The Company registrar office Nepal is the first formal gateway for foreign companies entering the Nepali market.
Yet, many international founders experience delays, rejections, and confusion during registration.
Most problems are preventable with the right preparation and local insight.
This guide explains the most common issues faced at the Company Registrar Office Nepal and shows exactly how to fix them.
It is written for foreign companies seeking clarity, speed, and compliance.
The Company Registrar Office Nepal, formally known as the Office of Company Registrar, operates under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies.
Its role includes:
Incorporating companies
Approving constitutional documents
Maintaining public company records
Enforcing compliance under the Companies Act 2006
For foreign investors, OCR approval is mandatory before tax registration, bank accounts, or FDI approvals.
Foreign applicants often struggle because Nepal’s system differs from Western or ASEAN jurisdictions.
Key structural reasons include:
Document-heavy compliance culture
Strict name approval standards
Manual review despite online filing
Interlinkage with FDI and sectoral approvals
Understanding these friction points early saves weeks.
Name rejection is the most frequent issue at the Company registrar office Nepal.
Why it happens:
Similarity with existing Nepali or English names
Use of restricted or regulated words
Mismatch between name and proposed objectives
How to fix it:
Run multiple name checks in advance
Avoid generic industry terms
Align name with business objectives clearly
Foreign templates rarely comply with Nepali law.
Typical mistakes:
Overly broad objectives
Missing capital structure details
Non-compliant director clauses
Solution:
Redraft MOA and AOA strictly aligned with the Companies Act 2006 and OCR practice notes.
Foreign companies often misunderstand paid-up capital rules.
Common issues include:
Declaring capital without remittance clarity
Incorrect share split between promoters
Mismatch with FDI thresholds
This becomes critical if the company later seeks approval under the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2019.
OCR Nepal requires strict authentication.
Problems arise due to:
Missing notarisation
Apostille not accepted where embassy attestation is required
Expired passport copies
Fix:
Prepare a country-specific attestation checklist before filing.
Despite digitalisation, OCR systems still have limitations.
Frequent technical issues:
File size errors
Format incompatibility
Session timeouts
Uploading during off-peak hours reduces failure rates.
Foreign directors face scrutiny on:
Identity clarity
Duplicate names
Inconsistent signatures
OCR officers often flag minor mismatches that cause major delays.
OCR frequently issues clarification notices.
Delays occur when responses are:
Incomplete
Over-explained
Submitted without supporting annexures
Clear, concise replies work best.
Foreign companies face additional layers of review.
Cross-check with Department of Industry
FDI sector validation
Capital repatriation disclosures
Failing to align OCR filings with FDI intent causes rework.
| Issue Category | Typical Delay | Root Cause | Practical Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name rejection | 3–7 days | Similarity or restricted words | Pre-clear 3 alternatives |
| MOA/AOA errors | 5–10 days | Foreign templates | Local legal redraft |
| Capital mismatch | 7–14 days | FDI misunderstanding | Align OCR + DOI |
| Document attestation | 5–7 days | Wrong authentication | Embassy attestation |
| System upload failure | 1–3 days | File issues | Compress & re-upload |
| Clarification response | 3–5 days | Incomplete replies | Point-by-point response |
Foreign companies can avoid 80% of issues by following these steps.
Finalise name strategy before filing
Draft Nepal-specific MOA and AOA
Align capital with FDI regulations
Authenticate documents correctly
Prepare clarification responses in advance
Engaging local advisors is not mandatory.
However, it significantly reduces risk.
Professional support is essential when:
Investment exceeds NPR 20 million
Regulated sectors are involved
Speed-to-market matters
OCR processes are governed by:
Companies Act 2006
Company Registration Regulations
FITTA 2019
OCR circulars and notices
According to government data, over 30% of foreign company filings face at least one resubmission, primarily due to documentation issues.
Names are rejected if they resemble existing entities, use restricted terms, or misalign with objectives. Pre-checking reduces rejection risk.
Typically 7–15 working days. Delays occur due to clarifications or document errors.
Yes. Foreign nationals can be directors, subject to passport verification and compliance checks.
Yes. All applications must be submitted through the OCR online portal.
Using foreign MOA/AOA templates without local adaptation.
The Company registrar office Nepal is efficient when approached correctly.
Most issues arise from misunderstanding local expectations rather than bureaucracy.
With proper preparation, foreign companies can register smoothly, compliantly, and quickly.
Expert guidance often turns weeks of delay into days.
Planning to register a company in Nepal?
Speak with our Nepal incorporation specialists to avoid OCR delays and ensure full compliance from day one.