The online portal for company registration Nepal has transformed how foreign companies establish a legal presence in the country. Instead of paper-heavy filings and repeated in-person visits, Nepal now allows directors, shareholders, and authorized representatives abroad to initiate and complete company registration digitally through the Office of Company Registrar (OCR).
For international founders, investors, and expansion teams, understanding how the OCR portal works is critical. A single mistake in account setup can delay registration, foreign investment approvals, or bank account opening.
This guide explains exactly how foreign companies should set up and use the OCR portal, step by step, with practical insights from real registrations. It is written for non-residents, NRNs, and overseas directors who want clarity, compliance, and speed.
The Office of Company Registrar is the statutory authority responsible for incorporating and regulating companies in Nepal under the Companies Act.
The OCR’s online system is the only official online portal for company registration Nepal. All applications, name reservations, incorporation documents, and post-registration filings pass through this portal.
It enables remote registration from abroad
It creates a permanent digital compliance record
It links company data with tax, FDI, and banking processes
It reduces processing time when documents are accurate
If you plan to invest, hire, or invoice in Nepal, this portal is unavoidable.
Foreign entities often ask whether the OCR system is only for Nepali nationals. The answer is no.
Foreign individual shareholders
Foreign corporate shareholders
Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs)
Authorized local representatives
Law firms and incorporation consultants acting under power of attorney
However, foreign users must select the correct account type during setup. This is where many delays occur.
Before creating an account, you must understand the user categories.
Individual User – For personal filings or single-director companies
Company User – For existing Nepali companies filing compliance
Authorized Person – For representatives filing on behalf of foreign entities
For most foreign founders, the Authorized Person account is the correct choice.
This section walks you through the exact steps to create an OCR account as a foreign company or director.
Visit the official OCR online system and select User Registration.
Always confirm the site uses the official government domain before proceeding.
Select Authorized Person if:
You are a foreign director
You are a foreign shareholder
You are appointing a local consultant
Selecting the wrong category often forces you to restart the process.
You will be asked to enter:
Full legal name (exact passport spelling)
Nationality
Passport number
Email address and phone number
Consistency is critical. The same spelling must appear across all documents.
Foreign users must upload:
Passport bio page
Recent passport-size photograph
Authorization letter or power of attorney
All files must be clear, legible, and within size limits.
The system sends a one-time password to your email.
This email becomes your official OCR communication address, so use a monitored inbox.
OCR officers manually review foreign accounts.
Typical approval time ranges from 1 to 3 working days, depending on document quality.
Once approved, you can proceed with name reservation and incorporation.
Once logged in, the online portal for company registration Nepal allows you to complete all incorporation stages.
Company name reservation
Memorandum and Articles submission
Director and shareholder details
Capital structure declaration
Certificate download
Each submission creates a timestamped compliance record.
Name reservation is the first formal step in company registration.
The name must not conflict with existing entities
Certain words require prior approval
Regulated terms may need additional licenses
The portal usually returns feedback within 24 to 72 hours.
Foreign companies often underestimate documentation requirements.
Memorandum of Association
Articles of Association
Passport copies of directors and shareholders
Board resolution (foreign corporate shareholder)
Power of attorney
These must align with the Companies Act, 2006 and OCR formatting rules.
| Aspect | OCR Online Portal | Traditional Manual Process |
|---|---|---|
| Physical presence | Not required | Required |
| Processing speed | Faster when correct | Slower |
| Transparency | Digital tracking | Limited |
| Foreign usability | High | Low |
| Error correction | Online resubmission | Full re-filing |
For foreign companies, the online portal is significantly more efficient when used correctly.
Avoiding these errors saves weeks.
Passport name mismatch
Uploading expired passports
Incorrect user category selection
Missing authorization documents
Using inconsistent email addresses
Most rejections stem from data inconsistency, not legal complexity.
The online portal for company registration Nepal operates under several laws.
Companies Act, 2006
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 2019
Office of Company Registrar directives
These laws recognize electronic filings and digital records as legally valid.
Google and regulators value expertise, authority, and trust.
Accurate OCR filings affect:
Foreign investment approvals
Bank account opening
Tax registration
Future repatriation
A clean OCR record strengthens long-term compliance.
Yes. All new company registrations must be filed through the OCR portal. Manual filings are no longer accepted for incorporation.
Yes. Foreign directors can complete OCR registration remotely using authorized representatives and digital filings.
Account approval usually takes 1 to 3 working days. Company registration may take 5 to 10 working days if documents are correct.
Yes, in permitted sectors under FITTA 2019, subject to foreign investment approval and sectoral caps.
Yes. OCR data is later used for PAN registration and other statutory compliance processes.
The online portal for company registration Nepal is a powerful system when used correctly. For foreign companies, success depends on choosing the right account type, preparing compliant documents, and ensuring consistency across filings.
Handled well, the OCR portal allows you to establish a legally compliant Nepali entity without unnecessary delays. Handled poorly, it can stall your market entry for months.
Expert guidance often makes the difference.
Planning to register a company in Nepal from abroad?
Book a consultation with our foreign investment and company registration specialists to ensure your OCR portal setup, incorporation, and compliance are done right the first time.