1. What a credit card is — and the types in Nepal
A credit card lets you borrow up to a credit limitset by the bank and repay later. Pay the full statement by the due date and it’s effectively an interest-free short-term loan; carry a balance and you pay interest. It is different from a debit card (spends your own deposit) and a dollar card (prepaid USD for foreign websites — see the linked guide below).
- Unsecured (income-based) — issued on your salary/business income. Needs income proof and a credit check.
- Secured (against a fixed deposit) — issued against a lien on your FD or account. No income certificate; the deposit is the security and sets the limit. Best if you don’t meet the income bar or want to build credit history.
- Tiers — Classic/Gold/Platinum. Higher tiers mean higher limits and income requirements.
- Domestic vs international — domestic cards work in Nepal (and often India/Bhutan); international cards work worldwide but international online use is bound by NRB foreign-exchange rules. For pure foreign online payments, a dollar card is usually the right tool.
2. Who is eligible
- Salaried — Nepali citizen, typically 18/21+, with a minimum monthly salary (about Rs 15,000–25,000 for entry cards; Rs 100,000 for premium ones) and usually 6 months’ continuous employment.
- Self-employed / business — firm registration, PAN, tax clearance and recent audited financials in place of a salary certificate; a minimum annual business income (e.g. Global IME from Rs 150,000/year).
- Secured (FD-backed) — anyone with a fixed deposit; no income proof required.
3. Before you start — documents
Tick the ones that apply to you before going to the bank:
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4. Charges & bank comparison
The figures below are from each bank’s official page and were checked on 25 June 2026. Where a bank publishes a fee only in its Standard Tariff of Charges (STC), we say “confirm” and link the fee schedulerather than guess — open the “fee schedule ↗” link in each row for exact, current numbers. This is a sampleto show the market.
| Bank | Example card | Min income / eligibility | Annual fee | Interest | Interest-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everest Bank card page ↗ · fee schedule ↗ | Visa Domestic Credit Card Visa · Nepal & India | Salary Rs 25,000+/month | Rs 750 issuance · Rs 750 renewal | 2% / month | 15–45 days (purchases) |
| Global IME Bank card page ↗ · fee schedule ↗ | Visa Domestic Classic / International Gold Visa · NP/IN/BT (Classic), Worldwide (Gold) | Salary Rs 15,000+/month or business income Rs 150,000+/year | Per bank STC — confirm | ~2% / month | Per STC — confirm |
| Standard Chartered Nepal card page ↗ · fee schedule ↗ | Visa Platinum Rupee Credit Card Visa · Nepal & India | Income Rs 100,000+/month | Per bank STC — confirm | Per STC — confirm | Per STC — confirm |
| NIC Asia Bank card page ↗ · fee schedule ↗ | NIC Asia Visa Credit Card Visa | Age 18–69; min 2 years work experience; 6-month statements | Per NIC Asia STC — confirm | Per STC — confirm | Up to 45 days interest-free |
| Nepal Bank card page ↗ · fee schedule ↗ | Nepal Bank Credit Card Visa | Salary Rs 20,000+/month — or against FD/account lien (no income proof) | Per bank schedule — confirm | Per schedule — confirm | Per schedule — confirm |
Other banks (Nabil, Siddhartha, Kumari, Sanima, Himalayan and more) also issue credit cards. Most publish a Standard Tariff of Charges (STC) on their site — for example NMB Bank STC and Prabhu Bank STC. Always confirm the current card fees in the bank’s own STC.
The charges, explained
- Joining / annual (renewal) fee — a yearly card fee; some banks advertise low- or zero-fee cards, others charge a few hundred to a few thousand rupees.
- Interest (finance charge) — around 2% per month (≈24%+ a year) on any balance you don’t pay in full by the due date.
- Cash advance — withdrawing cash on the card has a fee and usually no grace period — interest runs from the withdrawal day. Avoid it.
- Late-payment fee — a flat charge (e.g. Rs 250) if you miss the minimum payment by the due date.
- Foreign-currency markup — a percentage added on overseas/foreign-currency transactions.
- Card replacement / SMS — small fees for re-issue and alerts.
