Nepal · Banking & Payments

eSewa

Nepal's largest and most established digital wallet, widely used for payments, transfers and bill payments.

What it helps with

Paying by QRShops and taxis.
Paying billsPower, water, internet.
Topping up a phoneNcell and NTC.

About eSewa

eSewa is Nepal's original and most widely adopted digital wallet, letting users make payments, transfer money and pay bills through a wallet linked to a phone number, accepted across a vast network of merchants nationwide.

Key Features

QR Code and Online Payments: Pay at participating retailers and online merchants directly from the app.
P2P Transfers: Send money to other eSewa users using their phone number or eSewa ID.
Bill Payment Integration: Pay utility bills, mobile top-ups, and a wide range of other recurring payments within the app.
Extensive Merchant Network: One of the most widely accepted digital wallets across Nepali businesses.

How to Get Started

Download the eSewa app and register with a local phone number.
Link a bank account or use a supported top-up method to add funds to your wallet.
Scan a merchant's QR code or transfer to another user's ID to pay.
Use in-app bill payment features for recurring expenses.

Before you use it

Sign-up: An account needs a Nepali mobile number and identity verification; most short-term visitors cannot open one.
Good to know: The wallet can be loaded from a Nepali bank account or at agents.

Local number needed Local ID needed

Frequently Asked Questions

Does eSewa work with a foreign bank card in Nepal?: Not reliably - a foreign card may be declined. Check the notice above, or plan to use a local payment method.
Is eSewa available in English?: Not officially - the interface is mainly in the local language.
Do I need a local phone number to use eSewa?: Yes, eSewa requires a local phone number to register.
Do I need local ID or residency for eSewa?: Yes, eSewa requires local ID or residency status.
Where can I use eSewa?: iOS · Android
How much does eSewa cost?: Free wallet; small fees on some transfers