If you plan to incorporate a company in Nepal, you can now complete most steps online. The Office of the Company Registrar provides an e-Services portal known as CAMIS. It supports name reservation, application filing, and digital approvals. This guide explains the process in clear, practical steps. You will also learn the FDI route, timelines, fees, and post-incorporation tasks.
How the OCR CAMIS portal works.
Exact steps to register a private or public company online.
The foreign investment (FDI) path for overseas founders.
Fee structure, timelines, and required documents.
Post-incorporation actions, including PAN, VAT, SSF, and governance.
Companies Act, 2063 (2006). It governs incorporation, MOA, AOA, directors, meetings, and filings.
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act (FITTA), 2019. It governs FDI approvals and reporting.
Tax laws and Inland Revenue Department rules. They govern PAN, VAT, and ongoing tax compliance.
Employment and social security framework. Employers register with the Social Security Fund.
These sources set the rules for documents, capital, management, filings, and foreign shareholding.
Choose your path: Domestic or FDI.
FDI only: Seek approval from the Department of Industry or Investment Board Nepal, as applicable.
OCR CAMIS: Create an account, reserve a name, and prepare MOA and AOA.
Submit application: Upload documents and pay the capital-based fee.
Respond to queries: Provide clarifications if requested by examiners.
Receive certificate: Download the digital Certificate of Incorporation.
Post-incorporation: Obtain PAN, consider VAT, open a bank account, and register with SSF.
Sign up on the CAMIS portal. Use a valid email and phone number. Complete your user profile before you start a filing.
Search for possible conflicts. Avoid restricted terms and misleading names. Align the name with your core business objects. Submit the reservation request and track the status online.
Prepare a Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association.
MOA defines objects, capital, and liability.
AOA sets internal rules, meetings, transfers, and director powers.
Use concise objects that match your actual services or products.
Enter registered office details, authorized capital, promoter information, and shareholding. Check spellings and dates. Ensure consistency between the form and the MOA and AOA.
Provide identity documents for promoters and directors. Upload signed MOA and AOA. If foreign shareholders are involved, include passports, any FDI approval letter, and supporting financial documents.
Fees are authorized-capital based. Private and public companies have different scales. The system computes the payable amount automatically during submission.
Examiners can raise queries. Correct documents or provide explanations. Upload revised pages if needed. Keep responses clear and punctual.
The certificate is issued digitally. You can download it from your account. Keep a secure copy with your corporate records.
Domestic investors proceed directly on CAMIS.
Foreign investors follow the FDI route first.
Approving authority: The Department of Industry handles most FDI applications. Investment Board Nepal handles large or strategic projects.
Minimum FDI amount: The general threshold is NPR 20 million. Certain IT and IT-enabled services may follow an automatic route with different minimums.
Sequence: FDI approval, then OCR filing, then post-incorporation tasks.
Application form in CAMIS.
MOA and AOA signed by promoters.
National ID or passport.
Photographs and contact details.
Registered office address proof.
Passport copy and any visa page.
FDI approval letter.
Shareholder or joint venture agreements, if any.
Bank reference or financial statements, when requested.
Board resolutions for appointments and authorizations, if applicable.
Specimen signatures of directors and authorized signatories.
Keep scans clear and legible. Use consistent names and dates across all files.
Government fees depend on authorized capital.
To help with planning, here is an illustrative private company scale. Treat it as a planning guide only.
| Authorized Capital (NPR) | Illustrative OCR Fee (NPR) |
|---|---|
| Up to 100,000 | 1,000 |
| 100,001 – 500,000 | 2,000 |
| 500,001 – 1,000,000 | 4,500 |
| 1,000,001 – 2,500,000 | 9,500 |
| 2,500,001 – 5,000,000 | 16,000 |
| 5,000,001 – 10,000,000 | 23,000 |
| 10,000,001 – 20,000,000 | 30,000 |
| Above 20,000,000 | 43,000 |
Important: Your payable amount appears in the portal during submission. Public companies follow a different scale. Professional support, notary costs, translations, and courier charges are separate.
OCR processing: Clean files often complete in several working days.
FDI approval: Timelines vary by sector, investment size, and completeness.
