism, SMEs & digital payments across the country.

Imagine this. A tourist walks into your cozy Thamel coffee shop, pulls out their phone, and instead of fumbling for cash or asking, “Do you take dollars?”, they simply scan a QR code and pay instantly from their international wallet. You smile, check your phone, and see the payment credited, in Nepali rupees.

Not long ago, this would have sounded too futuristic for Nepal. But not anymore.

With the launch of Unified Circular 2081 BS on April 4, 2025 by Nepal Rastra Bank’s Foreign Exchange Management Department, this scenario is now a very real possibility, and a massive opportunity for businesses across Nepal.

From trekking agencies in Pokhara to boutique stores in Bhaktapur, this new regulation unlocks the door to a digital, cashless, and globally connected Nepal. But what exactly does the circular say? Who benefits from it? And how can your business start taking advantage?

Let’s unpack all the key provisions in simple terms, and show you exactly how this can change the way you do business.

Section-by-Section Breakdown: Unified Circular 2081 BS (Miscellaneous Provisions 7 to 11)

Provision No. 7: Receiving Foreign Payments via QR Code in Nepal

If you're a Nepali entrepreneur and you're selling products or services to foreigners physically present in Nepal, you’re now allowed to receive payments from them in foreign currency. But only through QR-based digital methods, not cards.

Here’s how it works:

• Foreigners use QR codes (like scanning from their Alipay or PhonePe app) to pay you.
• The payment goes to the licensed financial institution’s account, such as a bank or digital wallet provider like eSewa or Khalti.
• You receive the equivalent amount in Nepali rupees, not in foreign currency.
• If the system can’t process the transaction through the main National Payment Switch, it must go through something called the Retail Payment Switch (RPS).

To receive these payments legally:

• The business must be registered and should have a license from Nepal Rastra Bank if foreign exchange is involved.
• The risk and responsibility of processing these payments lies with the banks and payment service providers, not you as the seller.

Example: A tourist visits a local gallery in Bhaktapur and wants to buy a thangka painting. Instead of handing over dollars or rupees, they scan a QR code from their international wallet app. The gallery owner gets paid in NPR, and everything is handled by the bank or wallet in the backend.

Provision No. 8: This Circular Overrides Old Rules

This new circular replaces older rules, specifically:

• Clause 1 and 2 of Directive No. 7/2071
• Clause 2 (subsection ga) of Directive No. 14/2071
• And even some parts of clause 7 in the same circular

NRB is saying: forget the old way, these are the new rules now.

Key takeaway: Foreign currency can be received via electronic QR-based methods and settled locally in Nepali rupees. Cards are still not part of this arrangement.

Provision No. 9: Indian Tourists Can Now Pay via Indian Wallets

This is a major shift. NRB is officially allowing Indian tourists to pay Nepali businesses using Indian-issued digital wallets and apps such as PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay.

Here’s how it works:

• The Indian visitor can load money into their wallet or already have it.
• When they pay, the transaction must go through licensed institutions connected to international payment systems.
• The payment should be settled locally through the National Payment Switch using settlement banks, meaning the money ends up in Nepal in NPR.

India is Nepal’s biggest tourist market. This provision simplifies and encourages digital spending by Indian visitors.

Provision No. 10: Must Follow Payment Systems Department Guidelines

All types of digital transactions that involve foreign currency, including cross-border QR payments, merchant payments, issuing and acquiring transactions, must follow the rules issued by NRB’s Payment Systems Department.

This ensures everything is properly regulated, monitored, and secure. For platforms like eSewa and Khalti, this means they need to stay updated with NRB’s instructions and build secure tech to handle such foreign payments.

Provision No. 11: Foreign Exchange Rules Still Apply

Even with all the new flexibility, foreign currency transactions must still follow existing foreign exchange laws, like the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act and other related rules.

You cannot start accepting foreign payments without a proper legal setup. If your business deals with foreign exchange, you need to comply with all the legal frameworks still in place.

Why Did NRB Make These Changes?

Nepal is finally catching up to what many other tourist-heavy countries already do: make it easy for foreigners to pay digitally.

