Apply online at noc.moest.gov.np. The fee is NPR 2,000 and processing takes 1 to 5 working days. The process has been fully online since 2024. You need your citizenship certificate, passport, offer letter and academic transcripts. The NOC is issued for one named institution — change university and you need a new one. The No Objection Certificate is the first Nepali government step in studying abroad, and it gates eve
NOC Nepal 2026 — How to Apply Step by Step at noc.moest.gov.np
The No Objection Certificate is the first Nepali government step in studying abroad, and it gates everything after it: you cannot legally send tuition or complete a UK visa application without it.
By Rahul Chhetri, Director, House of Admissions · Updated 11 Sep 2026
Apply online at noc.moest.gov.np. The fee is NPR 2,000 and processing takes 1 to 5 working days. The process has been fully online since 2024. You need your citizenship certificate, passport, offer letter and academic transcripts. The NOC is issued for one named institution — change university and you need a new one.
This page covers how to apply. For what goes wrong and how to fix it see NOC rejection reasons; for moving money after it is issued see NRB forex rules.
- Authority
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST)
- Portal
- noc.moest.gov.np — fully online since 2024
- Fee
- NPR 2,000
- Processing
- 1 to 5 working days
- Physical office
- Sanothimi, Bhaktapur — Sunday to Friday, 10:00–16:00
- Required before
- Sending tuition abroad AND submitting the UK visa application
- Scope
- University-level study only, since the 2023 rule change
- Tied to
- One named institution — a change of university needs a new NOC
What Is the NOC and Why Do You Need It?
The No Objection Certificate is a letter from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology confirming the Nepal government has no objection to you studying abroad. It is mandatory for every Nepali student going to any country, not just the UK.
Two things depend on it, and both stop without it. No Nepali bank will release foreign currency for tuition without a valid NOC, and your UK visa application is incomplete without it. Students who leave the NOC until last routinely lose weeks they had not budgeted for.
How Do You Apply for the NOC Online?
- Register at noc.moest.gov.np. Use the name exactly as it appears on your citizenship certificate. A mismatch here is the most common cause of rejection.
- Upload your documents. Citizenship certificate, passport, university offer letter and academic transcripts. Scans must be clear and legible — low-resolution uploads are rejected.
- Pay the NPR 2,000 fee through the portal.
- Wait 1 to 5 working days. The Ministry works Sunday to Friday; Saturday is the weekend in Nepal, so a Thursday submission may not be seen until Sunday.
- Download the NOC and keep both a digital and printed copy. You will need it at the bank and at your VFS appointment.
Which Documents Do You Need for the NOC?
| Document | What it must show | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship certificate | Your legal name as recorded in Nepal | Name differs from academic documents |
| Passport | Valid, name matching citizenship | Spelling variation from the citizenship certificate |
| Offer letter | Named university and course | Conditional offers; institution not on the Ministry list |
| Academic transcripts | Completed qualifications | Provisional certificates; TU transcript delays |
When Should You Apply for the NOC?
As soon as you hold an unconditional offer and know which university you are going to. Not before — the NOC names one institution, so applying while still deciding means paying NPR 2,000 twice.
Working backwards from a UK visa application, the NOC must be in hand before you transfer tuition, and the tuition transfer usually precedes the CAS. In practice that means applying in the same week you accept your offer.
A bank cannot send money to any university other than the one printed on your NOC. If you change university after the NOC is issued, the old one must be cancelled and a new one obtained. Decide before you apply.
Not sure your documents will pass?Send us your citizenship certificate and transcripts and we will flag the name and scan-quality problems that cause most NOC rejections — before you pay the NPR 2,000.
Free WhatsApp checkFrequently Asked Questions
The MoEST No Objection Certificate fee is NPR 2,000, paid through the online portal at noc.moest.gov.np. There is no separate charge for the certificate itself, and no consultancy should charge you to obtain it.
1 to 5 working days in normal conditions. The Ministry works Sunday to Friday, so a Thursday or Friday submission can effectively take longer. Peak season before the September intake is slower.
Yes. The process has been fully online since 2024 at noc.moest.gov.np. You do not need to visit Sanothimi in person for a standard application, though the physical office at Sanothimi, Bhaktapur is open Sunday to Friday, 10:00 to 16:00.
You need it for any country, not just the UK. It is a Nepal-side requirement, not a UKVI one, but your UK application is incomplete without it and no Nepali bank will release tuition without it.
Generally no. Since the 2023 rule change, NOCs are issued for university-level study, not language courses, diplomas, or institutions that are not on the Ministry list. Check before you pay a deposit.
You need a new one. The NOC names a single institution and a bank cannot remit tuition to any other university. The existing NOC must be cancelled and a fresh application made, at NPR 2,000 again. This is the main reason to wait for an unconditional offer first.
No. House of Admissions is free to students at every stage. We check your documents for the name and scan-quality problems that cause most rejections before you submit.
Get this checked before you submit — free
Most refusals from Nepal come from paperwork, not from weak profiles. We check every document against the UKVI and MoEST requirements before you pay a fee. House of Admissions is free to students at every stage — we are paid by universities after enrolment, never by you.
Apply free WhatsApp a counsellorRelated Guides
Where Does This Information Come From?
- MoEST No Objection Certificate portal
- GOV.UK — Student visa
- House of Admissions casework, 2016–2026 (self-reported)
Last updated 11 Sep 2026. Nepali foreign-exchange rules and MoEST procedure change by circular and are not always announced in English — confirm current figures with your bank or at noc.moest.gov.np before you rely on them. Nothing here is immigration or financial advice; for a decision on your own case, consult a regulated adviser.