How to Apply for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2027

Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked October 2026)

There are two completely separate ways to “register” for Kailash Mansarovar, and many families mix them up. The government yatra is a lottery-based programme run by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The private yatra through Nepal is a booking with a registered operator, who then applies for Chinese papers on your behalf. This guide walks through both, step by step, with the timetable as it ran in 2026, so you know what to do and when for 2027.

When will Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2027 registration open?

As of 31 October 2026, it has not been announced. The MEA announces each season only after both governments agree the arrangements. For reference, this is how 2026 ran:

Step	2026 date	What to expect in 2027
Yatra announced, online applications open	30 April 2026	Likely spring; watch kmy.gov.in and MEA press releases from March
Last date to apply	19 May 2026	A window of roughly three weeks; no late entries
Computerised draw	21 May 2026 (1,000 yatris selected)	Within days of the window closing
Batches	20 batches of 50: 10 via Lipulekh, 10 via Nathu La	Batch numbers depend on agreement with China
Yatra period	June to August 2026	Similar summer window expected

The practical lesson: the window is short, so have your passport, photograph and health details ready before it opens. If your passport is close to expiry, renew it now.

Who can apply for the government yatra?

In brief: Indian citizens holding a valid Indian passport, aged 18 to 70 as on 1 January of the yatra year, in good health. OCI cardholders and foreign nationals cannot apply. The 2026 notice asked for a passport valid for at least six months beyond September of the yatra year, and a BMI of 25 or less. Our eligibility and age limit guide explains each rule and its exceptions.

How to apply on kmy.gov.in: step by step

1. Open the official portal. The only place to apply is kmy.gov.in. Applications are accepted online only; there is no paper form and no agent can apply “through a quota”.
2. Create your account with your mobile number and email address. Keep both active through the summer: all updates come there.
3. Fill in your details exactly as in your passport: name, date of birth, passport number, dates of issue and expiry, address, and emergency contact.
4. Upload a scanned passport and a recent photograph within the size limits shown on the form.
5. Choose your route preference: Lipulekh only, Nathu La only, or both in order of preference. Choosing both slightly widens your chance of selection.
6. Applying with a family member? The portal has allowed up to two people to apply together so that they are kept in the same batch. Spouses must complete both applications before the last date; an incomplete pair is rejected.
7. Submit and save the acknowledgement. You can check status and raise queries on the same portal.

The MEA states that it charges no fee of its own; payments begin only after selection, and go to the state agencies. Beware of websites or individuals asking for money to “register” you for the government yatra.

How does the computerised draw work?

Selection is by a computer-generated random draw, which the MEA describes as fair and gender-balanced. In 2026 External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conducted the draw on 21 May. Results are sent by SMS and email and are visible on the portal. Those not selected may be placed on a waiting list and can be called if a confirmed yatri drops out.

What happens after you are selected

1. Pay the confirmation amount (₹5,000 in 2026) by the stated date, to KMVN for Lipulekh or STDC for Nathu La. It is non-refundable once you are confirmed in a batch.
2. Pay the balance to the same agency before departure. Our cost breakdown lists every line.
3. Report in Delhi on your batch date. Expect three to four days there for medical tests at the Delhi Heart and Lung Institute and the ITBP Base Hospital, Chinese visa formalities and briefings.
4. Sign the forms: an indemnity bond on non-judicial stamp paper, an undertaking about evacuation, and a consent form for cremation in China in case of death. These are standard and required.
5. Pass a second medical check on the route: at Gunji (about 3,220 m) on Lipulekh or Sherathang (about 4,115 m) on Nathu La.

A person declared unfit cannot move to a later batch in the same year. Read our medical test guide before you apply so there are no surprises.

How to book a private Kailash yatra through Nepal

Private operators cannot use the Lipulekh or Nathu La passes; they take groups into Tibet through Nepal, by helicopter via Hilsa, by road via Kerung, or by air via Lhasa. There is no lottery. What you need is time for the Chinese paperwork.

1. Choose the route and dates by February or March if you want a full-moon or peak-season departure; popular batches fill early.
2. Check the operator. In June 2026 the MEA asked yatris to confirm that their operator is registered and authorised, after Indians on private yatras were left stuck in Nepal without Chinese papers.
3. Pay the booking amount and read the cancellation terms in writing. Visa, permit and air or helicopter costs are usually non-refundable once applied for.
4. Submit your original passport about a month before departure, with photographs, a PAN copy and a medical fitness certificate from an MBBS doctor on the operator’s format.
5. Wait for approval, not just application. The MEA advisory was clear: do not leave home until the Chinese group visa and Tibet permit have actually been issued.
6. Travel together. The group visa is a single document listing everyone, so the group enters and leaves Tibet together.