For years, visitors had to exchange cash or swipe cards, and many small Nepali businesses missed out on sales due to lack of digital infrastructure. But today, with QR-based systems booming in countries like China and India, it makes perfect sense for Nepal to tap into that tech, and the tourist spending that comes with it.

That’s where Nepal Rastra Bank’s Unified Circular 2081 BS steps in.

Instead of a slow, cash-driven experience, NRB is giving green signals for:

• Quick, secure digital payments
• Less dependence on physical foreign exchange
• Boosting formal, traceable financial flows
• Empowering SMEs and informal businesses

Real-World Use Cases

Let’s now zoom into how this plays out in places where it can really make a difference.

1. Boutique Hotels and Guesthouses

Problem before: Tourists often arrived late, couldn’t find an ATM, or didn’t want to exchange large sums of cash.

Now: With a QR code on the reception desk, hotels can get paid directly from apps like Alipay or UPI. The tourist scans → payment gets routed via settlement banks → hotel receives NPR.

Bonus: No chargebacks. No foreign currency handling.

2. Trekking and Tour Operators

Problem before: Guides relied on tips in cash. Booking agents couldn’t accept payment unless through remittance or risky card processing.

Now: A trekking agency in Thamel can let an Indian or Chinese customer book a tour with a simple QR scan. Payment gets routed properly through licensed platforms.

3. Street Vendors and Local Artisans

Yes, even the vendor selling tea, pashmina, or paintings on the streets of Bhaktapur or Lakeside Pokhara can benefit.

All they need is:

• A QR code from an acquiring institution (like a bank or Khalti)
• A smartphone to track receipts

They don’t need to manage foreign currency, they simply receive NPR in their account.

4. Events, Cultural Shows, Adventure Sports

Ziplining in Pokhara? Paying for an Everest experience? Buying tickets to a local cultural dance show in Kathmandu?

Tourists can now pay on the spot via digital wallets. No cash, no hassle. This is better for safety, easier for recordkeeping.

5. Religious and Pilgrimage Tourism

Nepal sees thousands of pilgrims and spiritual tourists annually, especially from India.

With Provision 9, NRB has now enabled temples, ashrams, and tour organizers to accept UPI-based payments from Indian visitors.

Imagine how much smoother Saptari’s Kanchanrup Mahotsav or Janakpur's Makar Mela could be with digital payments instead of collecting donations in plastic boxes.

How eSewa and Khalti Fit In

Now let’s talk about the two big names; eSewa and Khalti, Nepal’s homegrown digital wallets.

Here’s how they fit into the picture:

1. Acting as Acquiring Institutions

If licensed by NRB, eSewa and Khalti can act as digital bridges, receiving QR-based payments from foreign wallets.

Let’s say a Chinese tourist wants to pay using Alipay:

• eSewa integrates with Alipay’s network.
• The tourist scans the eSewa QR code.
• The money gets processed through Retail Payment Switch or National Payment Switch.
• The vendor receives the amount in NPR.

2. No Foreign Currency Holding

eSewa and Khalti don’t keep the foreign currency. Their job is to:

• Process the payment
• Convert the value to NPR
• Send it to a settlement bank for final credit to the vendor

This ensures foreign exchange regulations are not violated, while keeping the experience smooth for both ends.

3. Must Follow NRB Guidelines

Platforms must comply with the Payment Systems Department’s rules, for example:

• Transaction tracking
• Foreign exchange reporting
• Risk and fraud management

It’s a heavy responsibility, but one that builds trust and long-term scalability.

Benefits to the Tourism Industry

Think of these new provisions as not just minor policy tweaks, but a major milestone for the tourism industry of Nepal, and most importantly, for the Nepali economy as a whole. Let’s talk about the benefits in detail: 

1. Higher Tourist Spending

Tourists are more likely to spend when they can do so easily. Digital payment removes friction, especially for impulse buys or last-minute decisions.

2. More Inclusive Commerce

Small businesses, even without POS machines can now accept payments from international visitors. All they need is a printed or phone-based QR code.

