The Everest Base Camp trek permits are straightforward — two permits required, both included in the Mountain Hike Nepal package price, and your guide handles every checkpoint presentation along the route. No NMA climbing permit, no Restricted Area Permit, no TIMS card currently required, and no independent office visits needed. The total permit cost for EBC runs approximately USD 46 per person — among the lowest of any major Himalayan route given what the trek delivers. This guide covers every permit in full detail: what it is, what it costs, where it comes from, and exactly what happens at each checkpoint from Jorsale to the upper Khumbu.
What’s Inside This Guide
- Permits Required — Quick Summary
- Sagarmatha National Park Permit
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Permit
- TIMS Card — Current Status
- Checkpoint Locations
- Guide Requirement 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
Everest Base Camp Trek Permits — What You Need in 2026
| Permit | Cost Per Person | In Package? | Where Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit (SNP) | NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) | ✅ Yes | Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu or Monjo checkpoint |
| Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit | NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) | ✅ Yes | Lukla checkpoint on arrival |
| TIMS Card | Not currently required | N/A | Replaced locally in the Khumbu region since 2018 — may return in future seasons |
| NMA Trekking Peak Permit | Not required | N/A | N/A — EBC is a trekking route, not a climbing peak |
| Restricted Area Permit | Not required | N/A | N/A — Khumbu is an open trekking area |
Why the Everest Base Camp trek permits are simpler than most trekkers expect
EBC requires no NMA mountaineering permit — Everest Base Camp is a trekking destination, not a regulated climbing peak. The NMA trekking-peak permit — which currently runs roughly USD 200–350 per person depending on season for routes like Island Peak and Lobuche East, following a 2025 fee revision — doesn’t apply here. The TIMS card — previously a standard requirement — hasn’t been required on the EBC route since 2018, when the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit replaced it locally. The total Everest Base Camp trek permits cost runs approximately USD 46 per person, all included in the Mountain Hike Nepal package, with no independent applications or office visits required from the trekker.
Everest Base Camp Trek Permits — Sagarmatha National Park
The Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit covers the entire EBC route from the national park boundary at Monjo through to Gorakshep and Kala Patthar. Every trekker entering the park needs this permit — no exceptions and no age exemptions.
SNP permit details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Cost | NPR 3,000 per person (approximately USD 23) |
| Validity | Valid for the full duration of the trek — no daily limits |
| Where issued | Nepal Tourism Board office, Kathmandu — or at Monjo checkpoint on the trail |
| Documents needed | Original passport — photocopy not accepted at the park checkpoint |
| Checked at | Jorsale checkpoint (Monjo) — Day 2 on the approach to Namche |
| In Mountain Hike Nepal package? | Yes — arranged before departure, guide carries documentation |
Mountain Hike Nepal arranges the SNP permit in Kathmandu before departure — your guide carries the documentation and presents it at the Jorsale checkpoint on Day 2. The checkpoint officer verifies identity against the original passport, so carry your passport in the daypack at all times — not in the porter’s duffel. The SNP permit requires no independent action from the trekker beyond passport availability at the checkpoint.
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit
The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit is the local government entry fee for trekking in the Khumbu region. It funds local infrastructure, trail maintenance, and community development in the villages along the EBC route. This fee increased from NPR 2,000 to NPR 3,000 in September 2024 — if you’ve seen the older figure elsewhere, that’s why.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Cost | NPR 3,000 per person (approximately USD 23) |
| Where issued | Lukla checkpoint on arrival — or arranged in Kathmandu |
| Checked at | Lukla arrival checkpoint and occasional upper trail checks |
| In Mountain Hike Nepal package? | Yes — arranged before departure |
This permit directly funds the communities your trekking team walks through — trail maintenance, bridge repairs, and the local services that keep the Khumbu route accessible. Mountain Hike Nepal arranges this permit before departure alongside the SNP permit. Both fees are covered before the Lukla flight, with nothing to pay independently on the trail.
TIMS Card — Current Status 2026
The TIMS card (Trekkers’ Information Management System) was previously a standard requirement for all Nepal trekking routes including EBC. Since October 2018, the Khumbu region has run its own local permit system instead — the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit replaced TIMS here, and it hasn’t returned for this region since. Trekkers do not need a TIMS card for EBC in 2026.
It’s possible the TIMS requirement could return in a future season — the Nepal Tourism Board has indicated this may happen as trekking numbers recover, and other regions like Annapurna and Langtang still use it. Mountain Hike Nepal confirms current permit requirements before every departure and communicates any changes to booked clients immediately. If TIMS returns before your departure date, Mountain Hike Nepal arranges it at no additional cost as part of the standard permit package.
