Nepal - 2.3.20 Border Crossing of Setobadha, Sunsari 

Overview 

Sunasri Customs Office is at Koshi Rural Municipality Ward No. 8 of Sunsari district, Koshi Province. Its office is located on the east-south side of the Setubandhu Koshi Barrage-Saptakoshi River. Madhesh Province is a state demarcated by the Koshi River on the north-east are located Koshi Tappu and Sri Lanka Tappu, known as the destinations of internal and external tourists of Sunsari district, while on the south side is the small market of Supaul, and the border district of Bihar province of India. There are seven sub-customs offices under this customs office, namely: Bhantabari, Laukahi, Kauwakjoj, Ghuso, and Sahebanj which are in operation, and the Lahi and Sisuwa are not in operation due to the lack of physical facilities.  The Indian Customs office lies at Bhimnagar, Supaul District of Bihar State in India. The major exporting and importing items from this customs office are agricultural products, fish, and a few animals like goats, buffaloes, etc. 

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Border Crossing Location and Contact 

Name of Border Crossing 

 

Nepal: Setobadha / Sunsari 

India: Bhimnagar, Bihar 

Province or District 

Koshi Province/Sunsari 

Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing 

Town Name: Bhantabari 

Distance 3.3 kilometer away from the borer of India 

Latitude 

26.522401  

Longitude 

86.9295532 

Managing Authority / Agency 

Sunsari Custom Office, 

Contact:  

Fax:  

Mobile: 9852064020 

Office Mobile: 9852064020 

Email:sunsari@customs.gov.np 

Contact Person 

Mr. Chudamani Sharma Kattel 

Mobile: 9841444301 

 

 

Travel Times 

Nearest International Airport 

Darbhanga Airport, Bihar India 

Madhubani, Bihar, India 

Distance: 127 Km 
Truck: 5 hr   
Car: 3 hr  

Nearest Port 

Name: Biratnagar Dry port, Jhapa 

Distance: 63.2 in km 

Truck Travel Time: 3 hr  

Car Travel time: 2 hr 

Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity 

Name: Farbezgunj, Bihar India 

Distance: 58 km 

Truck Travel Time: 3 hr 16 min 

Car Travel time: 1 hr 30 min 

 

Name: Bhantabari, Nepal (Bhimnagar Entry Point from India) 

Distance: 3.5 km 

Truck Travel Time: 25 min 

Car Travel time: 10 min 

 

 

Other Information 

 

Supaul, India is the nearest market point from this border point and it takes 1:30 hrs to reach travel by car. 

 

Hours of Operation 

Mondays 

Trucks/Goods: 8:00– 20:00  
Passengers: 06:00 – 20:00  

Tuesdays 

Trucks/Goods: 8:00– 20:00  
Passengers: 06:00 – 20:00  

Wednesdays 

Trucks/Goods: 8:00– 20:00  
Passengers: 06:00 – 20:00  

Thursdays 

Trucks/Goods: 8:00– 20:00  
Passengers: 06:00 – 20:00  

Fridays 

Trucks/Goods: 8:00– 20:00  
Passengers: 06:00 – 20:00  

Saturdays 

Trucks/Goods: 8:00– 20:00  
Passengers: 06:00 – 20:00  

Sundays 

Trucks/Goods: 8:00– 20:00  
Passengers: 06:00 – 20:00  

National Holidays 

 

Generally, 3 days during Dashain (Nepal national festival, Chhath- 1 day and Holi Festival- 1 day) and up to another 7 days / year at Government’s discretion.   
Note: Customs clearance services will be continue in open 24/7 in times of emergencies. 

Customs procedure remains close on 15 Jestha (probably falls on 28 or 29th April of the year) on account of New Fiscal Budget Announcement, a day where the tariff may change for the coming up fiscal year of the country. 

Customs remains open during emergency period. 

Seasonal Constraints  

Winter months, rainy season, etc. 

 

Daily Capacity 

  • Maximum trucks:  10 trucks daily  

  • Daily average:  10 trucks  

  • Operating hours are 08:00-20:00 and can be extended as per need. 

  • Average clearing time: 2:30 hrs 

  • There is rarely a backlog.  

   

Customs Clearance   

Compulsory Document for custom clearance.  

  • D & T Exemption Certificate   

  • Performa invoice 

  • Invoice  

  • AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents- Freights 

  • Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates  

  • Packing list  

  • Letter of credit  

  • Mode of payments (LC/TT/Draft) 

  • Certificate of origin  

  • Certificate of insurance  

  • Bill of Lading/Airway Bill for 3rd country imports 

  • Industry Registration Certificates  

  • EXIM Code. (EXIM Code is mandatory for Commercial trading and not mandatory for humanitarian support goods. 

  • Bill of Entry from the Indian Customs Office 

  • Exit Note 

  • VCTS 

  • Recommendation letter 

  • Tariff will be imposed on imported goods as per the Integrated Customs Tariff 2080/081 for FY 2080/81 (FY- 2023/024) 

  • GST Bill 

 

Potential delays: No 

Restriction: Prohibited to import goods as declared by Government of Nepal 

For more information on customs in Nepal, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.   

Other Relevant Information 

One needs to cross the border town where the border army checks all the visitors at the checkpoint. Indian nationals can get permission based on a Voter card, Adhaar card, or PAN card. The border areas in Sunsari district connect communities on both sides of the border. People from neighboring regions use these crossings for various purposes, including trade, family visits, and cultural events.