If you are researching how to register a company in Nepal, one of the first questions you will ask is simple: how long does it take?
For foreign companies, timelines matter. Delays affect budgets, hiring, and market entry plans.
The good news is that Nepal’s company registration process is predictable when done correctly. The challenge is that foreign ownership, sector approvals, and compliance steps can stretch timelines if not planned properly.
This guide explains the realistic timeline for company registration in Nepal, step by step. It is written specifically for foreign founders, investors, and international businesses.
For local founders, registration is relatively fast. For foreign companies, timelines vary based on approvals, investment structure, and document readiness.
Delays usually happen because of:
Incorrect documents
Missing foreign investment approvals
Poor coordination between agencies
Underestimating post-registration steps
Understanding the full timeline upfront helps you:
Plan capital deployment
Schedule hiring
Avoid compliance penalties
Enter the Nepal market smoothly
At a high level, the timeline looks like this:
Local company: 3–7 working days
Foreign-owned company: 15–45 working days
FDI-heavy or regulated sectors: 30–60+ working days
The difference lies in approvals, not in the basic company registration itself.
All companies are incorporated through the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR).
Timeline:
Name reservation: same day
Company incorporation approval: 1–3 working days
Key documents required:
Proposed company name
Memorandum of Association
Articles of Association
Shareholder and director details
For foreign companies, documents must be notarised and, in some cases, apostilled.
If any foreign shareholder is involved, foreign investment approval is mandatory under Nepal’s investment laws.
Approvals are governed by:
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2019
Industrial and sector-specific regulations
Depending on the investment size, approvals come from:
Department of Industry
Investment Board Nepal
Timeline:
Small to medium investments: 7–15 working days
Large or regulated investments: 20–30 working days
This stage determines most delays.
Once OCR approves the incorporation:
Company Registration Certificate is issued
Legal existence begins
At this point, your company exists legally but cannot operate yet.
After incorporation, you must register for tax with Nepal’s Inland Revenue Office.
Timeline:
PAN registration: same day
VAT registration (if applicable): 1–2 working days
Without PAN, you cannot open bank accounts or issue invoices.
Foreign companies must open:
Local Nepali bank account
Capital account for foreign investment
Capital must be injected through banking channels and reported.
Regulated by Nepal Rastra Bank.
Timeline:
Bank KYC and account opening: 3–7 working days
Capital verification: additional 2–3 days
Companies must register with:
Local ward office
Municipality for business operation
This step is often overlooked but mandatory.
Some sectors require additional approvals:
IT and outsourcing
Education and training
Energy and infrastructure
Financial services
Timeline:
Unregulated sectors: no extra time
Regulated sectors: 7–30 working days
| Scenario | Estimated Timeline |
|---|---|
| Local private limited company | 3–7 working days |
| Foreign-owned trading or service company | 15–30 working days |
| FDI with sector approvals | 30–60+ working days |
| Poor documentation or delays | 60–90 days |
Several variables influence how long it takes to register a company in Nepal.
Foreign ownership percentage
Industry classification
Investment amount
Document quality
Experience of advisors
Incorrect notarisation
Incomplete shareholder documents
Misclassified business activities
Bank compliance issues
| Aspect | Standard Process | Professionally Managed |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation | Founder-prepared | Lawyer-verified |
| OCR processing | Normal queue | Error-free |
| FDI approval | Reactive | Pre-aligned |
| Timeline | 30–60 days | 15–30 days |
| Risk | High | Low |
Professional support does not bypass laws. It removes friction.
Registering a company is not the finish line.
Foreign companies must also comply with:
Labour laws
Social security registration
Annual filings
Tax compliance
Ignoring post-registration compliance leads to penalties.
Company registration timelines are influenced by:
Companies Act 2006
Foreign investment regulations
Tax and banking guidelines
These laws define approvals, reporting obligations, and timelines.
Finalise business activities clearly
Prepare notarised documents early
Structure shareholding correctly
Use compliant banking channels
Engage local experts from day one
Small mistakes can add weeks.
To summarise, how to register a company in Nepal depends less on the law and more on preparation.
With proper planning:
Registration can be completed in weeks, not months
Compliance risks are minimised
Market entry becomes predictable
If you are planning to enter Nepal and want a clear registration timeline, compliant structure, and zero surprises, speak with a specialist.
👉 Book a free consultation to map your company registration timeline in Nepal and avoid costly delays.
Foreign-owned companies typically take 15–45 working days. The timeline depends on foreign investment approvals, sector regulations, and document readiness.
The legal entity can be incorporated, but operations and capital injection require foreign investment approval under Nepalese law.
Clear documentation, correct sector classification, and professional handling can reduce timelines to 15–30 working days.
Yes. The OCR portal allows online filing, but foreign companies still require physical approvals and banking compliance.
Incomplete documents, incorrect notarisation, banking compliance issues, and sector-specific approvals cause most delays.