To send tuition or living costs abroad, Nepal requires a No Objection Certificate (NOC)
from the Ministry of Education, after which a bank can release foreign currency under
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) rules - up to USD 25,000 per year for education.
The visa fee (£558) and healthcare surcharge (£776/year) are
paid in pounds during your online application.
The No Objection Certificate (NOC)
- What it is: government confirmation that you may use Nepali banks to lawfully send tuition and living expenses abroad. NRB requires it before releasing foreign currency.
- Where: the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (an online NOC application process is available).
- Typical documents: offer/admission letter (CAS), academic certificates, passport, financial documents, and the prescribed application.
- Start it early - it gates your fee payment and shows a credible, properly funded plan.
The Three Payments
| Payment | How it's paid | Currency |
|---|
| Visa application fee (£558) | Online during the application | Charged in local currency at the day's rate |
| Healthcare surcharge / IHS (£776 per year) | Online during the application | Pounds only - cannot be paid in rupees |
| University tuition (or deposit) | Bank remittance after NOC, under the NRB facility | Usually GBP |
NRB Foreign-Exchange Facility
- Education limit raised to USD 25,000 per year (from USD 12,000) for tuition, affiliation and exam fees.
- Extra 5% buffer: NRB now lets students remit up to an additional 5% to cover exchange-rate shortfalls - useful when budgeting your proof of funds.
- Digital signatures accepted for the supporting paperwork under the Electronic Transactions Act.
- Remit directly to the university in pounds, for the amount your CAS or offer requires, and keep every receipt for your visa and renewals.
What to Avoid
- Don't use informal/hundi channels to move fees - you lose the bank paper trail universities and UKVI rely on.
- Don't route fees through mobile wallets (eSewa, Khalti) - they're not a remittance channel, and a wallet balance isn't accepted as proof of funds.
- Don't leave the NOC late - without it the bank cannot release funds, and CAS issuance can wait on a cleared deposit.
Last updated: June 2026. NOC and NRB rules change - confirm the current process and limits with the Ministry of Education, your bank, and Nepal Rastra Bank.