The online portal for company registration Nepal has transformed how foreign companies establish a legal presence in the country.
What once required weeks of paperwork, physical visits, and local intermediaries can now be initiated digitally through the Office of Company Registrar’s online system.
But while the portal promises simplicity, many foreign investors still face delays, rejections, and compliance risks due to misunderstood requirements.
This in-depth guide explains how the OCR Nepal online registration portal actually works, what it does well, where it fails, and how foreign companies can use it correctly to incorporate in Nepal without costly mistakes.
The online portal for company registration Nepal is the digital platform operated by the Office of Company Registrar (OCR) under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies.
It allows applicants to:
Reserve company names
Submit incorporation applications
Upload constitutional documents
Pay government fees
Track approval status online
The portal applies to domestic companies, NRNs, and foreign investors, though requirements vary significantly.
Nepal introduced online incorporation to align with global best practices and improve its investment climate.
Key objectives included:
Reducing processing time
Increasing transparency
Lowering entry barriers for foreign capital
Improving World Bank Ease of Doing Business indicators
Under the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, foreign investment must follow a structured approval and registration process, part of which is supported by the OCR portal.
The portal supports multiple applicant categories, but foreign companies must follow stricter compliance rules.
Nepali citizens
Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs)
Foreign individuals
Foreign corporate entities
Wholly foreign-owned subsidiary
Joint venture with Nepali partner
Liaison office (registration only, no trading)
Understanding the real workflow is critical. The portal is not a single-click solution.
Foreign applicants must create an OCR user account using:
Valid email
Passport details
Foreign address
Mismatch in passport spelling is a common rejection reason.
Company name approval is the first legal gate.
Rules include:
No similarity with existing companies
No restricted words without approval
English or Nepali allowed
Approval typically takes 1–3 working days.
Applicants complete structured forms covering:
Company objectives
Shareholding structure
Director details
Registered office address
Any inconsistency between forms and documents leads to rejection.
Foreign companies must upload notarised and apostilled documents.
Required documents usually include:
Passport copies of shareholders and directors
Board resolution (for foreign corporate shareholders)
Memorandum of Association (MOA)
Articles of Association (AOA)
Fees depend on:
Authorised capital
Company type
Foreign ownership status
Payment is done online through Nepal-approved payment gateways.
The OCR conducts:
Legal review
Name compliance check
Capital verification
Approval time ranges from 5–15 working days if documents are correct.
The online portal for company registration Nepal has improved several aspects of incorporation.
Centralised digital submission
Reduced physical visits
Transparent tracking status
Standardised documentation flow
For well-prepared applications, incorporation can be completed in under three weeks.
Despite digitisation, the portal is not foreign-investor friendly by default.
No guided FDI compliance checks
No validation for FITTA requirements
Document format rigidity
English legal drafting scrutiny
Most rejections are not technical, but legal in nature.
Here is where applications fail most often.
Uploading unsigned MOA or AOA
Using foreign templates without Nepal compliance
Mismatch between passport and application spellings
Incorrect share capital structure
Missing investment approval alignment
These errors reset timelines and increase regulatory risk.
| Aspect | OCR Online Portal Only | Expert-Assisted Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Unpredictable | Structured timeline |
| Compliance risk | High for foreigners | Low |
| Document accuracy | Self-managed | Legally vetted |
| FITTA alignment | Not checked | Fully aligned |
| Post-registration support | None | End-to-end |
Insight: The portal is a tool, not a substitute for legal expertise.
Foreign incorporation through the online portal operates within multiple laws.
Key legislation includes:
Companies Act 2006
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2019
Industrial Enterprises Act 2020
Income Tax Act 2002
The portal does not interpret these laws. Applicants must.
Company registration is only the beginning.
After OCR approval, companies must complete:
Tax registration (PAN)
Foreign investment approval formalities
Bank account opening
Capital injection reporting
Social Security Fund registration (if hiring)
Skipping post-registration compliance exposes companies to penalties.
Yes, the platform is government-owned and secure.
However:
It does not provide legal advice
It does not correct compliance errors
It does not warn about downstream violations
Safety depends on how correctly you use it.
Align documents with Nepal law, not home country law
Prepare apostilled documents in advance
Finalise shareholding structure before submission
Use consistent naming across all documents
Review objectives carefully for FDI eligibility
Preparation saves weeks.
DIY filing is risky if:
You are setting up an FDI company
You have multiple foreign shareholders
You plan profit repatriation
You intend to hire staff in Nepal
In these cases, professional oversight is essential.
Typical timelines for foreign companies:
Name approval: 1–3 days
Application review: 5–15 days
Corrections (if any): 7–10 days
Total realistic timeline: 3–5 weeks.
Government fees vary by authorised capital.
Approximate ranges:
NPR 1,000,000 capital: NPR 9,500
NPR 5,000,000 capital: NPR 25,000+
Professional fees are separate and depend on complexity.
Yes. All companies must be registered through the OCR online portal. Physical filing is no longer accepted.
Yes. However, documents must be notarised and apostilled in the home country.
No. The portal registers the company only. FDI approval follows separate procedures.
At least one director is mandatory. Foreign nationals are allowed.
Edits are limited. Major errors require resubmission, causing delays.
The online portal for company registration Nepal is a powerful digital gateway.
But for foreign companies, it is only as effective as the legal strategy behind it.
Used correctly, it accelerates incorporation.
Used blindly, it creates delays and compliance exposure.
If you are a foreign company planning market entry, FDI, or hiring in Nepal, expert guidance saves time and risk.
Book a consultation to review your structure, documents, and OCR portal strategy before submission.