If you are a foreign investor planning market entry, understanding the online portal for company registration Nepal is critical. While Nepal has digitised company incorporation, timelines still depend on document accuracy, approvals, and regulatory coordination. This guide explains each stage of the online process, realistic approval timelines, and where delays typically occur, so you can plan investment, staffing, and capital deployment with confidence.
This article is written for overseas founders, CFOs, and legal teams who want certainty, not assumptions.
The online portal for company registration Nepal is operated by the Office of Company Registrar (OCR). It allows promoters to digitally reserve company names, submit incorporation documents, and receive certificates without physical presence.
The system was introduced under Nepal’s digital governance reforms and operates in accordance with the Companies Act Nepal.
Foreign companies use the same portal as local promoters, but with additional scrutiny and approvals.
Unlike local incorporations, foreign-owned entities often run parallel timelines:
• Company registration
• Foreign Direct Investment approval
• Bank account opening
• Tax and labour registrations
A delay at the OCR stage can cascade into weeks of operational delay. Knowing the actual timeline helps you sequence FDI approval, capital remittance, and hiring.
Name reservation is the first mandatory step on the portal.
Key points:
• Names are reviewed manually
• Sector-restricted words trigger additional review
• Foreign brand names require justification
Typical timeline:
1 to 3 working days
Common delays:
• Similarity with existing companies
• Use of regulated terms like “bank,” “insurance,” or “investment”
Once the name is approved, promoters upload incorporation documents directly into the portal.
Documents include:
• Memorandum of Association
• Articles of Association
• Promoter identification
• Shareholding structure
For foreign companies, notarised and apostilled documents are often required.
Typical timeline:
Same day submission once documents are ready
This is the most critical phase.
OCR officers verify:
• Object clauses alignment with law
• Share capital compliance
• Promoter eligibility
Foreign ownership structures are reviewed more carefully.
Typical timeline:
7 to 10 working days
Can extend if clarifications are requested
If OCR raises observations, promoters must respond through the portal.
Examples of queries:
• Object clause too broad
• Capital mismatch
• Document formatting issues
Response timeline:
Depends on promoter readiness
Usually 1 to 5 working days
Once approved, the Certificate of Incorporation is issued digitally.
This certificate confirms:
• Legal existence of the company
• Registration number
• Date of incorporation
At this stage, the company legally exists in Nepal.
| Stage | Activity | Average Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Name reservation | 1–3 days |
| 2 | Document submission | 1 day |
| 3 | OCR review | 7–10 days |
| 4 | Query resolution | 1–5 days |
| 5 | Certificate issuance | Immediate after approval |
| Total | End-to-end timeline | 10–20 working days |
This timeline assumes accurate documentation and no regulatory red flags.
Foreign companies often face longer timelines due to:
• Enhanced KYC review
• Cross-border document verification
• Alignment with FDI regulations
OCR coordinates informally with investment authorities, even when FDI approval is technically separate.
| Aspect | OCR Registration | FDI Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Office of Company Registrar | Investment Board / DOI |
| Portal-based | Yes | Partial |
| Average time | 10–20 days | 15–30 days |
| Can run parallel | Yes | Yes |
| Capital required | Declared | Remitted later |
Strategic investors often initiate both processes in parallel.
• Incorrect object clauses
• Apostille errors
• Share capital inconsistencies
• Poor document scans
• Use OCR-tested object wording
• Pre-review documents before upload
• Align capital structure with FDI plan
• Respond to OCR queries within 24 hours
Registration is not the end.
Immediately after OCR approval, companies must complete:
• Tax registration (PAN)
• Bank account opening
• Social Security Fund registration
• Local ward registration
Delays here can prevent operations, hiring, and invoicing.
The OCR process is governed by:
• Companies Act Nepal
• Company Registration Regulation
• Digital Filing Directives issued by OCR
These laws empower OCR to request clarifications and reject non-compliant filings.
Yes, but it is not fully automated.
While submission is digital, approvals remain human-reviewed. This makes professional preparation more important than speed.
Foreign companies that treat the portal as “plug-and-play” often face unnecessary delays.
You should consider expert assistance if:
• You are incorporating from abroad
• Your shareholding includes foreign nationals
• You plan FDI, not just registration
• You need predictable timelines
Professional structuring reduces both approval time and long-term compliance risk.
The online portal for company registration Nepal has made incorporation more accessible for foreign investors, but timelines still depend on preparation, compliance, and regulatory coordination. With the right approach, most foreign companies can complete OCR registration within 10 to 20 working days.
If you plan your documents, capital structure, and approvals strategically, Nepal can be a fast and cost-efficient market to enter.
Most foreign-owned companies are registered within 10 to 20 working days if documents are accurate and queries are addressed promptly.
Yes. All company registrations must be filed through the online portal operated by the Office of Company Registrar.
Yes. Foreign promoters can complete registration remotely with notarised and apostilled documents.
No. OCR registration and FDI approval are separate processes and must both be completed.
You can amend and resubmit documents through the portal. Rejection usually relates to compliance issues, not eligibility.
If you want predictable timelines, compliant structuring, and end-to-end support, book a consultation with our Nepal market-entry specialists today. We handle OCR registration, FDI approval, and post-incorporation compliance under one roof.