5. NRB rules & your rights
Credit cards are regulated by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) through its Unified Directive, which covers KYC, credit assessment and card-issuance rules. Practical points:
- Your limit is based on income (or your fixed deposit) and your credit history is checked through the credit information bureau (Karja Suchana / CIB) — unpaid loans can block a card.
- International online use of an ordinary Nepali credit card is restricted by NRB foreign-exchange rules; use a dollar card for foreign websites.
- You can dispute an unauthorised or wrong transaction with your bank; keep receipts and report a lost/stolen card immediately to block it.
6. Use it safely (and for free)
- Always pay the full statement by the due date — that keeps purchases interest-free and the card effectively free.
- Never pay only the minimum as a habit — it’s how balances snowball at ~2%/month.
- Avoid cash advances — fee + interest from day one.
- Never share your CVV, OTP, PIN or full card number — no bank asks for them. Type the bank’s official URL yourself and enable transaction alerts.
- Watch the foreign-currency markup and the billing-cycle/due dates.
7. Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying only the minimum due and carrying a balance month after month.
- Using the card for ATM cash withdrawals (treated as a cash advance).
- Missing the due date — a late fee plus interest, and a mark on your credit record.
- Applying for a tier above your income and getting rejected — start with an entry card or a secured card.
- Assuming an ordinary credit card works for foreign websites — for that you need a dollar card.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for a credit card in Nepal?
Generally a Nepali citizen aged 18 (some banks 21) and above, usually with an account at the issuing bank, who meets a minimum income and continuous-employment rule. Salaried applicants typically need about Rs 15,000–25,000+ per month (more for premium cards — Standard Chartered's Platinum asks Rs 100,000/month). If you don't meet the income bar, most banks offer a secured card against a lien on a fixed deposit or account, with no income certificate.
What is the minimum salary for a credit card in Nepal?
It depends on the bank and card tier. Examples (as of June 2026): Global IME from Rs 15,000/month salary (or Rs 150,000/year business income), Nepal Bank around Rs 20,000/month, Everest Bank Rs 25,000/month, and Standard Chartered's Visa Platinum Rs 100,000/month. A secured card against a fixed deposit removes the income requirement.
What documents do I need?
Citizenship (or passport + visa for foreigners), a salary certificate and last 6 months' bank statement (salaried), or firm registration + PAN + audited financials/tax clearance (self-employed), plus PAN and a passport-size photo. For a secured card, your fixed-deposit receipt.
How does credit-card interest work?
If you pay your full statement balance by the due date, purchases are interest-free during the grace period (often 15–45 days). If you carry a balance or pay only the minimum due, the bank charges interest — around 2% per month (~24%+ a year) on the unpaid amount. Cash withdrawals (cash advance) usually have no grace period: interest starts from the transaction day, plus a cash-advance fee.
What charges should I expect?
Typically a joining/annual (renewal) fee (e.g. Everest Rs 750 issuance + Rs 750 renewal; some banks advertise low/zero-fee cards), monthly interest (~2%) only if you don't pay in full, a late-payment fee (e.g. Rs 250), a cash-advance fee, a foreign-currency markup for overseas use, and a card-replacement fee. Always read the bank's Standard Tariff of Charges (STC).
What's the difference between a credit card, a debit card and a dollar card?
A debit card spends your own deposited money. A credit card lets you borrow up to a limit and repay later (with interest if not paid in full). A dollar card is a prepaid USD card for paying foreign websites/travel — because NRB restricts ordinary Nepali cards for most international payments. For international online spending see our Dollar Card guide.
Can I get a credit card without a salary, against a fixed deposit?
Yes. A secured credit card is issued against a lien on your fixed deposit (or current/saving account). The bank holds the deposit as security, so no income certificate is required and the credit limit is based on the deposit. It's the easiest route if you're self-employed, new to work, or want to build a credit history.
How long does approval take?
After you submit complete documents and the bank verifies income and credit history, the card is usually issued within about 7–10 working days. A secured (FD-backed) card can be faster since income verification is not needed.
Related Tools Pasal tools & guides
- EMI Calculator — plan card EMI / Easy-Pay instalments.
- Byaj (Interest) Calculator — see how interest builds on a carried balance.
- Salary & Income Tax Calculator — work out the income you can show.
- Dollar Card in Nepal — for foreign online payments.
- Open a Bank Account in Nepal — the account you apply from.