Business registration in Nepal: fast-track services 2025

Business registration in Nepal does not have to be slow or confusing. With a well-planned file, the right entity choice, and a local expert, you can move from intent to incorporation in days, not months. This guide gives foreign founders a fast-track path for 2025. You’ll see step-by-step workflows, timelines, document checklists, costs, and compliance actions after you register. The result: predictable timing, fewer rejections, and a clean launch.

What “fast-track” really means in Nepal

Fast-track is not a special government line. It is a way of working. You compress idle time, sequence tasks in parallel, and submit complete, error-free files at the first attempt.

Fast-track levers:

• Pre-clear names and activities before filing.

• Draft compliant Memorandum and Articles once.

• Prepare notarized and translated promoter docs early.

• Book digital token, PAN/VAT, and bank meetings ahead.

• Align FDI approvals and capital inflow steps with incorporation.

Typical outcomes for prepared files:

• Local private limited: 5–10 working days.

• FDI private limited: 15–25 working days from complete dossier.

• Branch or liaison office: 20–35 working days.

• PEO/EOR onboarding: 3–7 working days.

Timelines are indicative. They depend on file quality, sector, capital structure, and regulator workload. The fast-track goal is to minimize avoidable delays.

Business registration in Nepal: fast-track overview

Which path fits a foreign company?

1. Private limited company (most common)
   Local legal person. Can invoice, hire, import, export, and repatriate dividends subject to rules.

2. Branch office
   Extension of a foreign company. Allowed only in permitted activities and often tied to a specific contract.

3. Liaison office
   No commercial revenue. Market research, liaison, and coordination only.

4. Joint venture (JV)
   Local and foreign partners share equity. Useful for restricted or specialized sectors.

5. PEO/EOR (hire without entity)
   Fast hiring while you evaluate Nepal. No local subsidiary. Good for pilots and speed.

Fast-track workflow: local private limited (non-FDI)

Use this path when all promoters are Nepalese nationals or when foreign ownership is not planned.

Numbered steps

1. Name search and reservation
   Pick 3–5 options. Avoid reserved words. Match activities to standard codes.

2. Draft charter documents
   Prepare Memorandum and Articles of Association with precise objects, share structure, and director powers.

3. Promoter identification pack
   Citizenship/ID, photos, specimen signatures, and address evidence. Notarize where required.

4. Registered office setup
   Lease deed or ownership proof. Board resolution allowing use of the premises.

5. Capital structure confirmation
   Face value, share count, paid-up amount, and bank arrangement for subscription.

6. Online application and fee payment
   Complete forms, upload documents, and pay statutory fees.

7. Registrar queries (if any)
   Respond the same day. Provide corrected pages and resolutions.

8. Certificate of Incorporation
   Obtain registration certificate and company PAN registration instructions.

9. Tax registrations
   Apply for PAN at the Inland Revenue Department. Apply for VAT where relevant to your sector or turnover plan.

10. Social security and labor onboarding
    Register with Social Security Fund and align with Labour Act requirements.

11. Commercial bank account
    Board resolution to open the account. Provide KYC and company documents.

12. Operational licenses
    Sector licenses if needed. Set accounting and payroll systems.

Fast-track tip: Prepare specimen board resolutions for all expected actions. You will reuse them across steps.

Fast-track workflow: FDI private limited

Use this when any foreign shareholder or foreign corporate investor participates.

Sequenced playbook

1. Investment route and sector check
   Confirm the sector is open under FITTA 2019 and related rules. Check any minimum capital or JV requirements.

2. Shareholding and control design
   Set equity split, director appointment rights, and reserved matters. Keep it simple to avoid protracted approvals.

3. FDI dossier assembly

• Beneficial ownership declarations

• Parent company COI and good standing

• Board resolution approving investment

• Passports of foreign promoters

• Draft MoA/AoA, activities, and capital plan
  Documents from abroad should be notarized and, where required, legalized as per Nepal practice.

4. Foreign investment approval
   Apply to the competent authority depending on sector and capital. Align the approval request with your incorporation draft to save time.

5. Company incorporation
   Once approval is in hand, file at the registrar with synchronized documents. Assign the same objects and capital figures to avoid mismatches.

6. Bank account and capital inflow
   Open an FDI-enabled account. Bring in capital via banking channels mapped to your approval letter. Keep remittance evidence and bank advice.

7. PAN and VAT
   Register at the IRD. VAT is mandatory for some activities and optional for others. Decide based on your model.

8. Post-incorporation compliance
   Update statutory registers. Issue share certificates. Appoint auditor as required. Keep board minutes for every key action.

Fast-track tip: Align legal names across all documents. Even minor spelling differences can trigger queries.

Alternative routes: branch and liaison offices

• Branch office: Useful for executing a contract in Nepal or for regulated services with a foreign principal. You will carry the foreign company’s liabilities into Nepal.

• Liaison office: Non-commercial. It cannot issue invoices. It can hire staff for liaison functions and must report activities periodically.

Fast-track tip: If you need to invoice quickly, choose a company, not a liaison office.

Document checklist

For individual promoters

• Passport.

• Address evidence.

