FAQ
Honest answers to the questions trekkers actually ask.
Grouped by topic. If something isn't covered here, email us.
About the service
Are you affiliated with NTNC or the Nepal government?
No. We're an independent service that submits applications to NTNC's official ePermit system on your behalf. We're not part of, endorsed by, or connected to NTNC, the Department of National Parks, or the Government of Nepal.
What does your service fee actually cover?
A clean English-language checkout in your currency, a single itemised receipt, accurate form-filling by someone who has actually trekked these routes, and a real person to email if something goes sideways.
Is the permit I get the official one?
Yes — the PDF is issued directly by NTNC, identical to what you'd get if you applied yourself. Same QR code, same checkpost validation.
Where are you based?
Operated from Kathmandu by a Singapore-registered entity. Customer support is from Nepal Standard Time hours but emails are answered most evenings too.
Permits and trekking rules
Do I need a guide to trek in Nepal?
Not for ACAP. The viral 'guides are mandatory' headlines refer to specific restricted regions like Manaslu, Upper Mustang and Tsum Valley. Annapurna Conservation Area — including ABC, Mardi, Poon Hill, the full Circuit — is fully open to independent trekkers.
Do I need a TIMS card?
Only if you trek with a registered guide. TIMS is the Trekkers' Information Management System and it's gated behind agencies. Independent trekkers don't need it. We don't sell TIMS.
What about Sagarmatha (Everest) and Langtang?
We don't sell those right now. Sagarmatha National Park and Langtang National Park permits are issued by a different agency (DNPWC) and aren't on the same online system. They have to be bought at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or at the park entry checkpost.
Can I trek Manaslu Circuit with just an MCAP?
No. Manaslu Circuit is in a designated restricted area. By Nepali law you need a Restricted Area Permit (only obtainable via a licensed trekking agency), a licensed guide, and a minimum group of 2 trekkers. The MCAP is one piece of the puzzle, not the whole thing. We sell only the MCAP — for the RAP and guide you'll need a registered agency.
The form and your data
What information do you collect?
For each trekker: name (as on passport), nationality, passport number, date of birth, gender, occupation, and a selfie photo. For the order: your email, emergency phone, home address. That's it — only what NTNC requires.
Do I need to upload a passport scan?
No — only the passport number (typed) and a selfie. We don't store images of your actual passport.
Does the photo have to be passport-style?
Not at all. NTNC accepts a clear phone selfie — a casual photo of your face is fine, you don't need a white background or formal pose.
How long do you keep my data?
Passport number and selfie are deleted within 7 days of permit delivery. Order metadata (name, email, dates, amount paid) is kept for accounting purposes — see our Privacy policy for the full breakdown.
Payment, pricing, refunds
What currencies can I pay in?
USD, EUR, GBP and AUD at launch. CAD, INR, CNY and SGD coming in the weeks after.
How do you set the exchange rate?
Live mid-market rate, refreshed daily, with a small 5% buffer to cover currency swings between when you pay us in your currency and when we pay NTNC in NPR. Without it we'd be exposed every time the rupee moved.
What if I need to cancel?
Before we submit to NTNC, full refund minus Stripe fees. After we submit but before NTNC processes, refund of our service fee only (the permit cost is non-refundable from NTNC). After the permit is issued, no refund — that's an NTNC rule, not ours.
What if my application is rejected?
Rejections are rare. If it's due to data you provided (wrong passport number, etc.), we keep our service fee and you can resubmit for free. If it's our error, full refund.
Delivery and using the permit
How is the permit delivered?
PDF by email. The PDF has a QR code that the entry checkpost scans on your phone — you don't need to print anything.
What if I lose the email?
You can re-download from your order page using the magic link in our confirmation email. Email us if you can't find that either — we'll resend.
Do I need to carry anything else on the trek?
Your passport — checkposts will sometimes verify the number on the permit matches your passport. Travel insurance for trekking is technically not enforced but absolutely recommended.