Introduction
If you want to establish a startup, trading business, software company, consultancy, manufacturing business, or other formal venture in Nepal, a Private Limited company is one of the common structures to consider. The incorporation process is handled by the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR), with online services available through its CAMIS system.
The general journey is:
Choose Structure → Reserve Company Name → Prepare MOA/AOA → Submit Application → Pay Fees → OCR Review → Receive Registration Certificate → PAN/VAT → Local Ward Registration → Sector-Specific Licenses
Company incorporation is not the same as permission to operate every type of business. After receiving the company certificate, you may still need tax registration, local business registration, and industry-specific licenses.
What Is a Private Limited Company in Nepal?
A Private Limited company is a legally registered organization with its own identity separate from its shareholders. It can own property, enter contracts, maintain bank accounts, employ people, and conduct business in its registered name.
A private company generally has:
- Shareholders who own shares in the company.
- Directors who manage or oversee the company.
- A registered office in Nepal.
- A Memorandum of Association (MOA).
- Articles of Association (AOA).
- Share capital and ownership records.
- Continuing reporting and compliance responsibilities.
A shareholder’s financial exposure is generally connected to the shares or commitments they hold, subject to the Companies Act, company documents, and other applicable laws. This is different from treating the business and the owner as the same person.
Business Structure Comparison
OCR’s current information states that a private company may have one shareholder and may have up to 101 shareholders. Always confirm the applicable Companies Act and OCR requirements for your proposed structure before filing.
This guide focuses on private limited company registration in Nepal, not sole proprietorship or partnership-firm registration.
Who Can Register a Private Limited Company?
The founders of a private company may include:
- Individual Nepali citizens.
- Multiple Nepali shareholders.
- A Nepali company or other legal entity where permitted.
- Foreign individuals or companies, subject to foreign-investment rules and sector restrictions.
- A combination of Nepali and foreign investors where the required approvals are obtained.
The exact documents depend on the founder’s status. For example, a Nepali individual normally uses citizenship documents, while a foreign individual generally needs a passport and evidence of the required investment approval.
The proposed directors must also meet the applicable legal and filing requirements. The number, eligibility, and supporting documents can vary according to the company type and current OCR requirements.
Documents Required for Company Registration
Prepare clear, readable electronic copies before starting the OCR online application.
For individual Nepali founders
Common documents and information may include:
- Citizenship certificate or other accepted identity document.
- Full name, address, date of birth, and contact details.
- Mobile number and email address.
- Shareholder information.
- Proposed director information.
- Registered-office address.
- Shareholding and capital details.
- Passport-size photograph or digital photograph if requested.
- Signed declarations, consents, or identification documents required by OCR.
Company documents
The application normally requires:
- Approved company name.
- Application form or online application details.
- Memorandum of Association.
- Articles of Association.
- Share structure and ownership allocation.
- Company objectives.
- Registered-office details.
- Directors’ and shareholders’ details.
- Any required declarations or consents.
Situational documents
Additional documents may be required if:
- A foreign person or company is investing.
- Another company is a shareholder.
- A regulated activity requires prior approval.
- An existing firm is being converted into a company.
- A sector regulator’s consent is needed.
- A representative is filing on behalf of a founder.
- A founder is a legal entity rather than an individual.
OCR’s published registration guidance lists different requirements for Nepali founders, foreign founders, legal-entity shareholders, and firms converted into companies. Use the current checklist shown by OCR rather than relying on a general online list.
What Are CAMIS and OCR?
- OCR means the Office of the Company Registrar. It is the government authority responsible for company registration and company-administration services in Nepal.
- CAMIS means the Company Administration Management Information System. It is the online platform used for company-related services, including company registration and administrative filings.
In simple terms: OCR is the government office. CAMIS is the online system operated for OCR services.
The official OCR website links to CAMIS and identifies company registration and other services under its CAMIS system. The CAMIS portal address currently shown by OCR is camis.ocr.gov.np. Check the OCR website if the portal address or login route changes.
What CAMIS is used for
- Creating or accessing an applicant account.
- Proposing and reserving a company name.
- Entering company information.
- Uploading incorporation documents.
- Submitting an application.
- Paying applicable government charges.
- Responding to corrections or observations where supported.
- Tracking an application or company-related request.
The interface and field names can change. Follow the instructions currently displayed in the portal.
