Register a Company in Nepal

02 Dec

Table of Contents

Updated on: March 28, 2026

Reading time: 18 minutes

Are you looking for information about company registration in Nepal? Nepal's business environment has been transformed by digital innovation, making company incorporation faster, more transparent, and accessible than ever before. This comprehensive guide explains the complete registration process using the modernized CAMIS (Company Administration Management Information System) online portal.

The company registration in Nepal is governed by the Companies Act 2063 (2006) and overseen by the Office of Company Registrar (OCR). With the full implementation of CAMIS, entrepreneurs can now complete most registration procedures online, reducing processing time from weeks to days .

What is Company Registration in Nepal?

Company registration in Nepal is the legal process of establishing a business entity as a separate legal person under the Companies Act 2063 (2006). Once registered, a company can own property, enter contracts, sue or be sued, and conduct business in its own name—distinct from its shareholders and directors .

Benefit	Description
Legal Identity	Separate legal personality from owners
Limited Liability	Shareholders' liability limited to investment
Perpetual Succession	Company continues despite ownership changes
Property Ownership	Can own assets in company name
Contractual Capacity	Enter binding agreements
Credibility	Enhanced trust with customers and investors

The company registration in Nepal is mandatory for any entity intending to operate as a private limited company, public limited company, or other corporate structure recognized under Nepalese law .

Types of Companies in Nepal

The company registration in Nepal encompasses several business structures :

Company Type	Key Features	Best For
Private Limited Company	1-101 shareholders, restricts share transfer	Small to medium enterprises, family businesses
Public Limited Company	7+ shareholders, can offer shares to public	Large businesses, IPO-bound companies
Profit Not Distributing Company	Non-profit objectives, no dividend distribution	NGOs, professional associations
Single Shareholder Company	One-person ownership	Solo entrepreneurs
Foreign Company Branch	Extension of foreign parent company	International businesses entering Nepal
Foreign Company Liaison	Representative office, no commercial activity	Market research, coordination

Key Differences: Private vs. Public Company

Aspect	Private Limited	Public Limited
Minimum Shareholders	1	7
Maximum Shareholders	101	Unlimited
Minimum Capital	NPR 100,000	NPR 1 crore (NPR 10 million)
Share Transfer	Restricted	Freely transferable
Public Offering	Prohibited	Permitted
Stock Exchange Listing	Cannot be listed	Can be listed

Legal Framework for Company Registration in Nepal

The company registration in Nepal operates under comprehensive legislation :

Legal Instrument	Key Provisions
Companies Act 2063 (2006)	Primary legislation governing company formation, governance, and dissolution
Companies Regulations 2064 (2007)	Detailed procedural rules and fee structures
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2019	Foreign investment procedures and approvals
Industrial Enterprises Act 2076 (2020)	Industry-specific incentives and regulations
Public Private Partnership and Investment Act 2019	Infrastructure investment framework

CAMIS: The Digital Registration Platform

The Company Administration Management Information System (CAMIS) has revolutionized company registration in Nepal :

Feature	Benefit
24/7 Online Access	Register anytime, from anywhere
End-to-End Digital Service	Complete process online without physical visits
Real-Time Tracking	Monitor application status instantly
Faster Processing	Reduced from weeks to days
Automated Workflows	Minimized human error
Secure Document Storage	Digital record maintenance

Portal Access: camis.ocr.gov.np

Step-by-Step Company Registration Process in Nepal

Company registration process in Nepal

Phase 1: Pre-Registration Preparation (1-3 days)

Step	Activity	Details
1	Choose Company Type	Determine private, public, or non-profit structure
2	Decide Company Name	Prepare 3 name options (English and Nepali)
3	Determine Capital	Set authorized and paid-up capital
4	Identify Shareholders	Minimum 1 for private, 7 for public
5	Prepare Documents	Gather citizenship/passport, address proof

Phase 2: Name Reservation via CAMIS (1-2 days)

Step	Activity	Details
1	Create CAMIS Account	Register at camis.ocr.gov.np with email and mobile
2	Verify Account	Complete OTP verification
3	Search Name Availability	Check proposed names against OCR database
4	Submit Reservation	Apply with business activity details
5	Pay Fee	NPR 100-500 for name reservation
6	Receive Certificate	Name Reservation Certificate valid for 90 days

Name Rules:

Must not be identical or similar to existing companies
Must comply with OCR naming guidelines
Submit 2-3 alternatives to improve approval chances

Phase 3: Document Preparation (2-5 days)

Memorandum of Association (MOA)

Content	Description
Company Name	Proposed company name
Registered Office	Physical address in Nepal
Objectives	Business activities and purposes
Capital Structure	Authorized and issued capital
Liability Clause	Limited liability statement
Shareholder Details	Names, addresses, shareholdings