Post-incorporation: PAN can be quick with correct documentation. VAT depends on activity and thresholds.
Set realistic expectations. Build in time for clarifications and corrections.
Apply for PAN with the tax authority. Register for VAT if your activity or revenue meets current thresholds. Maintain proper books from day one.
Use the incorporation certificate and PAN. For FDI, coordinate inward remittances and reporting as per approval terms.
Enroll as an employer. Register employees and begin monthly contributions. A common contribution split is 11 percent employee and 20 percent employer of basic salary.
Keep a share register, director register, and minutes of meetings. Update on every change. Store records securely.
Hold the AGM within prescribed timelines. File annual returns and, where applicable, audited financial statements. Calendar these dates to avoid penalties.
Private company: Flexible, faster, and suited for most businesses. Transfer of shares is restricted.
Public company: Higher compliance. Can invite the public to subscribe for shares.
Single-shareholder company: Allowed with special rules. Useful for founder-led entities.
Company not distributing profit: Suitable for social purposes and specified objectives.
Your choice affects governance, fundraising, and reporting duties.
Create your account: Use active email and mobile.
Reserve a name: Submit clear names aligned with your objects.
Draft MOA and AOA: Keep objects specific, not overly broad.
Prepare clean scans: Use readable PDFs and consistent naming.
Complete forms: Double-check addresses, dates, and capital amounts.
Upload documents: Include all IDs, signatures, and FDI approvals if any.
Pay fees: Verify the capital band before paying.
Respond quickly: Address examiner remarks within stated timelines.
Download certificate: Save multiple copies in secure storage.
Get PAN and consider VAT: Start tax compliance early.
Open a bank account: Align with initial funding plans.
Register with SSF: Enroll employees and set payroll deductions.
Set a compliance calendar: Track AGMs, returns, and audits.
| Dimension | Domestic Investors | Foreign Investors (FDI Route) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-work | Name reservation and documents | FDI approval, then name reservation and documents |
| Minimum capital | No statutory minimum for private companies | General minimum NPR 20 million; IT exceptions may apply |
| Primary authority | OCR for registration | DoI or IBN for FDI, then OCR |
| Portal | CAMIS e-Services | FDI process first, then CAMIS e-Services |
| Fees | Capital-based OCR fee | Same OCR fee; plus FDI process costs |
| Timeframe | Several working days for clean files | FDI timeline plus OCR timeline |
| Post-incorporation | PAN, VAT, SSF, banking | Same, plus FDI reporting and banking flows |
Objects do not match activities. Align MOA with actual operations.
Wrong capital band selected. Check the fee table and portal calculation.
Skipping FDI approval. Secure approval before OCR filing if any foreign capital is involved.
Late PAN or SSF registration. Start these processes immediately after incorporation.
Weak document quality. Use clean scans, correct spellings, and consistent dates.
1) Can a single person incorporate a private company?
Yes. The law allows a single-shareholder private company with special provisions. Governance is simpler, yet core compliance still applies.
2) Do I need FDI approval before OCR filing?
Yes, if any investor or capital is foreign. Obtain approval from the Department of Industry or Investment Board Nepal first. Then file on CAMIS.
3) How long does the online process take?
Simple files can finish in several working days. Complex structures, sector permits, or FDI steps can extend timelines.
4) What are the government fees?
Fees are capital-based. The portal calculates the final payable amount during submission. Public companies follow a different scale.
5) What should I do after incorporation?
Obtain PAN. Consider VAT registration. Open a bank account. Register with SSF. Maintain statutory registers and file annual returns on time.
Author: Corporate Advisory Team, Digital Consulting Ventures (DCV).
Credentials: Company law practitioners focused on Nepal market entry, corporate governance, and tax compliance.
Reviewer: SEO Director, DCV.
Evidence base: Companies Act 2063, FITTA 2019, current OCR CAMIS practices, prevailing PAN and VAT rules, and employer social security requirements.
Want a done-for-you incorporation?
Send your proposed name, capital, promoters, business objects, and preferred start date. We will confirm eligibility, prepare MOA and AOA, manage FDI if required, file on CAMIS, and complete PAN, VAT, banking, and SSF setup.