Bringing Your Dog to Nepal

What's involved in getting a dog into the country, and a few things worth knowing before you commit.

The basics

Getting a dog into Nepal is more straightforward than it sounds, provided you've got three things sorted before you fly:

There's one extra step that's easy to miss: email ktmquarantine@gmail.com ahead of time to let them know when you're arriving, so someone's actually there to meet you and your dog. Skip this and you may find yourself waiting around with nobody expecting you.

Worth knowing: rules can and do change — always confirm current requirements with the Nepal Department of Tourism or your airline before you book.

Certain breeds can raise questions

Worth knowing before you travel: officials can be suspicious of some breeds, on the assumption you might be a breeder bringing dogs in to sell rather than a pet owner travelling with your own. That suspicion can turn into an import tax — one teacher I know was charged $800 USD for her Beagle. If you're travelling with a breed that's likely to draw attention, it's worth having some social media posts or photos ready that show your dog has genuinely been part of your life for a while, not something acquired for the trip.

Baggage handlers at the airport

A less official hurdle: some baggage handlers will hint that a "tip" is needed before your dog comes out on the carousel. It isn't supposed to work this way, but it's a fairly well-known part of how things go in practice. If it comes up, starting around $10–20 USD and negotiating from there seems to be the going approach.

Once your dog is here

Once you're settled, there's no shortage of pet shops and groomers around Kathmandu. Near the school there's one called Abstract Pets, which generally carries more stock than the other shops nearby — the owner's a nice guy too, and if you ask him for something specific he'll usually try to track it down for you.

There's also a groomers at a separate location, also near the school.

One thing worth knowing locally: walking your dog around town, you'll come across street dogs. Most couldn't care less, but a few can be persistent, and it's a good habit to carry a stick whenever you're out — same as you would on the trail.