Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS)

TIMS card is for your safety.

The provision of the Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) has been implemented mainly to ensure the safety and security of the trekkers and to control illegal trekking operations.

Every individual trekker, including you, while entering into the protected area in Nepal will be asked to provide some information such as dates of your trip, the itineraries contact number to name a few. These data will be inserted in the visitors’ database, which can be assessed for park management purposes or in case of accidents and or natural calamities, in order to inform the concerned institutions about the trekkers inside the park at any time.

TIMS cards should be collected by both Free Individual Trekkers (FITs) and trekkers taking the service of government authorized trekking agencies.

Past experiences have revealed that difficulties were seen while carrying out rescue operations during times of accidents and natural calamities, due to lack of proper record system of trekkers, rescue and search missions used to face difficulties in spotting the missing trekkers.

On the basis of this same data collected through TIMS cards, however, was possible to know the position of a trekker in case a rescue operation is needed. Therefore, the provision of TIMS came into effect on January 1, 2008. Since then, the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) started recording trekkers’ details and began issuing TIMS Card to trekkers.

NTB and TAAN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 18, 2010, to implement the TIMS system in a new format from April 1, 2010. NTB and TAAN have introduced separate TIMS Cards for FITs and organized groups. FITs need to have Green TIMS cards that are charged Nepali currency equivalent to USD 20 per person, while those traveling in groups need to have Blue TIMS cards which are charged Nepali currency equivalent to USD 10 per person. Trekkers taking the service of trekking agencies can pay the fee for TIMS card in US dollars.

Where and how to obtain a TIMS Card?

Free Individual Trekkers:

Free Individual Trekkers can obtain TIMS cards at the offices of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in Kathmandu and Pokhara, TAAN Secretariat at Maligaon and TAAN Pokhara Secretariat in Pokhara upon filling the TIMS application firm.

Organized Trekkers:

Trekking companies will collect trekkers’ data and enter it in the central database and will provide trekkers with a TIMS card after paying a fee prescribed above.

Opening Hour/s:

  • TIMS counter at TAAN follows regular working hours (10am-5pm) and 365 days a year
  • NTB Offices follow government working hours and days.
  • Trekking agencies open 12 hours a day seven days a week.

Required documents

To obtain TIMS Card you need a copy of:
A) Passport
B) two (2) Passport-size Photographs.

Why is TIMS Necessary?

The following considerations have been taken into account in the process of issuing TIMS:

All important details regarding trekkers and trekking routes shall be maintained in a computerized database management system, which is very useful for the trekkers’ safety and their security. Especially, in order to help carry out search and rescue operations for trekkers in case of natural calamities and other accidents by means of Authentic Information Service. TIMS is primarily in order to maintain a record system including of personal details of trekkers, trekking area, trekking routes, handling agencies, duration, among others. The data generated from the system will be useful to all concerned stakeholders such as tourism organizations, Government agencies, diplomatic missions, tour operators, research institute among others.

Besides this, it is also in order to control the unauthorized trekking operations. Thus, TIMS is not only for the better management of trekking services but also for the benefit of trekkers and field staff as well as for trekking companies and Government agencies. If we have TIMS, sometimes unexpected incidents also can be prevented. Plus, TIMS will upgrade the service standard and will contribute to better management of sustainable tourism development in Nepal.

TIMS will not be required for:

  • Expedition members permitted to climb the mountains
  • Visitors in the controlled areas with permits by the Department of Immigration
  • Foreign guests invited by the Government of Nepal
  • Authorities from the various diplomatic missions present in the country, who hold official letter/s and travel at their own risk
  • Visitors on certain missions recommended by the concerned Governmental Department(s);
  • Foreign Nationals possessing a residential visa.
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