How to Register a Private Limited Company Online
The following workflow explains the usual company registration Nepal online 2026 process. Treat it as a practical roadmap, not a substitute for the current CAMIS instructions.
Step 1: Decide your company structure
Before opening CAMIS, decide:
- Whether Private Limited is appropriate.
- Who the shareholders will be.
- How many shares each shareholder will hold.
- Who will serve as directors.
- The proposed company objectives.
- The registered office address.
- The expected capital structure.
- Whether any founder is a foreign person or legal entity.
- Whether the business activity is regulated.
The share distribution should match the founders’ agreement. For example, if two founders agree to own 60% and 40%, the share details entered in the application and reflected in the company documents should be consistent.
Step 2: Choose a company name
Prepare a name that is distinctive and suitable for the proposed business. Check for:
- Similarity to an existing company name.
- Confusing or misleading wording.
- Restricted government or regulatory terms.
- Words that imply an approval or status the company does not have.
- Conflict with registered trademarks or well-known brands.
- A name that does not match the proposed business purpose.
- Correct Nepali and English spelling.
Company-name approval is controlled by OCR. A name that sounds available is not automatically approved. Prepare an alternative name in case the first proposal is rejected or considered too similar to an existing name.
You can use the official OCR company-search service to review registered-company information, but a search result is not a guarantee of approval.
Step 3: Create an account and reserve the name
The exact screens may change, but the general process is:
- Open the official OCR/CAMIS portal.
- Create an applicant or company-user account if you do not already have one.
- Verify the contact details requested by the system.
- Log in to the dashboard.
- Select the company-registration or name-reservation service.
- Enter the proposed company name and required company information.
- Submit the name request.
- Monitor the application status.
- Correct or resubmit the name if OCR returns an observation.
Keep the username, password, application number, and messages from the portal safely. Do not use unofficial websites that ask for unnecessary identity information or payment.
A proposed name may require correction because of similarity, restricted wording, inaccurate information, or other OCR requirements. The actual reason should be taken from the portal or OCR communication.
How to Draft the MOA and AOA
The MOA and AOA are core incorporation documents. They should not be copied blindly from an unrelated company.
MOA: Memorandum of Association
The Memorandum of Association sets out the company’s fundamental information. Depending on the applicable format, it may cover:
- Company name.
- Registered office.
- Main objectives.
- Authorized or issued capital information.
- Share details.
- Founder or subscriber information.
- The nature and scope of the proposed business.
The objectives should be broad enough to cover the activities you genuinely plan to conduct, but they should not include unrelated or regulated activities without considering the relevant approvals.
AOA: Articles of Association
The Articles of Association contain the company’s internal governance and operating rules. They may address:
- Share transfers.
- Meetings and notice.
- Director powers and responsibilities.
- Voting arrangements.
- Share certificates and records.
- Appointment or removal of officers.
- Decision-making procedures.
- Internal administration.
MOA and AOA comparison
Submit the Registration Application
After the name is approved, complete the incorporation application in CAMIS. Information commonly entered includes:
- Approved company name.
- Company type.
- Registered office.
- Business objectives.
- Shareholders and their identity details.
- Directors and their details.
- Capital information.
- Share allocation.
- Contact information.
- MOA and AOA.
- Supporting documents.
- Required declarations or consents.
Review every field carefully before submitting. A mismatch between a citizenship certificate, passport, MOA, AOA, and online form can lead to an observation.
Pay particular attention to:
- Name spelling in English and Nepali.
- Citizenship number and issue district.
- Date of birth.
- Permanent and current address.
- Shareholder names and ownership percentages.
- Director details.
- Company objectives.
- Uploaded document quality.
The portal’s current fields and upload requirements take priority over the general list above.
Company Registration Fees in Nepal
Government fees are separate from professional-service charges. OCR’s published revenue schedule shows that private-company incorporation fees are linked to authorized capital and provides different slabs. The OCR page currently lists the following schedule. Confirm that it remains applicable to your filing year and application before payment.
The OCR revenue page also contains charges for copies, capital increases, conversions, foreign-company registrations, and other services. It also displays historical or year-specific fee notices, so do not assume that every item on the page applies unchanged in 2026. The fee displayed by the current CAMIS application and the latest OCR notice should be treated as decisive.
Other possible costs include:
- Name-related charges, if applicable.
