The online portal for company registration Nepal has transformed how foreign startups enter the Nepali market. What once required weeks of in-person visits and paperwork can now be initiated digitally from anywhere in the world.
For foreign founders, investors, and holding companies, this portal is the first official gateway to establishing a legal presence in Nepal. It enables faster incorporation, better transparency, and predictable compliance under Nepali law.
This guide explains how the system works, who it is for, and how to use it strategically, not just correctly.
The online portal for company registration Nepal is operated by the Office of Company Registrar under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
It is the government’s official digital platform for:
Reserving a company name
Filing incorporation documents
Registering directors and shareholders
Issuing the Certificate of Incorporation
The portal applies to both domestic and foreign-owned companies, including FDI-approved entities.
Online incorporation in Nepal is grounded in statutory law, not administrative convenience.
Key legal instruments include:
Companies Act 2006
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2019
Industrial Enterprises Act 2020
Income Tax Act 2002
Together, these laws define ownership rules, capital thresholds, director eligibility, and post-registration compliance.
The online portal for company registration Nepal can be used by:
Foreign startups setting up a Nepali subsidiary
International holding companies
Venture-backed startups entering South Asia
Foreign professionals forming service companies
Foreign companies typically register through the portal to:
Hire local teams legally
Operate under Nepal Rastra Bank compliance
Repatriate profits
Own intellectual property locally
A local authorized representative usually creates the portal login. Foreign directors do not need to be physically present.
You submit up to three proposed names. The system checks similarity and sector restrictions.
Approval usually takes one to three working days.
Key documents include:
Memorandum of Association
Articles of Association
Passport copies of shareholders
Board resolution from the foreign parent
Documents are uploaded in PDF format through the portal. Accuracy is critical. OCR frequently rejects filings for formatting errors.
Once approved, the Certificate of Incorporation is issued digitally. This establishes the company as a legal person.
Foreign founders should prepare the following in advance.
Mandatory documents:
Passport copies of shareholders and directors
Parent company incorporation certificate
Board resolution approving Nepal incorporation
Proposed shareholding structure
Power of attorney to local representative
All foreign documents must be notarized and, in some cases, apostilled.
| Aspect | Online Portal | Traditional Manual Process |
|---|---|---|
| Filing method | Digital submission | Physical submission |
| Processing time | 5–10 working days | 2–4 weeks |
| Transparency | Status tracking available | No tracking |
| Foreign founder involvement | Remote | In-person often required |
| Error handling | Automated rejection | Manual back-and-forth |
Insight:
The portal reduces time, but increases the importance of document accuracy.
Foreign companies often underestimate Nepal’s procedural detail.
Avoid these errors:
Uploading unsigned or scanned draft documents
Mismatch between parent company name and resolution
Using restricted sector names without approval
Incorrect share capital declaration
A single error can delay incorporation by weeks.
Company registration is only the first milestone.
After portal approval, you must complete:
PAN registration with Inland Revenue
Local ward office registration
Bank account opening
FDI approval and capital injection
Social Security Fund registration
Failure to complete these steps exposes directors to penalties.
For foreign companies, the portal should be viewed as part of a broader market-entry roadmap.
Typical progression:
Employer of Record or market testing
FDI approval
Company registration via online portal
Operational licensing
Scaling workforce and capital
Used strategically, the portal accelerates compliant market entry.
Short answer: no.
The portal handles registration, not approval. Foreign investors still require:
Department of Industry or Investment Board approval
Nepal Rastra Bank clearance
Sector-specific licenses
Think of the portal as the legal shell, not the entire structure.
Although digital, the system is unforgiving.
Professional support helps with:
Drafting compliant MOA and AOA
Structuring foreign shareholding
Aligning FDI approval with OCR filings
Reducing rejection cycles
For foreign founders, this often saves months.
A realistic timeline looks like this:
Name approval: 1–3 days
Company registration via portal: 5–10 days
PAN and bank setup: 5–7 days
FDI approval and capital injection: 2–4 weeks
Planning ahead avoids idle capital and stalled hiring.
Yes. The online portal for company registration Nepal allows digital filing, but local representation is still required.
No. Foreign directors do not need to be in Nepal for online incorporation.
Typically five to ten working days if documents are accurate.
No. FDI approval is a separate legal process.
Yes, subject to compliance with Nepal Rastra Bank regulations.
The online portal for company registration Nepal is a powerful entry tool for foreign startups. It offers speed, transparency, and legal certainty when used correctly.
However, success depends on understanding the law behind the portal, not just the interface. When combined with proper FDI structuring and post-registration compliance, it enables smooth and scalable entry into Nepal’s growing economy.
Planning to register a company in Nepal as a foreign founder?
Book a consultation with our cross-border compliance team to avoid delays and ensure end-to-end approval.