Planning to incorporate a company in Nepal? Start with the name.
Name reservation is a quick win. It prevents clashes and delays.
It also aligns your legal drafting and banking work.
This guide explains the law, the workflow, and real-world tips.
You will finish with a compliant name and a faster incorporation plan.
Name reservation is an official pre-clearance by the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR).
The OCR checks for conflicting or improper names.
If your name passes, you can continue with registration.
If it fails, you refine and resubmit.
This step reduces later objections and saves time.
The OCR operates an online company registration portal.
Create an account, then access the Name Check/Reservation function.
You will see a Name Reservation Request Form after login.
The portal confirms submissions by on-screen and email notices.
Think like the reviewer. Your name must not:
Be identical or confusingly similar to a registered company.
Be unlawful, improper, or against public interest or decency.
Suggest or reflect criminal motive or misleading intent.
Match a company deregistered or insolvent within five years.
Mislead stakeholders about your company type or scope.
These rules flow from the Companies Act, 2063 (2006), especially Section 6.
The OCR must notify you with reasons if it refuses registration.
Keep your shortlist designed to pass these tests.
Suffixes matter.
Private companies use “Private Limited.”
Public companies use “Limited.”
Use the correct suffix in both the English and the Nepali versions.
Inconsistent suffixes trigger queries and corrections.
Follow these ten steps. Keep each step short and clear.
Create your OCR account. Enter personal and contact details.
Log in and open Name Check/Reservation.
Enter your proposed name in English and Nepali.
Search for near matches using the portal search box.
Describe your business objectives clearly and concisely.
Add industry codes if the form requests them.
Submit the request and save the confirmation.
Track email updates for approval or queries.
Refine and resubmit quickly if you receive objections.
Proceed to incorporation once approved.
Keep screenshots of each stage for your compliance file.
They help when multiple stakeholders are involved.
OCR processing varies with workload and clarity.
Straightforward checks are often reviewed within a few days.
Your approval email shows the validity period of the reservation.
Many applicants plan to file incorporation within two weeks.
Do not wait for the final day. Build buffer into your plan.
Name reservation is requested through the OCR portal.
Government communication has indicated online submission with minimal friction.
Expect modest administrative costs for drafting and checks.
Your portal screen and approval notice govern actual fees.
Your advisory and legal effort is the larger cost driver.
Do these on the same day. They remove most future blockers.
| Check | What it covers | Who manages | When to run | Risk mitigated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCR availability | Conflicts with registered companies | Internal team or advisor | Before drafting MOA/AOA | Refusal for similarity |
| Trademark scan | Conflicts with registered or well-known marks | IP counsel | Same day as OCR search | Brand disputes later |
| Domain check | Exact match and close variants | Your tech team | Same day as OCR search | SEO loss and confusion |
Tip: If a near match exists, adjust spelling, order, or add a distinctive modifier.
A strong name is distinctive, pronounceable, and lawful.
Short words create recall. Unique modifiers create distance.
Avoid generic terms alone. Combine with a specific element.
Check transliteration rules for the Nepali version.
Avoid look-alike variants that confuse search results.
Test how the name sounds on calls.
Clarity beats cleverness when regulators review.
Clones or near-clones of existing companies.
Terms implying regulated activity without a license.
Names implying government affiliation or endorsement.
Obscene or improper expressions.
Suffixes that do not match your company type.
Names identical to those of recently deregistered or insolvent entities.
Foreign investors operate under FITTA 2019 and related regulations.
Your name and objectives should reflect the planned industry.
The Department of Industry will check scope for FDI approvals.
Align your objectives with the industry permission you will seek.
Avoid broad “catch-all” objects that trigger clarification requests.
Shortlist three to five compliant names with suffixes.
Translate each into Nepali with consistent spelling.
Run the OCR portal near-match search for each.
Ask IP counsel for a quick trademark scan.
Check domains and key social handles.
Choose the cleanest candidate.
Draft clear objectives in simple language.
Complete the Name Reservation Request form.
Submit and save confirmation files.
Calendar the reservation deadline and internal milestones.
Keep objectives plain, specific, and lawful.
Use the correct “Private Limited” or “Limited” suffix.
Avoid brand look-alikes or sound-alikes.
Reply to OCR queries the same day.
File full incorporation well before expiry.
Maintain a central folder for all evidence and drafts.
Once approved, the name appears in the registration form.
You cannot change it inside that form.
Prepare your MOA and AOA aligned with the approved name.
Upload documents in the portal as required.
Bring originals for final verification if requested.
Track your inbox for final outcomes and certificate issuance.
Companies Act, 2063 (2006) — section on refusal grounds and notification.
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 2019 (FITTA 2019) — FDI framework.
Industrial Enterprises Act, 2020 — industry classification and licensing context.
OCR portal user guidance — name search, reservation, and notifications.
Practitioner playbooks — common timing and drafting conventions.
1) How long does OCR name reservation take?
Straightforward cases often complete within a few working days.
Your actual timing depends on workload and the clarity of your submission.
The portal and email notices always control.
2) Do I need both English and Nepali versions?
Yes. Provide both versions with the same suffix and meaning.
Ensure consistent spelling and intent.
Inconsistency creates avoidable queries.
3) Is there a fee for name reservation?
Expect minimal portal costs.
Your approval notice and portal screen govern any fees payable.
Professional review may add advisory costs.
4) Does name reservation guarantee incorporation?
No. It removes one major risk but not all.
Your documents, objects, and compliance still matter.
The OCR reviews the full application separately.
5) Can two companies use similar names?
Not if similarity could mislead or confuse.
Design your name to be distinctive.
Use a strong modifier to create distance.
Want a same-day pre-check and a compliant short-list?
DCV will:
Run OCR near-match searches.
Flag legal risks under the Companies Act.
Align objectives and suffixes.
Prepare your Name Reservation Request.
Send us three candidate names and your business scope to begin.