How to get a dollar prepaid card in Nepal [Updated 2026]

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) first approved dollar prepaid cards for online transactions back in 2021, with a modest cap of USD 500 per year. That cap defined the scheme for nearly five years  but a fresh amendment in April 2026 has changed the picture considerably, both for everyday cardholders and for the IT/freelance sector specifically.

Here's a full, updated breakdown of how the dollar prepaid card works in Nepal now, what's changed, and how to apply.

What changed?

General prepaid card

• Previous flat 500 USD annual cap reportedly removed.
• Banks can now issue general prepaid dollar cards without a fixed NRB-imposed ceiling and set their own limits based on customer profile and risk.
• This is a newer, less-confirmed change, so users should verify the actual annual cap and conditions with their bank.

IT Prepaid Card

• Limit of 3,000 USD per year for IT, communication, and broadcasting businesses to buy software and online IT services.
• Can be extended up to 5,000 USD per year for exporters who earn foreign currency.

Visa Deposit Electronic Card

• Refundable foreign exchange deposits for visa processing, issued via Class A or national-level Class B banks.
• PAN is required only when the deposit exceeds 5,000 USD; below that threshold, PAN is not mandatory.

Other IT-sector limits

• Freelancers who earn foreign currency are allowed to pay for online services using their cards up to a maximum of 25,000 USD per year.
• IT businesses that generate income in foreign currency can make foreign payments up to an annual limit of 100,000 USD per year.
• Other service-sector businesses generally have a foreign payment limit set at around 50,000 USD per year.

Important note

• All these figures come from an NRB circular and can change over time; users should confirm current limits and implementation details with their bank, especially the removal of the general prepaid card cap.

How to get a Dollar Prepaid Card in Nepal?

The application process is largely unchanged and still fairly straightforward:

• You'll need an account at any Class 'A' commercial bank or Class 'B' development bank.
• Fill out an application form at the bank's counter (or, at some banks, online/via app for a virtual card).
• A PAN card and KYC documents are mandatory.
• You'll need to state the purpose for the card. IT businesses and export-earning applicants will additionally need business registration documents (and proof of foreign earnings for the USD 5,000 tier).

Class A Commercial Banks in Nepal

Class B Development Banks in Nepal

Once approved, the bank opens a linked dollar account tied to your main account. Your requested amount is converted to USD at that day's exchange rate and loaded onto the card. Processing typically takes a few working days, though some banks offer instant virtual cards. You can also transfer unused dollar balance back to your NPR account by filling out a form at the bank.

Banks currently offering dollar prepaid cards include:

• Global IME Bank: Global E-Com Card (widely cited as one of the most convenient options, with mobile banking app loading available)
• Himalayan Bank: HBL Dollar Prepaid Card
• Kumari Bank: Kumari $eCom Card
• Machhapuchchre Bank: Machhapuchchre Dollar Card
• Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank: Mahalaxmi USD Ecommerce Card
• Nabil Bank: Nabil iCard
• Nepal Investment Mega Bank: NIBL vPrepaid International Card
• NMB Bank: NMB Dollar Card
• Prabhu Bank: Prabhu 500 Dollar Card
• Siddhartha Bank: Siddhartha eCom Card
• Laxmi Sunrise Bank: OrangE-Card
• Everest Bank: EBL E-Com Dollar Card
• Nepal Bank: Prepaid/Dollar Card
• NIC Asia Bank: FCY Freedom Card
• Sanima Bank: USD eCard
• Citizens Bank International: USD E-com Card

Fees for issuance, loading, and annual renewal vary by bank - check your bank's own card page for current charges before applying.

What's the use?

Plenty:

• Streaming subscriptions (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, Apple Music)
• Platforms like Steam
• Shopping on Amazon or Newegg
• Software licenses, SaaS tools, AI subscriptions
• Cloud hosting and domain registration (increasingly relevant for the higher IT-sector limits)

As before, you cannot use it to purchase anything considered illegal under Nepali law.

The bottom line

USD 500 a year was a fair starting point in 2021, but for freelancers, startups, and IT firms actually running on international tools, it was never going to be enough. NRB's April 2026 amendment addresses this on two fronts: 

• the general prepaid card's hard USD 500 ceiling has reportedly been removed altogether,
• and a dedicated IT prepaid card now offers USD 3,000–5,000 a year for software and cloud spending, on top of even larger IT-sector payment allowances. 

If you fall into the IT/export category, it's worth asking your bank directly whether you qualify for the higher limit rather than defaulting to a standard card and if you're applying for a general card, ask your bank what amount they're now permitted to load, since that figure is the most recently changed.

• Meanwhile, check out our review of the Lenovo Yoga 7i (2021).