- Document-copy or certification charges.
- Legal drafting fees.
- Accountant or consultant fees.
- Company-secretarial services.
- Bank-account costs.
- Municipality or ward charges.
- Sector-specific license fees.
Government fees and professional fees are different
A consultant may quote a combined amount that includes OCR charges, drafting, filing, follow-up, and tax or accounting support. Ask for a breakdown so you know which portion is a government fee and which portion is a private service fee.
OCR Review and Company Approval
After submission and payment:
- OCR reviews the application.
- It may accept the documents or return them with an observation.
- You respond to corrections through the applicable process.
- OCR reviews the corrected information.
- The application proceeds if the requirements are satisfied.
- The company registration certificate is issued after approval.
Processing time depends on factors such as:
- Name approval.
- Document completeness.
- Identity verification.
- Application volume.
- Corrections and resubmission.
- Foreign-investment or sector approvals.
- Portal or payment issues.
Receive the Company Registration Certificate
The certificate confirms that the company has been incorporated and registered with OCR. Check the certificate for:
- Legal company name.
- Company registration number.
- Registration date.
- Company type.
- Other identifying details.
Store the certificate, approved MOA, AOA, shareholder information, and OCR correspondence in secure digital and physical records. Banks, tax offices, investors, payment providers, landlords, and regulators may request these documents.
What to Do After Registration
Incorporation is the beginning of compliance, not the end. A company certificate does not automatically provide every permission required to operate.
1. Register for PAN
PAN means Permanent Account Number. It identifies a taxpayer for dealings with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).
The IRD provides taxpayer-registration services and information for entities. The company may need to use the IRD Taxpayer Portal or the relevant linked government process, depending on the current system.
OCR currently highlights a system in which PAN may be automatically generated through the CAMIS process after company registration. Confirm whether the PAN has actually been created, whether verification is required, and how to obtain the certificate before beginning transactions.
Typical information may include:
- Company registration certificate.
- Company name and registration number.
- Registered address.
- Directors or authorized representative.
- Contact details.
- Business activity.
- Bank or tax-office information where required.
2. Check VAT registration
VAT registration is not automatically required for every company merely because it is incorporated. It depends on applicable tax rules, the business activity, taxable transactions, turnover or other conditions.
- Whether your goods or services fall within VAT rules.
- Whether a registration threshold or compulsory category applies.
- Whether voluntary registration is suitable.
- Whether invoices and accounting systems must meet additional requirements.
The IRD’s registration system includes PAN, VAT, and excise-related services. Use current IRD guidance rather than relying on an old threshold or tax-rate article.
3. Open a corporate bank account
A bank may request:
- Company registration certificate.
- PAN certificate or PAN details.
- MOA and AOA.
- Board decision or authorization.
- Director and authorized-signatory identity documents.
- Company stamp or other bank-specific documents.
- Beneficial-owner or KYC information.
Requirements differ between banks. Ask the selected bank for its current corporate-account checklist.
4. Check local ward or municipality registration
A company registered by OCR may still need local registration or a business operating permission from the ward or municipality where it operates. Local requirements can depend on:
- Municipality.
- Business activity.
- Office or shop location.
- Signboard.
- Rental or ownership documents.
- Local tax or business-registration rules.
The terminology may be “business registration,” “business operating license,” “local registration,” or another term. Confirm directly with the relevant local government.
5. Obtain sector-specific licenses
Additional approvals may apply to businesses operating in areas such as:
- Education.
- Health.
- Food and hospitality.
- Travel and trekking.
- Construction.
- Finance and lending.
- Manufacturing.
- Import and export.
- Pharmaceuticals.
- Telecommunications.
- Technology services involving regulated activities.
A software company may have different requirements from a school, restaurant, travel agency, or finance company. Company registration alone does not replace sector licensing.
Company Registration vs Ward Registration
A Private Limited company can exist legally after OCR incorporation, but it may still need local registration before operating from a particular municipality. Always check the local authority’s current process.
Company Registration Cost in Nepal
Your total cost may include four separate categories.
Government charges
- OCR incorporation fee.
- Applicable name, copy, or filing charges.
- Fees linked to capital changes or later filings.
- Municipality or ward charges.
- Sector-regulator fees.
- Tax or license-related charges where applicable.
Professional fees
- Lawyer.
- Company secretary.
