Send Money to Nepal 2026: Record Remittances, Exchange Rates and Legal Ways
If you send money to Nepal, you are part of a record. Nepal received Rs 2,363.13 billion in remittances in fiscal year 2025/26, more than the country’s entire annual budget. With the rupee weaker against the dollar, every transfer now buys more at home. Here is how to send money legally, compare costs and avoid risky shortcuts.
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Last checked: 29 September 2026. Sources include Nepal Rastra Bank, the Kathmandu Post and Nepal News. Exchange rates change daily. We do not recommend or rank any money transfer company. This is general information, not financial advice.
Nepal’s record remittances in 2025/26
- Nepal received Rs 2,363.13 billion (about US$16.19 billion) in fiscal year 2025/26, which ended in mid-July 2026.
- That is up 37.1% in rupee terms and 28.1% in dollar terms.
- Remittances were larger than Nepal’s annual budget of Rs 1.964 trillion.
- Monthly remittances passed Rs 200 billion for the first time in November 2025.
- Foreign exchange reserves reached US$25.31 billion, enough for about 19.6 months of imports.
Why inflows jumped
The Nepali rupee fell 10.9% against the US dollar during the year, so each dollar sent home became worth more rupees. Labour approvals also changed: first-time approvals fell to 406,519, while renewal and re-entry approvals rose to 385,783, meaning more workers renewed their permits to keep working abroad.
Legal ways to send money to Nepal
- Bank-to-bank transfer from your account abroad to a bank account in Nepal.
- Licensed remittance companies that pay into a Nepali bank account, a wallet, or for cash pickup.
- Digital wallets and bank credit through licensed partners.
- Nepal-India UPI link for transfers between Nepal and India (see below).
Nepal Rastra Bank publishes a list of licensed foreign exchange and remittance companies. Use a company that is licensed and regulated both where you live and in Nepal.
Why hundi is risky and illegal
Hundi, the informal transfer system, is illegal in Nepal. If a hundi operator does not deliver your money, you have no legal protection. It also weakens the formal system that supports Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves. Always use a bank or licensed company.
How to compare the real cost when you send money to Nepal
- Check the official Nepal Rastra Bank reference rate for the day. On 29 September 2026 it was Rs 153.28 buying and Rs 153.88 selling per US dollar. The Indian rupee is fixed at Rs 160.00 buying and Rs 160.15 selling per INR 100.
- Compare the rate you are offered with the NRB rate. The difference is a hidden cost.
- Add any upfront fee.
- Check for receiving bank charges in Nepal.
- Look at speed and whether the company is licensed.
The best comparison is simple: how many rupees will your family actually receive?
Send money to Nepal from the USA: the 1% remittance tax
Since 1 January 2026, transfers from the US paid with cash, a money order or a cashier’s check carry a 1% federal tax. Transfers paid from a US bank account or US debit or credit card are exempt. See US remittance tax 2026.
Sending from India: the new UPI link
Nepal’s payment network was linked to India’s UPI in June 2026, for person-to-person transfers:
| Direction | Limit | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| India to Nepal | INR 200,000 per transaction | INR 150 per transaction |
| Nepal to India | INR 15,000 per transaction, INR 100,000 a month | INR 150 per transaction |
Budget 2026/27 incentives
Nepal’s FY2026/27 budget, presented on 29 May 2026, includes remittance-receipt lottery schemes to encourage formal channels, remittance-investment schemes and Rs 3.63 billion for the labour sector.
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