Sending Tuition Fees Abroad from Nepal: SWIFT, Flywire, Docs
For sending tuition fees abroad from Nepal, most students use a Nepali commercial bank’s outward SWIFT transfer (TT), often paid into the university’s official payment portal such as Flywire. The bank will ask for your passport, an offer or fee document (I-20, CAS, CoE or acceptance letter), an invoice, and usually the Ministry of Education’s no-objection letter (NOC). Pay the institution directly, choose the “OUR” charge option where possible, and keep every receipt.
Last checked: 20 October 2026. NPR amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026: USD 1 = Rs 152.24, GBP 1 = Rs 202.99, AUD 1 = Rs 105.97, CAD 1 = Rs 107.55.
Sending tuition fees abroad from Nepal: ways to pay
| Method | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bank SWIFT transfer (TT) straight to the university | Your Nepali bank sends foreign currency to the university’s bank account | Use the bank details on the university’s own website or invoice only |
| Bank transfer through the university’s portal (for example Flywire) | You create a payment request on the portal, then your bank sends a SWIFT transfer using the portal’s instructions | The portal gives a reference and a due date; the quoted rate is honoured until that due date |
| Demand draft | Bank issues a draft in foreign currency | Offered by some banks; check first whether your university accepts drafts |
Documents Nepali banks ask for
Each bank has its own form and checklist, so ask your branch first. As an official example, Standard Chartered Nepal’s forex page lists overseas study as a purpose and says documents may include:
- A foreign exchange (FX) application, available at the branch
- Passport with valid visa
- Confirmed ticket
- No objection letter from the Ministry of Education
- Letter from the college (it gives the I-20 as an example)
- NRB approval, if required
- An invoice, letter or web page that supports the amount you are asking for
The bank says the documents depend on the purpose. Before the visa, for a deposit or first payment, banks commonly work from the offer document. Match it to your country:
- USA: I-20 and the university’s fee statement. See our I-20 explained guide.
- UK: unconditional offer or CAS statement and the deposit request.
- Australia: letter of offer and written agreement, then the CoE.
- Canada: letter of acceptance and the fee invoice.
The NOC from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is a key document for most outward education payments. Our NOC for study abroad guide explains how to apply and which documents it needs.
A note on limits: Nepal Rastra Bank sets the rules on how much foreign exchange banks can release for study abroad. We could not confirm the current limits from an official source today, so we have not quoted any figure. Ask your bank to confirm the limit for your case, and whether NRB approval is needed for a larger amount.
Step by step: sending tuition fees by SWIFT
- Get the amount and payment details from the university. Use the invoice or the payment page on its official website. Never use bank details sent only in a WhatsApp message or an agent’s email.
- If the university uses a portal, create the payment request first. On Flywire, you choose your country and the institution at pay.flywire.com or through your university’s link, enter the amount, pick bank transfer and fill in payer details. Flywire says creating the request does not start the transfer. You still have to send the money through your bank.
- Gather documents (passport, NOC, offer/I-20/CAS/CoE, invoice or portal instructions) and visit your bank, or use its online process if it offers one for education.
- Fill in the FX/SWIFT form exactly. Copy the beneficiary name, account number or IBAN, SWIFT/BIC and payment reference exactly as given. The payment reference is how the university or portal matches the money to you.
- Choose who pays charges. Pick “OUR” where your bank allows it (see below).
- Get the SWIFT copy (MT103) or bank confirmation. Universities and portals ask for it if the payment is delayed.
- Track it. Flywire says bank transfers usually take 2 to 3 business days after your bank releases the funds, then 2 to 3 business days to reach the institution, and the institution may need 2 to 3 more days to update its records.
Exchange rate and fees: what you actually pay
Your rupee cost has three parts: the bank’s selling rate on the day, the bank’s own commission and SWIFT charge, and any charges taken by intermediary banks along the way. The NRB rate is a reference; banks publish their own daily rates, so compare them on your bank’s forex page on the day you pay.
| Example fee | Foreign amount | At NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| US deposit | USD 1,000 | Rs 1,52,240 |
| UK deposit | GBP 5,000 | Rs 10,14,950 |
| Australian first semester | AUD 15,000 | Rs 15,89,550 |
| Canadian first semester | CAD 10,000 | Rs 10,75,500 |
The SWIFT charge option decides who pays transfer fees. Flywire’s help page on OUR, SHA and BEN explains:
- OUR: you, the sender, pay the transfer fees, so the full amount is more likely to arrive.