- Accountant.
- Consultant.
- MOA/AOA drafting.
- Document preparation.
- Filing and follow-up.
Post-registration costs
- Accounting software or bookkeeping.
- Audit.
- Annual compliance.
- Tax filing.
- Company-secretarial work.
- Local renewals.
- Sector-specific license renewals.
- Employee, labor, or social-security compliance where applicable.
There is no reliable single “total cost” for every company. The final amount depends on capital, ownership, business activity, location, foreign-investment requirements, and whether you use professional support.
Before starting, estimate fixed and expected business expenses with the Nepal Business Break-Even Calculator and review relevant business and tax guides on SolutionsNepal.
How Long Does Company Registration Take?
The process may involve several stages:
- Name review.
- Name approval or correction.
- MOA/AOA preparation.
- Application review.
- Identity and document verification.
- Correction or resubmission.
- Fee confirmation.
- Certificate issuance.
A complete, straightforward application may move faster than an application requiring corrections or additional approvals. Foreign investment, regulated activities, unclear objectives, and document mismatches may add steps.
Common Reasons for Corrections
Possible issues include:
- Proposed name is unavailable or unsuitable.
- Shareholder information does not match identity documents.
- Director details are incomplete.
- Uploaded documents are unclear.
- Documents are missing signatures or required pages.
- MOA objectives are incomplete or inconsistent.
- AOA provisions do not match the proposed structure.
- Registered-office information is incomplete.
- Share distribution does not add up.
- A required approval is missing.
- A foreign investor’s documents are not properly certified or translated.
Use the exact observation provided by OCR. Do not change unrelated information without checking whether it affects the application.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a name without checking existing companies.
- Using a business objective that is too narrow.
- Adding regulated activities without checking approval requirements.
- Entering incorrect citizenship or passport details.
- Uploading blurry documents.
- Confusing the registered office with a future branch or operating location.
- Assuming OCR registration automatically creates every tax registration.
- Assuming company registration replaces ward registration.
- Ignoring VAT analysis.
- Starting a regulated business before obtaining the required license.
- Failing to keep MOA, AOA, certificates, and shareholder records.
- Missing annual filings, audit, tax, or renewal obligations.
Online Company Registration Checklist
Before applying
- Private Limited structure decided.
- Shareholders decided.
- Directors decided.
- Share distribution agreed.
- Company name options prepared.
- Registered office decided.
- Business objectives prepared.
- Capital information reviewed.
- Identity documents ready.
- Foreign-investment approvals checked, if relevant.
- MOA drafted.
- AOA drafted.
- Digital copies are clear and readable.
- Current OCR/CAMIS instructions checked.
After OCR approval
- Company registration certificate received.
- Company registration number recorded.
- PAN status confirmed.
- VAT requirement checked.
- Corporate bank account opened.
- Ward or municipality registration checked.
- Sector-specific licenses checked.
- Accounting system arranged.
- Audit and annual-compliance responsibilities assigned.
- Company records stored securely.
Related SolutionsNepal Tools & Guides
- Nepal government service cost and document checklist
- Nepal Business Break-Even Calculator
- Online Selling Profit Calculator Nepal
- Nepal Salary Calculator (SSF & take-home pay)
- VAT Calculator for Nepal
- Nepal Cost of Living Calculator
- Registering a Company in Nepal Online (OCR CAMIS Guide) — our companion guide to the CAMIS workflow
Official Sources and Important Note
Verify current procedures and fees with these official sources:
- Office of the Company Registrar (OCR)
- OCR CAMIS portal
- OCR company-registration guidance (linked from the OCR website)
- OCR revenue and fee schedule (linked from the OCR website)
- Inland Revenue Department (IRD)
- IRD Taxpayer Portal
The OCR website identifies CAMIS as its company-registration and administration service and publishes registration guidance and revenue information. The IRD provides PAN and VAT-related taxpayer registration services and instructions. Last updated: September 16, 2026.
Before You Apply: Final Checklist
- Company structure decided.
- Shareholders and directors confirmed.
- Company name options prepared.
- Registered office selected.
- Business objectives checked.
- MOA and AOA prepared.
- Identity documents ready.
- Current CAMIS instructions reviewed.
- OCR fee confirmed.
- Foreign or sector approvals checked.
- PAN process understood.
- VAT requirement assessed.