This empowers:

• Women-led businesses
• Rural artisans
• Family-run shops

3. Less Dependence on Foreign Exchange Counters

Cash exchange counters and informal money changers may no longer be the only option. This reduces theft risk, improves safety, and lessens the need for cash exchange counters.

4. Digital Traceability & Transparency

Since all payments are digitally logged, this makes auditing, reporting, and taxation more efficient, eventually boosting confidence in Nepal’s financial system.

How Nepali Businesses Can Prepare

If you’re a business owner in Nepal, here’s your checklist to start accepting foreign QR payments:

1. Register Your Business Properly

Make sure your business is:

• Legally registered
• Has a PAN number

 2. Get a Merchant Account

Contact:

• Your commercial bank
• Digital wallets like eSewa or Khalti

Ask if they offer QR-based acquiring services for foreign payments. If not now, they soon will.

3. Display Your QR Code Clearly

Tourists won’t use it if they don’t see it. Print your QR and place it:

• At your payment counter
• On restaurant menus
• On hotel reception desks
• Even on trekking tour brochures

4. Educate Your Staff

Train your team to:

• Guide tourists through QR payment
• Check confirmation messages
• Know what to do in case of failed transactions

5. Keep Good Records

Even if the payment is digital, keep your own logs of:

• Date/time of payment
• Amount received (in NPR)
• Reference number or screenshot

It helps during audits and to solve disputes if any arise.

What About Freelancers and Digital Entrepreneurs?

The Unified Circular 2081 is a big win for tourism-facing businesses. But as Nepal moves toward enabling foreign digital payments through platforms like eSewa and Khalti, there’s another group that’s still left behind: freelancers, online entrepreneurs, and digital platform founders.

These are Nepalis building apps, offering creative services, or running global e-commerce stores, yet struggling with one basic thing: getting paid.

Still Waiting for Global Payment Access

Unlike hotels or shops that can now accept QR payments from tourists, freelancers still have no access to:

• Platforms like PayPal, Wise, or Stripe
• Quick, affordable ways to receive international client payments
• Legal, transparent payment gateways for their websites or apps

Instead, they rely on slow bank transfers, often with high fees and unclear deductions, or worse, set up foreign entities just to collect payments, sometimes violating existing laws.

Why This Matters

Just like QR payments make life easier for tourists and vendors, freelancers need modern tools to thrive in the global digital economy. Expanding NRB’s progressive approach to include service-based foreign income would:

• Keep startups and talent from relocating abroad
• Channel more foreign income through Nepal’s banking system
• Strengthen the country's reputation as a digital economy

The digital economy is no longer emerging, it's already here. And just like QR payments are helping tourism grow, freelancers and online businesses deserve the same support to compete globally and stay local.

Final Thoughts

The miscellaneous provisions (7–11) in Nepal Rastra Bank’s Unified Circular 2081 BS represent more than just regulatory updates, they signal a shift in how Nepal connects with the world.

By enabling QR-based payments from international wallets, the circular empowers businesses of all sizes; from tea stalls in Bhaktapur to hotels in Pokhara and rafting guides in Chitwan, to participate in a more open, efficient, and traveler-friendly economy.

For platforms like eSewa and Khalti, this is an opportunity to evolve into global-facing payment networks and support Nepal’s growing role in digital commerce.

But the conversation shouldn’t end with tourism.

Nepali freelancers, developers, and digital entrepreneurs are also looking for access to global fintech platforms. If QR payments can be enabled for tourists, why not extend similar access to those building global businesses from right here in Nepal?

The tools are here. The momentum is real. The challenge now is to ensure that everyone, not just those in hospitality or tourism, can participate fully and confidently in Nepal’s digital economy.

This circular sets the stage. It’s time to build on it with reforms that reflect the full scope of Nepal’s potential in the global marketplace.

Additional Resources:

• Khalti and IME Pay Merger: A Game-Changer for Digital Payments in Nepal
• Why NRB is Rooting for An Offline Payment Revolution Amidst the Online Payment Boom
• How NRB’s New Directive Impacts Khalti, Mobile Banking, and Digital Nepal