Document Notary Process in Nepal

24 Mar

Table of Contents

What Is Document Notarization in Nepal?

Document notarization in Nepal is the legal process of authenticating and certifying documents by a state-authorized Notary Public to ensure their validity and credibility for legal, official, and international purposes. Governed by the Notary Public Act, 2063 (2007) and Notary Public Rules, 2064 (2008), notarization provides prima facie evidence of document authenticity and is essential for court admissibility, property transactions, international use, and business agreements .

The Nepal Notary Public Council, established under Section 3 of the Act, oversees notary appointments, regulates professional conduct, and maintains standards across the country .

Legal Framework for Notarization in Nepal

Legislation	Purpose	Key Provisions
Notary Public Act, 2063 (2007)	Primary governing law	Defines notary qualifications, duties, certification procedures
Notary Public Rules, 2064 (2008)	Procedural implementation	Document certification procedures, fee structures, record-keeping
Evidence Act, 2031 (1974)	Court admissibility	Notarized documents as evidence
Contract Act, 2056 (2000)	Commercial validity	Notarized contracts enforceability
Civil Code, 2074 (2017)	General legal framework	Property transactions, family matters

Who Can Act as Notary Public in Nepal?

Authorized Notaries:

Category	Qualifications	Scope
Licensed Notary Publics	Law degree + 7 years practice + Council exam	Full notarial powers
Government Attorneys	Serving in constitutional bodies/government offices	Official duties only
Legal Officers	Government/constitutional body legal staff	Official duties only
Judges	All court levels	Judicial duties extension
Gazetted Officers	Class II judicial service retirees	Limited scope

Disqualifications:

Non-Nepali citizens
Persons with criminal convictions (murder, theft, fraud, corruption, drug offenses)
Insolvent persons
Persons of unsound mind
Those failing notary examination

Step-by-Step Notarization Process in Nepal

Phase 1: Document Preparation

Step	Action	Details
1	Complete document content	Fill all blanks or cross out to prevent alterations
2	Gather supporting documents	ID proofs, relationship verification, authority letters
3	Prepare two copies	One original for notary, one for your records

Phase 2: Notary Appointment

Step	Action	Details
4	Locate authorized notary	Law firms, courts, government offices, Nepal Bar Council
5	Schedule appointment	Walk-in or pre-booked; online services available
6	Bring required documents	See checklist below

Phase 3: Notarization Execution

Step	Action	Details
7	Identity verification	Notary examines citizenship/passport/embassy-certified ID
8	Witness verification	Witnesses present and identified (if required)
9	Oath/affirmation	For affidavits and sworn statements
10	Document signing	Sign in notary's presence
11	Notary certification	Seal, signature, date, certificate applied
12	Record entry	Notary registers in official book (Section 12, Act 2063)

Total Timeline: Typically less than one day for straightforward documents

Required Documents for Notarization

For Nepali Citizens:

Document	Specification
Citizenship certificate copy	Primary ID proof
OR Valid Passport	Alternative ID
OR Photo ID card with signature, address, age, name	If citizenship unavailable
OR VDC/Municipal ward certification	Letter with photo and details
Relationship verification paper	If applicable (family matters)
Power of Attorney/Authority letter	If acting as agent
Two copies of document to be notarized	Original + copy

For Foreigners:

Document	Specification
Certified identity document	From relevant embassy in Nepal
Valid passport	With Nepal visa/entry stamp
Proof of Nepal stay	Hotel registration, rental agreement
Document translation	If document not in English/Nepali

Documents Commonly Requiring Notarization

Category	Specific Documents	Purpose
Legal/Property	Property deeds, sale agreements, lease deeds, mortgage documents	Court admissibility, registration
Family Matters	Marriage certificates, divorce papers, adoption documents, affidavits	International recognition, legal proceedings
Business/Commercial	Contracts, MOUs, partnership deeds, company resolutions	Enforceability, bank transactions
Financial	Loan agreements, guarantee deeds, promissory notes	Banking, debt recovery
Personal	Affidavits, sworn statements, declarations	Court proceedings, immigration
Academic/Professional	Degree certificates, transcripts, experience certificates	Foreign employment, study abroad
Power of Attorney	General POA, Special POA, Property POA, Business POA	Representation authority
International Use	Documents for embassy submission, visa applications, foreign courts	Apostille, attestation prerequisite

Notarization Fees in Nepal

Standard Fee Structure:

Service	Fee Range (NPR)	Notes
Basic notarization	500-3,000 per document	Standard documents
Affidavits	1,000-2,000	Sworn statements
Power of Attorney	1,500-5,000	Complexity-based
Property documents	2,000-5,000	Title verification included
Business contracts	2,000-10,000	Value-dependent
Academic certificates	500-2,000	For international use
Translation + Notarization	1,000-5,000	Per document
Urgent/Same-day service	2x-3x standard fee	Premium processing
Apostille/Legalization	5,000-15,000 additional	International authentication

Embassy/Consular Notarization (for Foreign Documents):

Service	Fee
U.S. Embassy Kathmandu notary	$50 per signature
Nepal Consulate (Dallas) attestation	$50
Nepal Embassy (Washington DC) attestation	$50

Online and Remote Notarization Services

Current Status:

Nepal does not have comprehensive e-notary laws, but digital services are evolving :

Service Type	Availability	Process
Document submission online	Available	Email, WhatsApp, Viber submission
Scanned copy notarization	Limited	Some providers offer; legal validity varies
Video-call witnessing	Emerging	COVID-era adaptations; check current status
Full online notarization	Not legally recognized	Physical presence generally required

Online Service Providers:

