How to register a company in Nepal is one of the most common questions foreign companies ask when exploring South Asia. Nepal offers competitive labour costs, English-speaking talent, and growing foreign investment incentives.
Yet one critical decision often determines success or frustration.
Should you register your company online or offline?
Both routes are legal. Both are used daily. But the experience, timelines, risks, and outcomes differ sharply for foreign investors. This guide explains online vs offline company registration in Nepal in practical, decision-ready detail.
Foreign businesses are entering Nepal for IT services, BPO, consulting, manufacturing, trading, and regional expansion. Key drivers include:
Strategic location between India and China
Competitive operating costs
Liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) regime
Young, skilled workforce
Company incorporation is governed primarily by the Companies Act, 2006, administered by the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR) under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
Before comparing online vs offline, it helps to understand what “company registration” actually involves.
Most foreign investors choose one of the following:
Private Limited Company (most common)
Branch Office
Liaison Office
Project Office (sector-specific)
This article focuses mainly on private limited company registration, as it is the most scalable structure.
Online registration means submitting incorporation documents digitally through the OCR’s official portal. Physical visits are limited or avoided entirely.
Create an OCR user account
Reserve company name online
Upload Memorandum and Articles of Association
Upload shareholder and director documents
Pay government fees digitally
Receive digital registration certificate
Offline registration involves physical submission of documents at the OCR office, usually through a local representative or consultant.
Manual name reservation at OCR
Physical document drafting and stamping
In-person verification and corrections
Cash or bank-voucher fee payment
Physical collection of certificates
| Criteria | Online Registration | Offline Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Faster if error-free | Slower but flexible |
| Physical presence | Not required | Often required |
| Transparency | High | Medium |
| Error correction | Limited | Easier |
| Foreign investor friendly | Moderate | High |
| Risk of rejection | Higher | Lower |
| Consultant dependency | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Simple cases | Complex FDI cases |
Foreign-owned companies require notarised, apostilled, or embassy-attested documents.
Online portals are less forgiving of formatting or wording mismatches. Offline submissions allow explanations and corrections.
For foreign shareholders, company registration is closely tied to approval from the Department of Industry (DOI) under FITTA 2019.
Offline processes allow better coordination between OCR and DOI.
Official timelines rarely reflect reality.
Online registration can finish in 5–7 working days
Offline registration may take 10–15 working days
Errors can double timelines in both cases
Online registration is suitable if:
Shareholding is simple
Capital structure is straightforward
No special licensing is required
Documents are professionally prepared
Best for:
Foreign startups, IT services firms, holding companies.
Offline registration is recommended if:
Multiple foreign shareholders exist
Share capital is high
Sector requires prior approval
Bank coordination is needed
Best for:
Manufacturing, trading, regulated industries, large investments.
Here are the most frequent errors we see:
Using generic MOA/AOA templates
Ignoring FDI thresholds and sector caps
Registering online without local review
Underestimating tax and payroll compliance
Confusing company registration with business licensing
NPR 1,000–15,000 depending on capital
Same for online and offline
Online support: lower upfront cost
Offline support: higher but safer for FDI
Hidden cost: delays caused by rejections.
Registering the company is only the beginning.
Foreign companies must also complete:
PAN/VAT registration
Bank account opening
FDI capital injection
Social Security Fund (SSF) registration
Labour compliance
These steps often cannot be completed fully online.
Key laws include:
Companies Act, 2006
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 2019
Income Tax Act, 2002
Labour Act, 2017
Understanding how these laws interact is more important than choosing online vs offline.
For foreign companies, the question is not speed.
It is risk management.
In practice:
Simple structures → Online is fine
FDI-heavy or regulated businesses → Offline or hybrid works better
Most successful foreign investors use a hybrid approach:
online filing combined with offline verification and follow-up.
Use online registration if:
You want speed
Your structure is simple
Documents are professionally vetted
Use offline registration if:
You want certainty
Your investment is significant
You need regulatory coordination
Understanding how to register a company in Nepal requires more than knowing where to click.
Online registration offers speed and transparency.
Offline registration offers flexibility and risk control.
For foreign companies, the optimal path is often strategic, not digital.
Planning to register a company in Nepal?
Book a free 30-minute consultation with our compliance specialists to determine whether online, offline, or hybrid registration best fits your investment goals.
Yes, but FDI approval and banking steps usually require offline coordination.
Online is faster for simple cases. Offline is safer for complex foreign ownership.
Yes. Both methods are equally valid under the Companies Act, 2006.
Not always. A local representative can complete both processes.
Document rejection and delays due to minor compliance errors.