How to register a company in Nepal
The entity types, the step-by-step process at the Office of the Company Registrar, the documents you need, and what it costs — in plain language, with the official sources.
Where
OCR
Office of the Company Registrar
Most common form
Pvt. Ltd.
1–101 shareholders
Then
PAN @ IRD
+ VAT if required
Fee from
≈Rs 1,000
scales with capital
Which entity should you register?
The right structure decides where you register and how you are taxed and governed.
Private Limited Company
प्राइभेट लिमिटेडMost startups & SMEs
The default choice: 1 to 101 shareholders, limited liability, shares not offered to the public. Registered at the OCR.
Registered at: Office of the Company Registrar
Public Limited Company
पब्लिक लिमिटेडLarge firms raising public capital
At least 7 shareholders and a minimum paid-up capital (Rs 10 million unless a sector rule sets more). Can issue shares to the public and list on NEPSE.
Registered at: Office of the Company Registrar
Company Not Distributing Profit
नाफा वितरण नगर्ने कम्पनीNon-profits & associations
A company form for not-for-profit objectives, where profits are reinvested rather than distributed to members.
Registered at: Office of the Company Registrar
Sole Proprietorship / Private Firm
एकलौटी फर्मOne-owner small businesses
The simplest, cheapest form — one owner with unlimited liability. Registered as a private firm, not at the OCR.
Registered at: Dept. of Cottage & Small Industries / Industry, or local ward
Partnership Firm
साझेदारी फर्मTwo or more partners
Two or more partners sharing profit and liability under a partnership deed, registered under the Partnership Act.
Registered at: Dept. of Cottage & Small Industries / Industry
Foreign Company / Branch
विदेशी कम्पनीForeign investors (FDI)
A branch, liaison office or FDI company. Needs prior foreign-investment approval (Dept. of Industry / IBN) before OCR registration.
Registered at: Dept. of Industry / IBN, then OCR
Registering a private limited company, step by step
The common path, from an idea to a company with a PAN and a bank account.
- 1
Reserve the company name
Apply online for name approval through the OCR portal. The name must be unique and not conflict with an existing company or trademark.
Where: ocr.gov.np (online)
- 2
Prepare the constitutional documents
Draft the Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (AoA), and a consensus agreement if there is more than one shareholder, setting out the objectives, capital and rules.
Where: Self / lawyer
- 3
Submit the online application
Upload the approved name, MoA, AoA, and the citizenship/passport and photos of the shareholders and directors through the OCR system.
Where: ocr.gov.np (online)
- 4
Pay the registration fee
Pay the government registration fee, which is set by the company's authorised capital (see the fee table below).
Where: OCR / bank voucher
- 5
Receive the registration certificate
Once the OCR verifies the documents, it issues the Company Registration Certificate with the company registration number.
Where: Office of the Company Registrar
- 6
Register for PAN (and VAT)
Obtain a Permanent Account Number (PAN) for the company at the Inland Revenue Department, and register for VAT if your turnover or business type requires it.
Where: ird.gov.np / IRD office
- 7
Register with the local level & tax office
Complete business registration at the local ward / municipality and the relevant tax office, then open a company bank account.
Where: Local ward / municipality
- 8
Get any sector licences
Apply for industry-, tourism-, food-, health- or finance-specific licences your business needs before operating.
Where: Relevant department
Registration fees
OCR fee for a private company, by authorised capital (indicative).
| Authorised capital | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to Rs 100,000 | Rs 1,000 |
| Rs 100,001 – 500,000 | Rs 4,500 |
| Rs 500,001 – 2,500,000 | Rs 9,500 |
| Rs 2,500,001 – 10,000,000 | Rs 16,000 |
| Rs 10,000,001 – 20,000,000 | Rs 19,000 |
| Rs 20,000,001 – 30,000,000 | Rs 22,000 |
| Rs 30,000,001 – 40,000,000 | Rs 25,000 |
| Rs 40,000,001 – 50,000,000 | Rs 28,000 |
| Rs 50,000,001 – 100,000,000 | Rs 31,000 – 43,000 (rising per slab) |
| Above Rs 100,000,000 | Rs 43,000 + a small charge per additional Rs 100,000 |
Indicative amounts — confirm the current schedule at ocr.gov.np. Excludes document drafting, PAN/VAT and sector licences.
Documents you'll need
For a standard private limited company registration.
- Approved company name
- Memorandum of Association (MoA)
- Articles of Association (AoA)
- Consensus agreement (if more than one shareholder)
- Citizenship certificates (Nepali) or passports (foreign) of shareholders & directors
- Passport-sized photographs of shareholders & directors
- Completed OCR application form
- For foreign investment: prior FDI approval from the Dept. of Industry / IBN
Company registration in Nepal, answered
How do I register a company in Nepal?+
Register a company through the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR): reserve a unique name online, prepare the Memorandum and Articles of Association, submit the online application with shareholder documents, pay the registration fee based on authorised capital, and receive the registration certificate. Then get a PAN at the Inland Revenue Department and complete local-ward and tax registration.
Where are companies registered in Nepal?+
Companies (private limited, public limited and not-for-distribution companies) are registered at the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR) under the Companies Act, 2063. Sole proprietorships and partnership firms are instead registered with the Department of Cottage & Small Industries / Industry or the local ward.
How much does it cost to register a company in Nepal?+
The OCR registration fee scales with the company's authorised capital — indicatively from about Rs 1,000 for capital up to Rs 100,000, rising through slabs to tens of thousands of rupees for larger capital. Confirm the current schedule at ocr.gov.np. Extra costs include drafting documents, PAN/VAT registration and any sector licences.
What documents are needed to register a company in Nepal?+
You need the approved company name, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, a consensus agreement (for multiple shareholders), citizenship certificates or passports and photos of the shareholders and directors, and the OCR application form. Foreign investors also need prior FDI approval.
What is the minimum capital to register a private limited company in Nepal?+
A private limited company has no high statutory minimum capital and is commonly registered with modest authorised capital. A public limited company, by contrast, generally needs at least Rs 10 million in paid-up capital (or more for regulated sectors).
Sources & data note
The process and entity types follow the Companies Act, 2063 and the Office of the Company Registrar. Registration fees are indicative and scale with authorised capital — confirm the current schedule at ocr.gov.np. This is general information, not legal advice.