What is a Dollar Card (Prepaid USD/E-Commerce Card) in Nepal

A Dollar Card in Nepal refers to a prepaid or e-commerce-focused card denominated in U.S. Dollars (USD), or facilitating transactions in USD/foreign currency. The main goal is to help Nepali individuals and businesses make legal, safer, and easier international online payments: subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.), online courses, domain & hosting, ads, and purchases from foreign e-commerce sites. 

Key features usually include:

• Issued by Nepali bank, under regulation of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) after a circular allowing “dollar prepaid cards/e-commerce cards.”  
• Annual limit: commonly USD 500 per year for most users. If someone has foreign income or export earnings, there may be provisions to load more.  
• Can be used only for online international payments, goods & services abroad (except India in many cases). Some cards allow for travel/purchase abroad, POS usage, ATM withdrawal etc., depending on type.  
• Requirements: Valid KYC, PAN card (permanent account number), usually having a savings/current account with that bank.  

Regulations & Limitations

Understanding the rules is important — there are constraints set by the central bank (NRB):

Regulation	Details
Annual load limit	Usually up to USD 500 per year for users without foreign income.
Higher limits	If the cardholder earns foreign currency income (e.g. from international freelancing or export of services), they may be allowed to load more.
Usage restrictions	Some merchant categories are disallowed (e.g. financial institution services, insurance premium payments, real estate, gambling etc.). NRB forbidden certain categories for prepaid USD cards.
Foreign currency, balance, expiry	Cards often have validity for multiple years (some 4 or 5 years) depending on bank. Some cards are virtual, some physical. Reloading may have fees. What You Should Consider When Choosing a Dollar Card If you plan to get one, these are the criteria to compare:  Issuance fee / card cost Loading/top-up fees (both initial and subsequent loads) Annual/renewal fees (if any) Currency conversion / exchange rates (how the bank converts NPR → USD etc.) Usability: virtual vs physical; whether accepted by all platforms you need; whether usable for subscriptions, e-commerce, travel, etc. Customer service, ease of application and loading (mobile app, branch, online, how fast) Best Banks Offering Dollar Cards in Nepal (and Their Pros & Cons) Here are some of the better options (as of the latest data) with what they do well and where they might be limited. “Best” depends on what you need (lowest fees, good app, etc.). Bank Key Card(s) / What They Offer Pros Cons / Limitations Prabhu Bank Prabhu 500 Dollar Card – prepaid international card, validity 4 years. Instant issuance up to USD 500/year; no annual fee; good for e-commerce platforms. Top-up fee after first load; may have transaction-count limits. Laxmi Sunrise Bank Dollar Prepaid Card / Orange Card etc. 5 years validity; secure (3D secure etc.); usable for broad range of international online services. Load limit restrictions; possibly fees; only for online purchases (not POS/ATM) for some types. Everest Bank EBL World Travel Card (prepaid dollar travel card) Good for travel; works at Visa POS & ATM abroad (outside Nepal & India); higher transaction limits; physical use. Need valid passport, confirmed ticket etc.; may have foreign withdrawal fees; may be more cumbersome to issue. Global IME Bank Global E-Com Card / Global E-Com Dollar Card Easy top-up via mobile app; some good user-reports of lower fees; virtual and physical options; generally user-friendly. Might have smaller limits; physical issuance takes time; some fees on reloads depending on the specific option. Nabil Bank Nabil iCard (US Dollar iCard) Widely known bank; likely easier branch access; trusted brand; integration with existing banking services. Might have higher fees compared to some other banks; limit of $500/year applies; possible charges on top-up. My Pick: Which Bank is “Best” Depending on Your Needs Here are suggestions depending on different priorities: If you want lowest fees and minimal hassle, Global IME Bank seems strong: easy top-ups, favorable fee structure (some users report no load-fee or minimal fees) and good virtual options. If you need a card you can use outside Nepal (POS, ATM) for travel, then Everest Bank’s travel card is good. If you want maximum reliability and branch access, large name banks like Nabil or Prabhu may be more comfortable. Summary Dollar Cards in Nepal have opened up a way for Nepalis to legally pay for foreign goods & services online — subscription services, online business tools, domain/hosting, etc. With NRB’s regulations, there are limits (especially USD 500/year for many users) and certain disallowed merchant categories. If you are careful about fees, usability, and your own usage pattern, you can pick a bank that works well for your needs.