Company incorporation Nepal is often perceived as slow or unpredictable by foreign investors.
In reality, timelines are quite structured if you understand the legal process and prepare correctly.
For most foreign companies, incorporation in Nepal takes 2 to 6 weeks, depending on ownership structure, approvals, and document readiness.
This guide explains the exact timeline, step by step, so you know what to expect and how to avoid delays.
Whether you are planning a private limited company, a wholly foreign-owned subsidiary, or an FDI-backed operation, this article gives you the most authoritative and up-to-date timeline available.
Before diving deeper, here is a high-level view.
Local shareholder company: 7–14 working days
Foreign-owned company (FDI): 3–6 weeks
Branch or liaison office: 4–8 weeks
The difference lies mainly in foreign investment approvals, not the company registry itself.
The company incorporation Nepal timeline depends on five key factors.
Companies with foreign shareholders require approvals under the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act (FITTA) 2019.
This adds additional steps compared to local companies.
Certain industries require sectoral approvals or fall under restricted or regulated categories.
Examples include:
Financial services
Hydropower
Education
Healthcare
Media
Larger investments may trigger additional scrutiny by:
Department of Industry (DOI)
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
Delays usually happen due to:
Inconsistent names
Missing notarisation or apostille
Poorly drafted constitutional documents
Experienced advisors can run several steps in parallel, cutting weeks off the timeline.
This section breaks down the actual timeline foreign companies experience, not just the legal theory.
The process begins with name approval at the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR).
Key points:
Names must be unique
Certain words require justification or approval
English names are allowed
Timeline:
1 to 2 working days
This step happens mostly outside Nepal.
Documents typically include:
Passport copies of shareholders and directors
Board resolutions
Memorandum of Association (MOA)
Articles of Association (AOA)
Power of Attorney
Foreign documents must usually be:
Notarised
Apostilled or consularised
Timeline:
3 to 5 working days
This can run parallel with name reservation.
This is the most time-sensitive stage for foreign companies.
Applications are submitted to:
Department of Industry (DOI) or
Investment Board Nepal (IBN) for large projects
Approval is issued under FITTA 2019.
Timeline:
7 to 15 working days
Simple service companies often get approval faster.
Once FDI approval is granted, the company is formally incorporated.
OCR issues:
Certificate of Incorporation
Company Registration Number
Timeline:
2 to 3 working days
After incorporation, the company must register with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).
PAN is mandatory
VAT is required if turnover exceeds NPR 5 million
Timeline:
1 to 2 working days
Foreign shareholders must inject capital through:
A Nepali commercial bank
Approved foreign currency channels
This step also triggers NRB reporting.
Timeline:
5 to 10 working days
These steps do not block incorporation but affect operations.
They include:
Local municipality registration
Social Security Fund (SSF) enrolment
Industry-specific licenses
| Stage | Local Company | Foreign-Owned Company |
|---|---|---|
| Name Reservation | 1–2 days | 1–2 days |
| Document Preparation | 2–3 days | 3–5 days |
| FDI Approval | Not required | 7–15 days |
| OCR Registration | 2–3 days | 2–3 days |
| Tax Registration | 1–2 days | 1–2 days |
| Bank & Capital Injection | 3–5 days | 5–10 days |
| Total Time | 7–14 days | 3–6 weeks |
This table reflects real-world timelines, not just statutory limits.
Incorrect shareholder details
Poorly drafted MOA or AOA
Apostille issues from foreign jurisdictions
Incomplete FDI applications
Banking compliance questions
Pre-clear company names
Use regulator-aligned document templates
Run FDI approval and document prep in parallel
Coordinate directly with OCR and DOI
There is no official fast-track lane, but practical acceleration is possible.
Incorporation can be completed faster if:
Business falls under services or IT
Shareholding is simple
Capital is modest
Documents are clean and consistent
With proper structuring, foreign companies sometimes incorporate within 20–25 days.
The process is governed by:
Companies Act, 2006
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 2019
Industrial Enterprises Act, 2020
Nepal Rastra Bank Foreign Exchange Directives
Inland Revenue Act, 2002
These laws clearly define approval windows and authority responsibilities.
Compared to other South Asian jurisdictions:
Nepal has centralised digital filing
OCR approvals are relatively fast
No minimum paid-up capital for many sectors
English documentation is accepted
The real bottleneck is lack of guidance, not bureaucracy.
For foreign-owned companies, the process usually takes 3 to 6 weeks, depending on FDI approval speed and document readiness.
Yes. Any foreign ownership requires approval under FITTA 2019 before company registration.
No. You must receive the Certificate of Incorporation and PAN before conducting business activities.
It does not delay registration but affects capital injection and operational readiness.
Yes. Branch and liaison offices typically take 4 to 8 weeks due to additional approvals.
Company incorporation Nepal is not slow when done correctly.
With the right structure and guidance, foreign companies can establish a legal presence within weeks.
Understanding the timeline helps you:
Budget accurately
Plan market entry
Avoid compliance risks
Start operations confidently
Planning to incorporate a company in Nepal?
Speak with a Nepal incorporation specialist to receive a personalised timeline, compliance checklist, and cost breakdown tailored to your business.