Guide · Last updated 22 September 2026
IELTS Exam Fee in Nepal (2026)
What IELTS costs in rupees at the British Council and IDP, how to pay with eSewa or a bank deposit, why the passport rule matters, what a re-mark really costs, and how not to pay it twice.
How much is the IELTS exam fee in Nepal?
As of 22 September 2026, these are the fees on both providers' own pages, and they match. The standard fee rose from NPR 33,000 to NPR 36,000 during 2026, so any page still quoting NPR 33,000, or the NPR 36,200 paper fee, is showing a test you can no longer book.
| Test type | Fee (NPR) | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS on Computer (Academic / General Training) | NPR 36,000 | University admission, migration, work visas |
| IELTS on Computer with Writing on Paper (British Council, Kathmandu) | NPR 36,000 | The same test with a handwritten Writing paper |
| IELTS for UKVI on Computer (Academic / GT) | NPR 36,400 | UK visa and immigration routes |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1 / B1) | NPR 29,000 | UK family and settlement visas |
| One Skill Retake | Offered; price not published | Ask the centre before you rely on it |
Checked against the British Council Nepal booking page, its centre listing on ielts.org and IDP Nepal's fee page on 22 September 2026. We re-check this table every month. Neither provider prints an effective date, so confirm the figure in the booking portal before you pay.
What other charges can come up?
The test fee is the whole price of sitting the test. These are the charges that appear only when something changes, and the re-mark is large enough to plan around:
| Charge | British Council | IDP |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiry on Results (re-mark), within 6 weeks | NPR 18,000, refunded if the band rises | NPR 19,000 including taxes, refunded if the band rises |
| Transfer to another date | Free with 15+ days’ notice; 25% of the fee at 5 to 14 days; not allowed under 5 days | Not published; ask the centre |
| Cancellation | 75% back with 15+ days’ notice; nothing back within 14 days; refunds take 4 to 6 weeks | Not published; ask the centre |
| Correction to a Test Report Form | NPR 1,500 | Ask the centre |
How do I pay: eSewa, bank deposit or card?
British Council: eSewa online, an online transfer to its Standard Chartered or Nabil account (the account holder is British Council Services Nepal), or cash at a Nabil or Standard Chartered branch. IDP: a deposit at Nepal Investment Bank, Standard Chartered or Nabil, a transfer from any other bank through IPS, online banking, the Nepal Pay QR code, eSewa, FonePay, or a card at its office. Neither provider states a surcharge. A few details catch candidates out:
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Two providers, same banks | Both bank at Standard Chartered and Nabil with different account numbers. Pay the provider you booked with. |
| Deposit slip | IDP wants a scan of the slip emailed within 2 days of booking; the British Council wants payment evidence uploaded. |
| Identity document | A valid passport, the same one you registered with, on both test days. No driving licence, student ID or citizenship certificate. |
| Test Report Form name | It is printed exactly as you typed it at booking. A correction later costs NPR 1,500 at the British Council. |
British Council or IDP?
Same test, same marking, same fee, so choose by venue and dates. The British Council tests on computer in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Butwal, Itahari and Birtamod, with the Writing on Paper option in Kathmandu only. IDP runs Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Butwal, Itahari, Birtamode, Biratnagar, Banepa, Ghorahi, Hetauda, Lamahi and Nepalgunj. The British Council publishes its transfer and refund rules; IDP does not, which matters if your date might move. The same logic as the British Council vs IDP comparison for Bangladesh applies.
When do results come out?
1 to 5 days for IELTS on Computer: the British Council says typically 1 to 3, IDP says 3 to 5. Life Skills takes about 7 days. You preview the band online and receive an electronic Test Report Form, which universities and immigration bodies accept directly.
How do I avoid paying NPR 36,000 twice?
Only book when your practice band already meets your target. The most common NPR 36,000 mistake in Nepal is booking on hope: a candidate needing 6.5 for an Australian or Canadian offer books at a practice level of 5.5, falls short, and pays the whole fee again. Take full mock tests until your score is stable at or above target. If one section lets you down on test day, ask the centre what a One Skill Retake costs and whether your destination accepts it before you pay for a full resit. A month of unlimited AI-scored practice costs under 3% of one exam fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the IELTS exam cost in Nepal in 2026?
IELTS on Computer (Academic or General Training) costs NPR 36,000 at both British Council and IDP. IELTS for UKVI on computer is NPR 36,400 and IELTS Life Skills (A1 or B1) is NPR 29,000, again the same at both. The fee rose from NPR 33,000 during 2026, so blogs still quoting the lower figure are out of date.
Can I pay the IELTS fee with eSewa?
Yes, at both providers. The British Council takes eSewa online, a transfer to its Standard Chartered or Nabil account, or payment at a Nabil or Standard Chartered branch. IDP takes eSewa, FonePay, Nepal Pay QR, online banking, a deposit at Nepal Investment Bank, Standard Chartered or Nabil, transfers through IPS, and card at its office. IDP wants the deposit slip emailed within two days of booking.
Do I need a passport to sit IELTS in Nepal?
Yes. Both providers register you against a valid passport and check the same passport on test day. The British Council states that driving licences and student IDs are not accepted, and neither provider mentions the citizenship certificate. Renew a passport that is close to expiry before you book, not before the test.
Is paper-based IELTS still available in Nepal?
Not as a full paper test: IDP withdrew IELTS on Paper after 27 June 2026. The British Council offers IELTS on Computer with Writing on Paper in Kathmandu, where you type Listening and Reading and handwrite the Writing paper, for the same NPR 36,000.
What does a re-mark cost in Nepal?
An Enquiry on Results is NPR 18,000 at the British Council and NPR 19,000 including taxes at IDP, requested within six weeks of your result and refunded in full if your band goes up. That is more than half the test fee, so only ask for one when a score is clearly out of line with the rest.
Can I change my test date?
At the British Council a transfer is free with 15 or more days’ notice, costs 25% of the fee at 5 to 14 days, and is not allowed under 5 days; cancelling 15 or more days before returns 75% and cancelling later returns nothing. IDP does not publish its Nepal transfer and cancellation charges online, so ask the centre before you book if your dates are uncertain.
How long do results take in Nepal?
Between 1 and 5 days for IELTS on Computer: the British Council says typically 1 to 3 days, IDP says 3 to 5. Life Skills results take about 7 days. You preview the band online and receive an electronic Test Report Form.
Make sure you only pay this fee once
Practise free until your mock band matches your target. Then book with confidence.
Check my band free