Everest Base Camp Trek Permits — Checkpoint Locations
| Checkpoint | Location | Day | Altitude | Permit Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lukla arrival checkpoint | Lukla Airport | Day 1 | 2,860m | Khumbu Pasang Lhamu permit |
| Sagarmatha National Park entry | Jorsale (Monjo) | Day 2 | ~2,800m | SNP permit |
| Namche checkpoint | Namche Bazaar entry | Day 2 | 3,440m | All permits verified |
| Upper Khumbu spot checks | Various above Namche | Days 4–8 | 3,400m+ | Occasional permit spot checks |
What happens at checkpoints on the trail
Your guide presents all permit documentation at every checkpoint. The checkpoint officer verifies your identity against the original passport and records the permit number. The process takes 2–5 minutes per trekker and requires no action from you beyond showing your passport when asked. Checkpoint officers occasionally ask trekkers to confirm their destination and expected return date — standard questions your guide answers on your behalf. Carry your original passport in the top pocket of your daypack throughout the trek — not in the porter’s duffel where it’s inaccessible at unexpected checkpoints.
Guide Requirement 2026
Since April 2023, Nepal’s trekking regulation has required a licensed guide for foreign trekkers across most national parks and conservation areas — but the Khumbu region is the notable exception. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, the local authority that administers permits through Sagarmatha National Park, did not adopt the national mandate, and its own permit system continues processing independent trekkers without requiring proof of a guide. Solo trekking to Everest Base Camp remains legally possible in 2026.
This is different from Annapurna, Manaslu, and most other major trekking regions, where the guide requirement is enforced and independent trekking is no longer permitted. Even though it isn’t a legal requirement here, Mountain Hike Nepal includes a licensed, experienced English-speaking guide on every EBC departure as a standard inclusion — the guide handles all permits, checkpoints, navigation, and altitude safety throughout the 12 days. We build this in by default because the safety case for a guide on this route is strong regardless of what the law requires, not because the regulation demands it.
Frequently Asked Questions
The total Everest Base Camp trek permits cost is approximately USD 46 per person as of 2026 — NPR 3,000 for the Sagarmatha National Park permit and NPR 3,000 for the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu permit (this local fee rose from NPR 2,000 in September 2024). The TIMS card is not currently required on the EBC route. Both required permits are included in the Mountain Hike Nepal package with nothing to pay independently at any checkpoint on the trail.
No — Mountain Hike Nepal arranges all permits before departure as part of the standard pre-departure logistics. The guide carries all documentation and presents it at every checkpoint. No independent visits to the Nepal Tourism Board or any government office are required from the trekker. Your only permit-related action is carrying your original passport for checkpoint identity verification throughout the trek.
No — the TIMS card has not been required in the Khumbu region since 2018, when the local Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit took its place here. Trekkers do not need a TIMS card for EBC in 2026. Mountain Hike Nepal monitors this before every departure and will arrange the TIMS card at no extra cost if the requirement returns before your expedition. Trekkers booking now do not need to factor TIMS into the permit cost or paperwork.
Related Planning Guides
- EBC Trek Package — Full 12-day expedition with all permits included from USD 1,039
- EBC Trek Cost 2026 — Full budget including permit costs
- Day-by-Day Itinerary — Checkpoint locations on each day
- Trek Route and Map — Full geographic route with checkpoint positions
- Packing List — What documents to carry in your daypack
- How Hard Is the EBC Trek? — Full route difficulty guide
- Best Time to Trek EBC — Season guide for 2026
Simple Permits. Serious Trek. All Handled.
The Everest Base Camp trek permits are the simplest part of planning this expedition — two permits, roughly USD 46 total, all included in the package, all arranged before departure, all presented by the guide at every checkpoint. No independent applications, no NMA queue, no TIMS card currently required. Mountain Hike Nepal handles the paperwork so you focus on the preparation that actually matters: training, gear, and booking the Lukla flight well in advance.
Mountain Hike Nepal has managed EBC permit logistics since 2018 as a licensed local operator in Kathmandu. When you contact us, you speak directly with the team that handles this paperwork every season. Any question about permits, checkpoint procedures, or documentation requirements gets a straight answer before your departure day.
The full package starts at USD 1,039 per person for groups of 8–12, USD 1,089 for 5–7, USD 1,259 for 2–4, and USD 1,379 for solo trekkers. All permits included. Lukla flights included. Helicopter upgrade available on request.
View the full Everest Base Camp Trek package →
Questions about permits, documentation, or what to carry at checkpoints? We respond within 12 hours and give straight answers.