Articles of Association (AOA)

Content	Description
Governance Rules	Director appointment and removal
Meeting Procedures	Board and general meeting conduct
Voting Rights	Shareholder voting procedures
Dividend Policy	Profit distribution rules
Share Transfer	Transfer restrictions (for private companies)
Winding Up	Dissolution procedures

Phase 4: Online Application via CAMIS (3-7 days)

Step	Activity	Details
1	Login to CAMIS	Access company registration module
2	Fill Application	Enter company, capital, promoter, director details
3	Upload Documents	Scan and upload MOA, AOA, ID proofs, photos
4	Director Consent	Upload signed consent letters
5	Pay Registration Fee	Online payment via bank, mobile app, or digital wallet
6	Submit Application	Final submission to OCR

Required Documents for Upload :

Name Reservation Certificate
Memorandum of Association (signed by all shareholders)
Articles of Association (signed by all shareholders)
Citizenship certificates or passports of shareholders/directors
Passport-sized photographs of directors
Proof of registered office address (utility bill, rental agreement)
Power of Attorney (if using representative)
Prior approval from DOI (for foreign investors)

Phase 5: Document Verification and Processing (3-7 days)

Step	Activity	Timeline
1	OCR Review	Examine document completeness and compliance
2	Query Response	Address any OCR queries promptly
3	Physical Verification	Submit original documents if required
4	Preliminary Approval	OCR issues preliminary confirmation

Phase 6: Certificate Issuance (1-2 days)

Step	Activity	Details
1	Final Approval	OCR grants final registration approval
2	Digital Certificate	Download Company Registration Certificate
3	Physical Certificate	Collect physical copy if needed
4	Nepal Gazette Publication	Mandatory publication (NPR 600)

Post-Registration Requirements

Tax Registration (1-3 days)

Registration	Authority	Timeline
PAN Registration	Inland Revenue Department	1 day
VAT Registration	Inland Revenue Department	1 day (if applicable)

PAN Requirements :

Company Registration Certificate
MOA and AOA
Office address proof
Director identification
One director must visit IRD for biometric verification

VAT Threshold :

Mandatory if annual turnover exceeds NPR 5 million
Voluntary registration permitted

Local Registration (1-2 days)

Registration	Authority	Fee Range
Ward Office Registration	Local Ward Office	NPR 5,000 - 15,000/year

Bank Account Opening (2-3 days)

Requirement	Documents Needed
Company Registration Certificate	Original or certified copy
MOA and AOA	Company constitutional documents
PAN Certificate	Tax identification
Board Resolution	Authorization for account opening
Director Identification	Citizenship/passport of signatories

Company Registration Fees in Nepal

Government Fee Structure

Private Limited Company

Authorized Capital	Registration Fee
Up to NPR 1,000,000	0.1% of capital (min NPR 1,000)
NPR 1,000,001 - 10,000,000	0.1% of capital (max NPR 10,000)
NPR 10,000,001 - 100,000,000	0.1% of capital (max NPR 100,000)
Above NPR 100,000,000	Fixed NPR 100,000

Public Limited Company

Authorized Capital	Registration Fee
Up to NPR 10,000,000	0.05% of capital (min NPR 5,000)
NPR 10,000,001 - 100,000,000	0.05% of capital (max NPR 50,000)
Above NPR 100,000,000	Fixed NPR 50,000

Foreign Company

Company Type	Registration Fee
Branch Office	NPR 25,000
Liaison Office	NPR 15,000
With Investment	Based on investment amount (NPR 15,000 - 100,000+)

Complete Cost Breakdown

Fee Category	Amount (NPR)	Remarks
Name Reservation	100 - 500	Valid for 35-90 days
Registration Fee	1,000 - 100,000	Based on capital
Nepal Gazette Publication	600	Mandatory
Newspaper Publication	2,000 - 5,000	National daily
Certificate Issuance	1,000	One-time
Company Seal	500 - 1,500	Quality dependent
Document Verification	500	Per application
Notarization	500/document	Multiple documents
Translation	100/page	If English documents
Professional Services	15,000 - 50,000	Legal/consultancy
Total Estimated	20,000 - 150,000+	Depends on complexity

Timeline for Company Registration in Nepal

Phase	Duration	Cumulative
Name Reservation	1-2 days	1-2 days
Document Preparation	2-5 days	3-7 days
Online Application & Submission	1 day	4-8 days
OCR Processing & Verification	3-7 days	7-15 days
Certificate Issuance	1-2 days	8-17 days
Post-Registration (PAN, VAT, Ward)	3-5 days	11-22 days
Total Typical Timeline	2-4 weeks	Under normal circumstances

Expedited Processing: Available for additional fee, reducing timeline to 5-7 working days .