NRIs and OCI cardholders

NRIs with an Indian passport can apply for the government yatra if they meet the rules and can be in Delhi for the formalities. OCI cardholders and foreign passport holders can go only through private operators; Nepali operators reported in 2026 that such groups had their visas processed in Kathmandu, with biometrics in person and a minimum group size. Allow extra days in Kathmandu. Our documents guide covers this in detail.

Government draw or private booking: which should you choose?

Question	Government yatra	Private yatra via Nepal
Is a place guaranteed?	No, selection by draw	No draw; your seat is confirmed on booking, but travel depends on Chinese visa and permit approval
How early must I act?	Within the spring application window	Ideally 3–4 months ahead; passport about 1 month ahead
Time needed	About 21–22 days plus travel to Delhi (2026)	About 5 to 14 days depending on route
Who can go	Indian passport holders aged 18–70	Indians and others, subject to Chinese rules on age and nationality
Medical	Compulsory tests in Delhi and on route	Doctor’s fitness certificate; operator may ask for more

Many families apply for the government draw and keep a private booking as a back-up, with clear written cancellation terms. If they are selected, they cancel the private booking according to its policy.

Common mistakes that cost people their place

• Waiting for the “news” to apply and missing a three-week window.
• A name or date of birth that does not match the passport exactly.
• A passport that will not be valid long enough after the yatra.
• One spouse submitting and the other not finishing before the last date.
• Booking non-refundable trains or flights to Delhi before the batch is confirmed.
• On private routes: starting from home before Chinese papers are issued.

How we can help

We do not run or “sponsor” the government yatra; only the MEA and its agencies do, and the draw cannot be influenced. What we do is organise private yatras through Nepal end to end, including the Chinese group visa and Tibet permits through authorised partners. Popular choices are the 9-day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Lucknow with the full parikrama and the 5-day helicopter darshan yatra without trekking. See all dates and routes on our Kailash Mansarovar yatra page. To plan a 2027 departure, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).

Frequently asked questions

Is there any fee to apply for the government Kailash yatra?

The MEA says it charges no fee of its own, and payments begin only after selection: a ₹5,000 confirmation amount to KMVN or STDC, then the balance and other charges such as medical tests and visa. If anyone asks you for money to register or to improve your chances in the draw, it is not genuine. Apply only on kmy.gov.in.

Can I apply for both Lipulekh and Nathu La routes?

Yes. The form lets you choose one route or both in order of preference. Choosing both can widen your chance of being selected, because you are considered for either set of batches. Before you tick both, check that you can afford the higher Nathu La cost and manage the longer walking on Lipulekh.

Can a husband and wife be selected together?

The portal has allowed two people to apply together so that, if selected, they travel in the same batch. Both applications must be complete before the last date; if one spouse’s form is incomplete, the pair can be rejected. Each person must still meet the age and medical rules independently, and either can be declared unfit.

What if I am not selected in the draw?

You may be placed on a waiting list and called if a confirmed yatri drops out. Otherwise you can apply again the next year. Many families who are not selected travel the same summer through a private operator via Nepal, which has no draw. Start that booking soon after the result, as visa paperwork takes weeks.

How early should I book a private Kailash yatra for 2027?

Ideally three to four months before you want to travel, and earlier for full-moon or peak dates. Your passport is usually needed about a month before departure for the Chinese group visa. Booking early also gives time for medical checks at home and for training walks, which matter as much as the paperwork.

Can I register on the spot in Nepal for Kailash?

No. Entry to Tibet needs a Chinese group visa and Tibet permit arranged before you reach the border. In June 2026 the MEA warned Indians not to start their journey until these papers are actually issued, after pilgrims who travelled on promises were stranded in Nepal. A genuine operator will share approval before you leave home.

Do NRIs need to come to India for the government yatra?

Yes. NRIs who hold an Indian passport can apply, but every selected yatri must report in Delhi for three to four days of medical tests at DHLI and the ITBP Base Hospital, visa formalities and briefings before the batch leaves. OCI cardholders cannot apply for the government yatra and must use a private route.