1. Company or firm — pick the right structure
“Registering a company” and “registering a business” are not the same thing in Nepal, and they happen at different offices. Choose the structure first:
| Structure | Registered at | Liability |
|---|---|---|
| Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd) | Office of the Company Registrar (OCR) | Limited — separate legal entity |
| Public Limited Company | OCR (min. 7 shareholders, higher capital) | Limited |
| Sole proprietorship / private firm | Office of Cottage & Small Industries or the local body | Unlimited — personal |
| Partnership firm | Under the Partnership Act (local registration) | Unlimited — personal |
This guide covers the most common case: a wholly Nepali-owned private limited company registered at OCR. If you only want a small one-person business with simple tax, a sole-proprietorship firm may be cheaper and faster — but a company gives you limited liability and a separate legal identity.
2. Prepare your documents (MOA & AOA)
The two key documents are the Memorandum of Association (प्रबन्धपत्र)— your company’s name, objectives, capital and shares — and the Articles of Association (नियमावली), which set the internal rules. Both must follow the OCR format. Prepare everything below before you start the online filing:
Your preparation
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Make clear passport-size photos with the Passport Photo Maker, keep document scans under the upload size limit with the Image Compressor, and use the BS–AD Date Converter when a field needs the other calendar.
3. Register online through CAMIS
Companies are registered through the OCR online system, camis.ocr.gov.np. The flow is:
- Create a user account on the OCR online portal.
- Reserve the company name — check availability on the OCR name search and apply for a unique name (avoid restricted words and names that clash with an existing company).
- Fill the registration application with the company details, objectives, capital and shareholders.
- Upload the MOA, AOA, citizenship copies and photos.
- Pay the registration fee based on your authorized capital (see the table below).
- Submit and track the application; respond to any correction the Registrar requests.
4. Company registration fees
OCR charges a one-time registration fee based on the company’s authorized capital — the higher the capital you declare in the MOA, the higher the fee. The slab schedule for a private company is:
| Authorized capital | OCR registration fee |
|---|---|
| Up to NPR 1,00,000 (1 lakh) | NPR 1,000 |
| NPR 1,00,001 – 5,00,000 | NPR 4,500 |
| NPR 5,00,001 – 25,00,000 | NPR 9,500 |
| NPR 25,00,001 – 1,00,00,000 (1 crore) | NPR 16,000 |
| NPR 1,00,00,001 – 2,00,00,000 | NPR 19,000 |
| NPR 2,00,00,001 – 3,00,00,000 | NPR 22,000 |
| Higher slabs up to NPR 10,00,00,000 (10 crore) | rises by slab to about NPR 43,000 |
| Above NPR 10 crore | NPR 43,000 + an incremental fee — confirm on OCR |
5. After registration — PAN, VAT, ward & bank
The OCR certificate makes the company exist, but you cannot operate on it alone. Complete these steps next:
- Register for PAN (and VAT if your turnover or business type requires it) at the Inland Revenue Department. See our PAN registration guide and the PAN/VAT helper.
- Register at your local ward / municipality as the business operating there.
- Open a company bank account in the company’s name — see Open a bank account in Nepal.
- Get any sector-specific licence (tourism, food, education, finance, etc.) before starting operations.
Remember the ongoing duties: companies must file annual returns with OCR and tax returns with the IRD, and hold the required meetings. Use the VAT Calculator and Salary Tax Calculator as you start trading.
Common mistakes that cause delay
- Choosing a name that clashes with an existing company or uses restricted words — always check the OCR name search first.
- MOA or AOA that don’t follow the OCR format, or objectives that don’t match the intended business.
- Mismatched names/details between the application and the citizenship certificates.
- Declaring a very high authorized capital and paying a larger fee than the business needs.
- Assuming the OCR certificate is enough — skipping PAN/VAT, ward registration or sector licences.
- Forgetting the foreign-investment approvals (DOI/IBN and NRB) when a shareholder is foreign.
- Ignoring annual OCR filings and tax returns after registration.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a company in Nepal?
The Office of the Company Registrar charges a registration fee based on your authorized capital. For a private company it starts at about NPR 1,000 for capital up to 1 lakh, NPR 4,500 up to 5 lakh, NPR 9,500 up to 25 lakh and NPR 16,000 up to 1 crore, rising by slab for larger capital. These are government fees only; lawyer/auditor charges for drafting the MOA and AOA are separate. Always confirm the current fee on the OCR portal.
What is the minimum capital to register a private limited company in Nepal?
The minimum authorized capital for a private limited company is NPR 1,00,000 (one lakh). A private company can have between 1 and 50 shareholders. There is no requirement to deposit the full capital before registration — it is the authorized/issued capital declared in the MOA.
Can I register a company online in Nepal?
Yes. Registration is done through the OCR online system (CAMIS) at camis.ocr.gov.np — you create a user, reserve the company name, submit the application and upload the MOA, AOA and citizenship documents. Depending on the case you may still need to submit signed/printed documents to the OCR office.
What documents are required to register a company?
The Memorandum of Association (प्रबन्धपत्र / MOA) and Articles of Association (नियमावली / AOA) in OCR format, citizenship certificate copies of all founder shareholders and proposed directors, passport-size photos, the shareholding/capital structure and a registered office address. For paper filing, two copies each of the MOA and AOA are usually required.
What is the difference between a company and a firm (sole proprietorship / partnership)?
A private limited company is a separate legal entity with limited liability, registered at the Office of the Company Registrar. A sole proprietorship or partnership 'firm' is registered elsewhere — typically the Department / Office of Cottage and Small Industries (or the relevant local body) for a private firm, or under the Partnership Act for partnerships — and the owners have unlimited personal liability. If you want limited liability and a company structure, register a Pvt Ltd at OCR.
Do I need a lawyer to register a company in Nepal?
No, it is not legally required. Many founders hire a lawyer, auditor or company-registration service to draft the MOA/AOA and handle the OCR filing because the documents must follow a specific format, but you can prepare and file them yourself through CAMIS.
What should I do immediately after the company is registered?
Register the company for PAN at the Inland Revenue Department (and VAT if your business needs it), register at your local ward/municipality, open a company bank account in the company's name, and obtain any sector-specific licence. Companies also have ongoing duties such as annual filings with OCR and tax returns with the IRD.
Can a foreigner register a company in Nepal?
Yes, but foreign investment requires prior approval from the Department of Industry or the Investment Board (depending on the investment size) and Nepal Rastra Bank before the OCR registration. The process and minimum investment differ from a wholly Nepali-owned company, which is what this guide covers.