Foreign Company Registration in Nepal

Foreign Investment Framework

Law	Purpose
FITTA 2019	Foreign investment approval and regulation
FITTR 2021	Implementation rules for FITTA
Companies Act 2063	Company formation requirements
Industrial Enterprises Act 2076	Industry incentives

Foreign Investment Approval Process

Step	Activity	Authority
1	Preliminary Approval	Department of Industry (DOI) or Investment Board Nepal (IBN)
2	Company Registration	Office of Company Registrar
3	Local Registration	Ward Office
4	Tax Registration	Inland Revenue Office
5	Industry Registration	Department of Industry (if applicable)
6	CIB Clearance	Credit Information Bureau
7	Bank Approval	For foreign fund injection
8	NRB Notification	Nepal Rastra Bank

Capital Injection Schedule

Stage	Timeline	Investment Amount
Stage 1	Within 1 year of approval	25% (NPR 20M+), 15% (NPR 20-250M), 10% (NPR 250M-1B)
Stage 2	When operations begin	Up to 70% of total investment
Stage 3	After 2 years of production	Remaining 30%

Foreign Ownership Limits

Sector	Foreign Ownership
Most Industries	Up to 100% permitted
Banking, Telecom, Media	Restricted/capped
Retail Trading	Prohibited

Annual Compliance Requirements

Requirement	Frequency	Deadline
Annual Return Filing	Annual	Within 6 months of fiscal year-end
Audited Financial Statements	Annual	With annual return
AGM Conduct	Annual	Within 6 months of fiscal year-end
Income Tax Return	Annual	As per tax calendar
Quarterly Compliance	Quarterly	To OCR

Frequently Asked Questions About Company Registration in Nepal

What is company registration in Nepal?

Company registration in Nepal is the legal process of incorporating a business entity under the Companies Act 2063 (2006), granting it separate legal personality, limited liability protection, and authorization to conduct business operations .

How long does company registration take in Nepal?

With CAMIS implementation, company registration in Nepal typically takes 7-15 working days for document verification and certificate issuance. The complete process including post-registration (PAN, VAT, ward) takes 2-4 weeks .

What is the minimum capital required for company registration in Nepal?

Private limited companies require minimum NPR 100,000 paid-up capital. Public limited companies require minimum NPR 1 crore (NPR 10 million) authorized capital. There is no minimum for non-profit companies .

Can a single person register a company in Nepal?

Yes, the Companies Act 2063 allows single-shareholder private limited companies. One person can be the sole shareholder and director .

What documents are needed for company registration in Nepal?

Required documents include: application form, Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, citizenship/passport copies of shareholders/directors, passport photos, office address proof, and name reservation certificate .

Can foreigners register a company in Nepal?

Yes, foreigners can register companies in Nepal with up to 100% ownership in most sectors. They must obtain FDI approval from DOI/IBN, register at OCR, and complete post-registration formalities .

What is CAMIS in Nepal company registration?

CAMIS (Company Administration Management Information System) is the OCR's digital portal that enables online company registration, document submission, fee payment, and certificate issuance without physical visits to Kathmandu .

How much does company registration cost in Nepal?

Government fees range from NPR 1,000 (small private company) to NPR 100,000+ (large public company). Total costs including professional services range from NPR 20,000 to NPR 150,000+ depending on complexity .

Is VAT registration mandatory for all companies?

No, VAT registration is mandatory only if annual turnover exceeds NPR 5 million. Voluntary registration is permitted for smaller companies .

What is the difference between MOA and AOA?

The Memorandum of Association (MOA) defines the company's external relationship—name, address, objectives, and capital. The Articles of Association (AOA) governs internal management—director appointments, meetings, voting, and share transfers .

Conclusion

The company registration in Nepal has been transformed by digital innovation through CAMIS, making it faster, more transparent, and accessible to entrepreneurs nationwide and globally. Whether you are a local entrepreneur starting a small business or a foreign investor establishing a subsidiary, understanding the registration process is essential for legal compliance and business success.

Key success factors include:

Choosing the appropriate company type for your business needs
Preparing complete and accurate documentation
Utilizing the CAMIS online portal for efficient processing
Completing post-registration requirements promptly
Maintaining ongoing compliance with annual obligations

For professional assistance with company registration in Nepal, CAMIS navigation, documentation preparation, or compliance management, Corporate Np provides comprehensive legal and consulting services. Our team specializes in corporate law and can guide you through every stage of the registration process.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The Companies Act 2063 and related regulations are subject to amendment. Readers should consult qualified legal professionals and check official government sources (OCR, DOI, IRD) for the most current information. The author and publisher disclaim liability for any actions taken based on this information.

References

Need expert assistance with your company registration? Contact Corporate Np today for professional guidance through the company registration process in Nepal.

How to Register a Company in Nepal