Provider	Services	Contact
Notary Kathmandu	Online submission, in-person completion	info@notarykathmandu.com
Online Notary Nepal	Remote assistance, document preparation	onlinenotarynepal.com
Notary Nepal	12-hour online notarization	WhatsApp/Viber
Translation Nepal	Notary + translation + apostille	info@translationnepal.com

International Document Authentication (Apostille and Legalization)

For Hague Convention Countries:

Step	Action	Authority
1	Notarization by Nepal Notary Public	Authorized notary
2	Apostille from Ministry of Foreign Affairs	MOFA, Kathmandu
3	Use in destination country	No further embassy attestation needed

For Non-Hague Convention Countries:

Step	Action	Authority
1	Notarization by Nepal Notary Public	Authorized notary
2	Attestation from Ministry of Foreign Affairs	MOFA
3	Embassy attestation (destination country)	Respective embassy in Kathmandu
4	Legalization in destination country	Foreign ministry/consulate

Reverse Process (Foreign Documents for Nepal Use):

Step	Action	Example: U.S. Documents
1	Notarization in source country	U.S. notary public
2	State authentication	Secretary of State office
3	Federal authentication (if required)	U.S. Department of State
4	Nepal Embassy/Consulate attestation	Nepal Embassy, Washington DC

Special Notarization Types

Power of Attorney (POA) Notarization:

POA Type	Use Case	Special Requirements
General POA	Broad authority for multiple matters	Detailed scope definition
Special POA	Specific single matter	Limited to particular transaction
Property POA	Real estate transactions	Property description, ownership proof
Business POA	Company representation	Company registration, board resolution
Overseas POA	For use outside Nepal	Apostille/legalization may be required

Affidavit Notarization:

Affidavit Type	Purpose
Personal affidavit	Name change, address verification
Sworn statement	Court proceedings, legal declarations
Immigration affidavit	Visa applications, residency documentation
Property affidavit	Ownership disputes, boundary declarations

Compliance and Record-Keeping

Notary Obligations (Section 12, Act 2063):

Requirement	Details
Register maintenance	Physical book recording all notarizations
Information recorded	Document type, date, signatory identities, fee received
Retention period	Permanent records
Seal usage	Official notary seal on all certified documents
Certificate format	Prescribed by Nepal Notary Public Council

Penalties for Unauthorized Notarization:

Violation	Penalty
Practicing without certificate	Legal prosecution under Act 2063
False certification	Professional misconduct, liability
Record-keeping failures	Council disciplinary action

Finding a Notary Public in Nepal

Primary Locations:

Location	Address/Contact	Services
Notary Kathmandu	Ekta Marg, Ward 29, Anamnagar, Kathmandu	Full notary + translation
Nepal Bar Council	Kathmandu	Notary appointments, examinations
District Courts	All district headquarters	Judicial notary services
Law Firms	Major cities	Private notary services
Government Offices	Constitutional bodies	Official notary powers

Contact Information:

Provider	Phone/WhatsApp	Email
Notary Kathmandu	+977 9841242647	info@notarykathmandu.com
Translation Nepal	+977 9841242647	info@translationnepal.com
Online Notary Nepal	Available on website	onlinenotarynepal.com

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does document notarization take in Nepal?

Typically less than one day for straightforward documents with complete documentation and witnesses present .

What are the fees for notarization in Nepal?

Standard fees range from NPR 500-3,000 per document. Complex documents, property matters, or urgent services cost more (up to NPR 10,000) .

Can foreigners get documents notarized in Nepal?

Yes. Foreigners must provide embassy-certified identity documents and valid passports. The process is similar but may require additional verification .

Is online notarization legally valid in Nepal?

Limited. While document submission can be done online, physical presence is generally required for signing and sealing. Full e-notarization laws are not yet comprehensive .

What documents need notarization for court use in Nepal?

Affidavits, sworn statements, power of attorney, property deeds, and evidentiary documents require notarization for court admissibility .

How do I get a document apostilled in Nepal?

First notarize with a Nepal Notary Public, then submit to Ministry of Foreign Affairs for apostille. For non-Hague countries, additional embassy attestation is required .

Can a judge notarize documents in Nepal?

Yes. Judges at all court levels have notarial powers, though typically exercised within judicial duties .

What is the validity period of notarized documents?

Notarization itself doesn't expire, but some institutions require recent notarization (e.g., within 3-6 months) for certain purposes .

Do I need witnesses for notarization?

Depends on document type. Affidavits, property deeds, and certain legal documents require witnesses; commercial contracts may not .

Can I use a Nepal-notarized document abroad?

Yes, with proper authentication. Hague Convention countries need apostille; others require embassy attestation and legalization .

Why Choose Corporate Np for Notarization Services

Corporate Np provides comprehensive notarization and document authentication services:

Document preparation and review before notarization
Notary appointment scheduling with authorized notaries
Power of attorney drafting and notarization
Translation services (Nepali-English and vice versa)
Apostille and legalization facilitation through MOFA
International document coordination for cross-border use
Corporate notarization for business contracts and resolutions

Our legal team ensures your documents meet all statutory requirements under the Notary Public Act, 2063, and are properly formatted for their intended use—whether domestic legal proceedings, international business, or personal matters. Contact Corporate Np today for efficient, professional notarization services in Nepal.

Important Disclaimer

This content is prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Notary regulations, fee structures, and procedures are subject to amendments by the Nepal Notary Public Council, Nepal Bar Council, and legislative bodies. While online document submission services are available, full legal validity of notarization typically requires physical presence and original signatures. Always verify current requirements with authorized notaries, the Nepal Notary Public Council, or qualified legal counsel before making decisions. The information presented reflects regulations as of March 2026 and may not capture recent policy changes.