- Ward registration checked.
- Corporate bank-account documents prepared.
- Accounting and compliance responsibilities assigned.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a company online in Nepal?
Yes, a company-registration application can be initiated through the OCR’s CAMIS online system. You generally submit the name request, company information, MOA, AOA, identity documents, and other required materials through the current portal process. OCR review and corrections may still be required, and some situations may involve additional verification. Always use the portal linked from the official OCR website.
What is CAMIS in Nepal?
CAMIS is the Company Administration Management Information System used by the Office of the Company Registrar. It provides online company-registration and company-administration services, such as name reservation, application submission, document processing, and other company-related functions. Portal features may change, so follow the current instructions displayed by OCR.
What documents are required for company registration?
Common documents include identity documents for founders, shareholder and director details, an approved company name, MOA, AOA, registered-office information, share and capital details, and required declarations. Foreign investors, legal-entity shareholders, regulated businesses, and converted firms may need additional documents. Use the current OCR checklist for your exact case.
How much does Private Limited company registration cost?
The OCR registration fee is linked to the applicable capital slab and government fee schedule. The official OCR revenue page lists different fees for different authorized-capital levels, but current notices or fiscal-year changes may affect the amount. Professional drafting, accounting, local, and sector-specific charges are separate. Confirm the amount shown in current CAMIS before payment.
Does every company need VAT registration?
No. Incorporation alone does not mean every company must register for VAT. The requirement depends on the business activity, taxable transactions, applicable thresholds, and current tax rules. Ask the IRD or a tax professional to assess your specific business rather than relying on a general threshold from an old article.
Do I need ward registration after OCR registration?
You may need local ward or municipality registration or an operating permission, depending on the business activity and location. OCR incorporation creates the company, while local registration generally relates to operating a business in a particular local area. Requirements and terminology can differ between municipalities.
Can one person register a Private Limited company?
OCR’s registration guidance states that a private company may have a single shareholder. The founder must still satisfy the applicable incorporation, director, document, and filing requirements. Confirm the current CAMIS form and Companies Act requirements before submitting a single-shareholder application.
Can a foreigner invest in a Nepali company?
Foreign investment may be possible, but it is subject to applicable foreign-investment approval, sector restrictions, minimum-investment rules where applicable, and documentation requirements. OCR lists additional documents for foreign founders and shareholders. Check with the Department of Industry and other relevant regulators before reserving a name or filing the incorporation application.
How long does company registration take?
There is no universal guaranteed timeline. It depends on name approval, document completeness, OCR workload, corrections, identity verification, payment confirmation, and any additional approvals. A clean application may be processed more smoothly, but online submission does not guarantee instant registration.
What is OCR in Nepal?
OCR is the Office of the Company Registrar, the government authority responsible for registering and administering companies in Nepal. OCR operates or provides access to CAMIS for online company services. It is different from CAMIS: OCR is the authority, while CAMIS is the digital service platform.
Do I need a lawyer to register a company?
Not every straightforward application requires a lawyer. However, professional help can be useful when the company has foreign investors, complex shareholder rights, multiple share classes, regulated objectives, legal-entity shareholders, or customized governance rules. A consultant’s filing service does not replace your responsibility to verify the submitted information.
Is PAN required after company registration?
A company normally needs tax identification and related compliance with the Inland Revenue Department. The current OCR and IRD systems may generate or link PAN information during or after incorporation in some cases. Confirm that the company’s PAN is active and obtain the relevant certificate or record before conducting taxable business.
What is the difference between MOA and AOA?
The MOA describes the company’s fundamental structure, objectives, capital, and founder information. The AOA describes internal governance, such as meetings, share transfers, director powers, and decision-making. Both are important incorporation documents and should be consistent with the actual business arrangement.
Can I change my company’s objectives later?
A company may be able to amend its constitutional documents and company records through the applicable OCR process. Whether additional approval is needed depends on the proposed objective and business sector. A change to a regulated objective may require consent from another authority. Check the current OCR procedure before starting the activity.
What happens after receiving the certificate?
Confirm the company’s PAN, assess VAT, open a corporate bank account, check ward or municipality registration, obtain sector-specific licenses, and arrange accounting and annual compliance. Keep the certificate, MOA, AOA, shareholder records, and tax documents safely. Company incorporation alone does not authorize every kind of business operation.
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