Company Registration in Nepal: The Complete 2083/2026 Guide

Company Registration in Nepal at a Glance

Firm or Company? The Most Important Choice First

In Nepal, "registering a business" can mean two legally distinct things, and getting the terminology right matters because the registering authority, the governing law, and your personal liability all change:

• A firm means a sole proprietorship or a partnership firm. It is registered at the DoCSCP / DCSI under the Private Firm Registration Act, 2014 or the Partnership Act, 2076. A firm is not a separate legal entity — the owners carry unlimited personal liability and are taxed at progressive personal rates.
• A company means a Private Limited (Pvt. Ltd.) or Public Limited company. It is registered at the Office of Company Registrar (OCR) via CAMIS under the Companies Act, 2063. A company is a separate legal entity with limited liability, taxed at the corporate rate (usually 25%).

Business Entity Types in Nepal Compared

A few clarifications that trip people up:

• The co-owners of a Partnership Firm are called partners; the co-owners of a Pvt. Ltd. company are called shareholders. They are not interchangeable — partners share unlimited liability, while a shareholder's liability is limited to their unpaid share amount.
• A Pvt. Ltd. can have as few as one shareholder (a single-promoter company) and up to 101. See our guide to single-shareholder Pvt. Ltd. registration.
• For a business with two or more owners, you choose between a Partnership Firm and a multi-shareholder Pvt. Ltd. — we compare both in the multi-owner business guide.

Where Do You Register? Authorities Explained

Since Shrawan 1, 2081 (July 16, 2024), all company incorporations are handled online through the CAMIS portal — the older OCR system has been retired.

How to Register a Pvt. Ltd. Company in Nepal: Step by Step

This is the most common path for a serious business. Here is the full process — for a single-founder walkthrough with screenshots of each CAMIS step, see our detailed Pvt. Ltd. registration guide.

Step 1: Reserve a Company Name

Create a CAMIS profile and submit your proposed name in English and Nepali. The name must end with "Private Limited" (Pvt. Ltd.), be unique, and not be offensive. Approval typically takes 1–2 working days, and the reserved name is held for 35–90 days.

Step 2: Prepare the MOA and AOA

Draft your Memorandum of Association (MOA) — the company's charter (name, registered address, objectives, and authorized/issued capital) — and your Articles of Association (AOA), the internal governance rules. Single-shareholder companies may adopt the government-prescribed AOA format to save drafting costs.

Step 3: Upload Documents and Pay the Fee

Upload notarized PDFs of the MOA/AOA, every shareholder's and director's citizenship certificate, passport-size photos, office address proof (Lalpurja or rent agreement), and witness details. Pay the capital-based government fee online via eSewa, Khalti, or ConnectIPS.

Step 4: OCR Review and Certificate of Incorporation

The OCR reviews your application and posts any comments on your CAMIS dashboard. Once approved, you download your Certificate of Incorporation — your company now legally exists.

Company Registration Fees in Nepal

For a Pvt. Ltd. company, the OCR government fee is based on your authorized capital:

For a sole proprietorship or partnership firm, fees at DoCSCP/DCSI are lower and also capital-based — roughly NPR 600–1,000 for declared capital up to NPR 1,00,000, rising to NPR 10,000–15,000 for larger firms. Here is how the total all-in cost compares across entities:

Costs beyond the government fee include name reservation, gazette publication, the digital certificate, notarization, a company seal, and professional help if you use an agent.

Documents Required for Company Registration

After Registration: What Every Business Must Do

Whether you registered a firm or a company, a few steps follow before you can legally trade:

1. Get a PAN (Mandatory)

Apply for a Permanent Account Number at the IRD. One in-person biometric visit (fingerprints + photo) is required. You need the PAN to invoice, open a bank account, and file taxes.

2. Register for VAT (If Applicable)

VAT registration is mandatory once turnover crosses NPR 50,00,000 for goods (NPR 20,00,000 for services or mixed). Some sectors — hardware, electronics, catering, liquor — require VAT regardless of turnover.

3. Register at the Ward Office

Register locally with your registration certificate, PAN, and rent agreement. You will pay house rent tax (10% of monthly rent) and an annual business tax.

4. Open a Corporate Bank Account

Open the account with your incorporation/registration certificate, PAN, and (for companies) the MOA/AOA and a board resolution.

5. Stay Compliant

Every registered business must file taxes on time — monthly VAT/TDS, advance tax installments, and the annual return. See our full guide to tax filing deadlines for companies in Nepal. If you plan to import or export, you will also need an EXIM code.

Special Cases

• Software / IT companies get a reduced 20% tax rate and export incentives, and can register at a home address — see the software company registration guide.
• Import/export businesses need an EXIM code from the Department of Customs in addition to company/firm registration.
• Foreign investors registering an IT or other company must additionally clear FITTA 2075 foreign-investment approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register a company in Nepal?

Reserve a unique name on the OCR's CAMIS portal, prepare and notarize your MOA and AOA, upload them with shareholder citizenship and office address proof, pay the capital-based fee online, and download the Certificate of Incorporation once the OCR approves it. Then get a PAN, register for VAT if applicable, register at your ward office, and open a corporate bank account. A sole proprietorship or partnership firm is registered instead at DoCSCP/DCSI.

How much does it cost to register a company in Nepal?

A Pvt. Ltd. company's OCR fee starts at about NPR 1,000 for authorized capital up to NPR 1,00,000 and rises on a sliding scale. Including name reservation, gazette, digital certificate, notarization, a seal, and professional help, most founders budget NPR 15,000–35,000 all-in. A firm is cheaper — typically NPR 5,000–20,000.

How long does company registration take in Nepal?

A Pvt. Ltd. is usually incorporated in about 7–12 working days (name reservation 1–2 days plus OCR review). A sole proprietorship firm is faster — often 2–5 days — and a partnership firm takes 5–10 days.

What documents are required for company registration in Nepal?

For a Pvt. Ltd.: the MOA and AOA, every shareholder's and director's citizenship certificate, passport-size photos, registered office address proof (Lalpurja or rent agreement), and witness details — all uploaded to CAMIS. A firm needs the owner's citizenship, photos, the proposed name, and address proof; a partnership firm additionally needs a registered partnership deed.

What is the difference between a firm and a company in Nepal?

A firm (sole proprietorship or partnership) is registered at DoCSCP/DCSI, is not a separate legal entity, and carries unlimited liability. A company (Pvt. Ltd. or Public Ltd.) is registered at the OCR, is a separate legal entity with limited liability, and is taxed at the corporate rate. A Pvt. Ltd. can have 1–101 shareholders.