If you are researching how to register a company in Nepal, documents are the single biggest factor that decides speed, cost, and approval success.
Most foreign companies face delays not because of policy barriers, but because of incomplete, inconsistent, or incorrectly prepared documents.
This 2026-ready guide gives you the most authoritative, practical checklist for company registration in Nepal. It is written specifically for foreign founders, overseas directors, and international businesses entering Nepal.
By the end, you will know exactly:
What documents are legally required
Which documents must be notarised or apostilled
What changes for foreign-owned companies
How to avoid common rejection points at the Office of Company Registrar
Nepal follows a document-driven incorporation system.
Every application is reviewed manually by regulators.
A missing page or mismatched name can delay registration by weeks.
For foreign companies, document scrutiny is even tighter due to:
Foreign Investment approval requirements
Anti-money laundering checks
Beneficial ownership disclosures
Getting the paperwork right is the fastest way to register smoothly.
At a high level, company registration involves four authorities:
Office of the Company Registrar (OCR)
Department of Industry (for foreign investment)
Inland Revenue Department
Local ward office or municipality
Each authority requires specific documents, often overlapping but not identical.
These documents apply to all companies, local or foreign.
This is submitted online through the OCR portal.
Includes:
Proposed company name
Company type
Registered office address
Share capital structure
The MOA defines:
Company objectives
Authorised share capital
Shareholding structure
Liability of shareholders
Objectives must be precise.
Overly broad objectives often trigger revisions.
The AOA governs internal management:
Director powers
Board meetings
Share transfers
Dividend rules
For foreign companies, governance clauses are closely reviewed.
Required for:
All shareholders
All directors
Foreign nationals must submit passport copies, not national IDs.
Accepted documents include:
Lease agreement
Ownership certificate
Landlord consent letter
Virtual offices are not accepted for incorporation.
Foreign companies must submit extra compliance documents.
Required under Nepal’s foreign investment regime.
Includes:
Investment amount
Business sector
Ownership percentage
Funding source
Mandatory if:
A foreign company is the shareholder
A foreign entity is investing
The resolution must approve:
Investment in Nepal
Appointed local director or representative
Issued by the home country authority.
Must be:
Notarised
Apostilled or embassy-attested
Confirms:
Legal existence
Authority to invest overseas
Must match details in the board resolution.
This is where many foreign companies get stuck.
Documents issued outside Nepal
Countries that are Hague Convention members
Countries not part of the Hague Convention
Foreign company incorporation certificate
Board resolutions
Power of attorney
Incorrect attestation is a common rejection reason.
A POA is required if:
Directors are not physically present in Nepal
A consultant or representative files documents
POA must:
Clearly define authority
Be notarised and attested
Match passport details exactly
| Company Type | Key Documents | Complexity Level |
|---|---|---|
| Local Private Limited | MOA, AOA, citizenship copies | Low |
| Foreign-Owned Pvt Ltd | All core + FDI documents | High |
| Branch Office | Parent documents + approvals | High |
| Liaison Office | Approval letters only | Medium |
Insight:
Foreign-owned private limited companies face the highest document scrutiny.
Avoid these frequent errors:
Mismatch between passport names and forms
Objectives not aligned with investment sector
Missing apostille or incorrect notarisation
Incorrect share capital figures
Using residential addresses without consent letters
Even one mistake can reset the review cycle.
| Document Status | Estimated Registration Time |
|---|---|
| Fully compliant | 10–15 working days |
| Minor corrections | 3–5 weeks |
| Major document issues | 6–10 weeks |
Preparation saves more time than follow-ups.
Once registered, you will also need:
PAN/VAT registration documents
Bank account opening forms
Local ward registration
Employment compliance documents
Many founders overlook post-registration paperwork.
This checklist aligns with:
Companies Act 2006
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2019
Industrial Enterprises Act 2020
Inland Revenue Department guidelines
Office of Company Registrar directives
These laws define documentation standards applied in 2026.
You need an application form, MOA, AOA, ID documents, address proof, and foreign investment approvals if applicable.
Yes. Foreigners can register companies but must submit additional investment and attested documents.
Yes. Foreign documents must be notarised and apostilled or embassy-attested.
If documents are correct, verification usually takes 7–10 working days.
Yes. With a properly attested power of attorney, physical presence is not required.
Understanding how to register a company in Nepal starts with understanding documents.
For foreign companies, paperwork is not a formality. It is the process.
A complete, compliant checklist:
Reduces approval time
Avoids repeated rejections
Ensures long-term compliance
If you want registration done right the first time, document preparation matters more than speed.
Planning to register a company in Nepal as a foreign business?
Get a free document checklist review and timeline assessment before you apply.
👉 Speak with a Nepal incorporation specialist today.