- SHA: fees are shared, so some may be deducted on the way and the payment can arrive short.
- BEN: the receiver pays, so the university may receive less than you sent.
Flywire recommends OUR. If your bank does not offer it, Flywire suggests choosing SHA and sending about USD 30 extra (about Rs 4,567) to cover deductions. If a payment arrives short, Flywire says to create a new payment request for the balance rather than reusing old bank details.
On portals, Flywire says the exchange rate is confirmed when you create the payment request and is honoured until the due date shown on it. If you miss that date and create a new request, the new rate applies.
Paying safely: refunds and scams
- Pay from the sponsor’s or student’s own account. Refunds usually go back to the payer. Algonquin College, for example, says payments from outside Canada are refunded to the original source and advises against paying through external parties such as financial agents.
- Check bank details on the official website. Flywire warns that fraudsters may pose as banks, government bodies, education consultants or even family members, and that urgency and requests for passwords are red flags.
- Never pay tuition into a person’s or agent’s account. If anyone asks you to, use our consultancy red flag test.
- Know the refund rules first. Read our tuition refund after visa refusal guide before paying a large amount.
Nepal-specific tips
- Use the bank that holds your visa funds where possible. It already knows your source of funds, and its balance and education loan letters match the transfer. See education loans in Nepal.
- Keep sponsor documents ready. If a parent or relative is paying, the bank may ask how they relate to you. Keep their ID, relationship proof and income documents ready.
- Watch the calendar. Public holidays and weekends in Nepal and in the destination country can add days. Do not leave a deposit until the deadline day.
- Plan the whole budget in rupees. Try our student visa money calculator (NPR).
Common mistakes
- Leaving out the payment reference, so the university cannot match the money.
- Choosing BEN or SHA and arriving short of the deposit.
- Reusing old Flywire instructions for a new payment.
- Paying through a third party, then finding a refund cannot be sent back.
- Paying a full year when only a deposit was needed.
- Not keeping the SWIFT copy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay university tuition fees from Nepal?
Usually by an outward SWIFT transfer from a Nepali commercial bank, either straight to the university’s account or through its official portal such as Flywire. The bank will ask for documents such as your passport, NOC and offer or fee letter.
Do I need an NOC to send tuition fees abroad from Nepal?
In most cases, yes. Banks list the Ministry of Education’s no-objection letter among the documents for overseas study payments. Check with your bank, and see our NOC guide for how to apply.
Can I pay Flywire from Nepal?
Flywire lets you choose your payment country and institution, then shows the payment options available. For a bank transfer, Flywire gives you instructions and you send the money through your Nepali bank.
How long does a SWIFT transfer from Nepal take to reach a university?
Through Flywire, transfers typically take 2 to 3 business days after your bank releases the funds, then 2 to 3 business days to the institution. Direct transfers vary by bank and intermediary banks.
What is the limit for sending money abroad for study from Nepal?
Nepal Rastra Bank sets these limits, and banks apply them. We could not verify the current figures from an official source today, so ask your bank to confirm before you plan.
Related guides
- F-1 Student Taxes: Form 1040-NR and 8843 Guide From Nepal
- US Cost of Living for Students by City (2026-27)
- Education Loan in Nepal for Study Abroad: How It Works (2026)
Sources
- Standard Chartered Nepal: remittance and forex solutions (documents)
- Flywire: how to make a payment
- Flywire: what rate will be applied to my payment
- Flywire: OUR, SHA and BEN fee options
- Flywire: difference in bank transfer amount
- Flywire: fraud prevention
- Algonquin College: international refund policy (refunds to payer)
- Algonquin College: international fees and expenses (paying through agents)
Last checked 20 October 2026. This is general information, not financial advice. Confirm documents, limits and charges with your bank before sending money.
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