• Two photos and specimen signatures.

• Short bio for director KYC.

For corporate shareholders

• Incorporation certificate and constitution.

• Good standing certificate.

• Board resolution approving Nepal investment.

• Authorized signatory letter.

• Shareholder register extract.

Company set-up pack

• Proposed name and objects list.

• Draft MoA and AoA with share capital.

• Registered office proof and landlord consent.

• Auditor consent (where applicable).

• Board resolutions template set.

Fast-track tip: Translate non-English documents into English or Nepali by an accepted translator before legalization.

Indicative timeline & cost comparison 

For planning only. Fees vary by capital, sector, and regulator. Ranges are in Nepalese Rupees (NPR).

Fast-track tip: Start bank KYC in parallel once your company name is reserved.

Tax and regulatory after registration

PAN and VAT

• PAN: Your tax identity. Needed to invoice, pay taxes, and open many services.

• VAT: Mandatory for certain sectors and turnover thresholds. Many B2B exporters also register voluntarily for credibility and input credits.

Payroll and labor

• Comply with the Labour Act, 2017.

• Enroll staff in the Social Security Fund.

• Maintain contracts, HR policies, leave records, and payroll journals.

Corporate tax and withholding

• Corporate income tax applies to profits.

• Withhold TDS on specified payments.

• File returns on time to avoid penalties.

Foreign currency and repatriation

• Maintain bank advice and approval letters for capital inflows.

• Dividends and service fees can be repatriated if profits and taxes are in order.

• Keep board minutes approving distributions and auditor confirmation as required.

Fast-track tip: From day one, use accounting software that supports Nepal tax codes and VAT.

Risk controls that save weeks

• Name and object mismatch: Keep objects consistent across all forms.

• Missing beneficial owner info: Provide clear ownership charts.

• Untranslated documents: Translate and notarize before submission.

• Capital plan errors: Match approved capital, paid-up amounts, and bank remittance.

• Late VAT decision: Decide early. Rework later costs time.

• Director KYC gaps: Include bios, specimen signatures, and addresses.

• Registered office issues: Use a lease that allows commercial use.

Fast-track tip: Prepare an answers pack for predictable queries. Respond within 24 hours.

Choosing the right entry route (decision guide)

Pick a private limited when you need full operations, local procurement, and growth capital.
Pick a branch when a Nepal contract requires the foreign entity to execute locally.
Pick a liaison to research the market without earning revenue.
Pick a JV if the sector or tender rewards local partnership.
Use EOR/PEO to hire a team immediately while you set up the entity.

Service packages that accelerate outcomes

The goal is speed with compliance. Each package is modular. You can start with EOR/PEO and upgrade to an entity later.

1) Sprint Incorporation (Local Pvt Ltd)

• Name reservation, MoA/AoA drafting, and registrar filings.

• PAN registration and basic tax setup.

• Bank account opening support.

• SSF and payroll kick-off pack.

Target timeline: 5–10 working days from complete documents.

2) FDI Launchpad (FDI Pvt Ltd)

• FITTA compliance review and approval application.

• Incorporation filings aligned to FDI approval.

• Bank account opening and capital inflow support.

• PAN/VAT registration and FDI reporting calendar.

Target timeline: 15–25 working days from complete dossier.

3) Contract Execution (Branch)

• Branch approval, registration, and tax number.

• Contract mapping and scope controls.

• Payroll, withholding, and reporting pack.

Target timeline: 20–35 working days.

4) Market Presence (Liaison)

• Liaison approval and registration.

• Non-commercial activity controls.

• Periodic reporting calendar.

Target timeline: 20–30 working days.

5) Team-Now (PEO/EOR)

• Hire in 3–7 working days.

• Contracts, payroll, and benefits managed.

• Upgrade path to your entity without disruption.

Detailed step architecture

• Stream A: Legal docs — MoA/AoA, resolutions, KYC.

• Stream B: Approvals — FDI approval or branch/liaison permissions.

• Stream C: Tax — PAN/VAT drafts and token setup.

• Stream D: Banking — KYC, signatories, account type.

• Stream E: People — HR templates, SSF, and payroll stack.

• Stream F: Controls — board minutes, registers, share certificates.

Parallel streams reduce idle time. They also surface conflicts early.

Practical FAQs 

1) How long does business registration in Nepal take?
Local companies can complete in 5–10 working days. FDI companies usually take 15–25 working days after a complete dossier. Branches and liaisons take 20–35 working days.

2) What documents do foreign investors need?
Passports, corporate charters, good standing, board resolutions, beneficial owner details, and legalized translations where required. Keep names and addresses consistent.

3) Do I need VAT registration immediately?
Register if your sector requires it or your model benefits from credits and credibility. Many B2B exporters register from day one. Decide during planning.

4) Can I repatriate profits from Nepal?
Yes, if you follow FDI approvals, maintain remittance evidence, pay taxes, and approve dividends by board resolution. Keep auditor confirmation where required.

5) Should I start with EOR/PEO or incorporate first?
Start with EOR/PEO if you need to hire fast or validate demand. Incorporate when you are ready to invoice and scale operations.