If you are a foreign company planning to enter Nepal, the Company Registrar Office Nepal is your first and most important regulatory touchpoint. Every legal business entity in Nepal begins its journey here. From name reservation to incorporation certificates, the Office of the Company Registrar controls the entire company registration lifecycle.
In this definitive 2026 guide, I will walk you through how the Company Registrar Office Nepal operates, what foreign investors must prepare, common mistakes to avoid, and how to use the process strategically to reduce risk and delays.
The Company Registrar Office, commonly called OCR Nepal, is the government authority responsible for registering and regulating companies under Nepali law.
Formally, it operates under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies and enforces the Companies Act 2006.
The Company Registrar Office Nepal is responsible for:
Registering new companies
Issuing incorporation certificates
Approving company names
Maintaining statutory company records
Recording changes in directors, shareholders, or capital
Enforcing filing and compliance obligations
Without OCR approval, a company has no legal existence in Nepal.
The head office of the Company Registrar Office Nepal is located in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.
For foreign companies, all filings are handled centrally through this office, even if operations are outside Kathmandu Valley.
Foreign companies face stricter scrutiny at the Company Registrar Office Nepal than domestic firms.
Key reasons include:
Foreign ownership triggers additional disclosures
Sectoral restrictions apply under investment laws
OCR coordinates with other regulators for approvals
Errors can delay Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) clearance
Understanding how OCR evaluates foreign applications can save weeks, sometimes months.
The Company Registrar Office Nepal registers multiple entity types. However, only a few are suitable for foreign investors.
Private Limited Company (most common)
Public Limited Company (capital-intensive)
Branch Office of a foreign company
Liaison Office (non-commercial)
Each structure carries different compliance and operational implications.
Below is a simplified overview of how foreign companies interact with the Company Registrar Office Nepal.
Name reservation through the OCR online portal
Preparation of constitutional documents
Submission of incorporation application
Review by OCR officials
Issuance of Certificate of Incorporation
Foreign-owned entities usually proceed to investment approval after OCR registration.
Foreign companies must submit additional documents compared to local promoters.
Approved company name
Memorandum of Association (MoA)
Articles of Association (AoA)
Passport copies of foreign shareholders
Board resolution from parent company
Power of attorney
Registered office address in Nepal
Any mismatch between documents is a common cause of rejection.
The Company Registrar Office Nepal operates an online filing system for:
Name reservation
Company registration
Annual filings
Director or shareholder changes
However, the system still requires manual review, so accuracy matters more than speed.
For foreign companies, timelines depend on preparation quality.
Name approval: 1–3 working days
Registration review: 3–7 working days
Certificate issuance: 1 working day after approval
Delays usually arise from document inconsistencies, not OCR inefficiency.
OCR fees depend on authorized capital.
NPR 1 million capital: approx. NPR 9,500
NPR 10 million capital: approx. NPR 35,000
NPR 100 million capital: approx. NPR 135,000
These are statutory fees payable directly to the Company Registrar Office Nepal.
Foreign companies often confuse OCR with other authorities.
| Authority | Primary Role | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Company Registrar Office Nepal | Company incorporation | Mandatory for all companies |
| Department of Industry | FDI approval | Foreign investment |
| Inland Revenue Department | Tax registration | After incorporation |
| Nepal Rastra Bank | Capital repatriation | Banking and FX |
OCR registration always comes first.
Avoid these frequent errors:
Using restricted words in company names
Mismatch between MoA and AoA objectives
Incorrect shareholder nationality disclosure
Unrealistic authorized capital
Assuming OCR approval equals FDI approval
Each mistake can reset your timeline.
Registering with the Company Registrar Office Nepal creates ongoing obligations.
Annual return submission
Financial statements filing
Changes in directors or shareholders
Capital increase approvals
Non-compliance can lead to fines or deregistration.
OCR authority is grounded in Nepal’s corporate legislation, primarily:
Companies Act 2006
Company Regulation 2009
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2019
These laws empower OCR to approve, reject, or revoke company registrations.
Efficiency comes from preparation.
Best practices include:
Aligning business objectives with permitted sectors
Drafting OCR-friendly MoA language
Using consistent spelling across all documents
Appointing a local authorized representative
Professional handling often reduces timelines by 40–50%.
Legally, no. Practically, yes.
Foreign companies can self-file, but OCR scrutiny is document-heavy. One error can invalidate an application.
Most successful foreign incorporations involve professional advisors familiar with OCR expectations.
Key developments affecting OCR Nepal in 2026 include:
Increased digital filing requirements
Higher transparency on beneficial ownership
Stricter compliance tracking
Improved inter-agency data sharing
Foreign companies should expect more scrutiny, not less.
The Company Registrar Office Nepal is not just a registration authority. It is the legal gateway to operating in Nepal.
Foreign companies that understand OCR processes, legal expectations, and compliance culture gain a significant strategic advantage.
Handled correctly, OCR registration is fast, predictable, and low-risk. Handled poorly, it becomes a costly bottleneck.
If you are planning to register a company in Nepal as a foreign investor, expert guidance can save you time, money, and regulatory headaches.
👉 Book a free consultation to assess your OCR registration strategy and compliance readiness.
The Company Registrar Office Nepal is the government authority that registers and regulates companies under the Companies Act 2006.
Yes. Every foreign-owned company must register with the Company Registrar Office Nepal to gain legal status.
For foreign companies, OCR registration typically takes 7–14 working days if documents are accurate.
Yes, but most filings are done online or through a local representative.
No. OCR registration and FDI approval are separate processes handled by different authorities.