Nepal Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Nepal Business

TL;DR. Nepal’s official company registry is the Office of the Company Registrar (OCR), accessible online through the CAMIS platform at camis.ocr.gov.np. A basic company search is free and requires no account. Certified copies and formal registration services cost NPR 500-2,000 (~USD 4-15). The interface is partial English. Nepal was added to the FATF grey list in February 2025 and remains under increased monitoring as of May 2026.

What is the official Nepal business registry?

The Office of the Company Registrar (OCR) is the statutory authority for company registration in Nepal, operating under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. The OCR was established under the Companies Act 2006 (2063 BS) and maintains the central register of all companies incorporated in Nepal.

The OCR deployed its Company Administration Management Information System (CAMIS) as the digital registration and search platform, with full online coverage of company services, from registration to dissolution, implemented as of March 2025. The CAMIS portal is accessible at camis.ocr.gov.np, and company search is available at application.ocr.gov.np. The OCR’s main information site is www.ocr.gov.np.

The registry covers private limited companies, public limited companies, non-profit companies, holding companies, and subsidiary companies incorporated under the Companies Act. Foreign company branches operating in Nepal register separately with the relevant sectoral authority but are cross-referenced in the OCR system.

What can you search?

The CAMIS portal supports public company search by:

• Company name (partial match supported)
• Company registration number: the primary identifier
• PAN (Permanent Account Number): the tax identification number

Data visible in a standard public search includes: registered company name, registration number, registration date, entity type, registered address, company status (active, dissolved, in liquidation), and principal activity.

Director and shareholder information is available in the formal company profile, but depth of disclosure varies by entity type. Public companies have fuller mandatory disclosure than private companies. The CAMIS system was fully operational for all company services as of March 2025, replacing earlier paper-based processes.

Data freshness is tied to the filing event. Directors changes, address updates, and capital alterations are reflected in CAMIS within the OCR’s processing cycle, typically within a few business days of approved filing.

How much does it cost?

Pricing is based on data from CAMIS and third-party legal practitioners as of 2025. Exchange rate used: 1 USD = approximately 133 NPR (May 2026, indicative only; verify at point of use). Payment is accepted online via the CAMIS portal or in cash at the OCR counter in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.

Do you need a local account or ID?

A basic company name or number search via CAMIS is accessible without an account. However, ordering certified copies, formal verification reports, or any transactional service requires creating an account on the CAMIS portal. Account creation requires an email address and mobile number; a Nepali national identity document (citizenship card) is not mandatory for foreign buyers creating a search account, though formal filing services require in-country representation. The OCR help desk is reachable at +977-1-5359961 and 5367256.

Is the website in English?

Partial. The CAMIS portal and the OCR’s main website include English-language navigation and some content, but company records, official filings, and many service descriptions are in Nepali. Company names registered in Nepal appear primarily in Nepali Devanagari script, though English transliterations are often filed alongside for corporate entities with international operations. Foreign compliance buyers should arrange translation for Nepali-script outputs.

What’s the turnaround time?

A basic company search via CAMIS returns results immediately. Formal verification reports and certified copies of filings require account access and payment, with turnaround typically within 1-5 business days depending on the OCR’s processing queue. New company registrations take 7-15 business days from document submission through CAMIS, based on practitioner reporting as of 2025.

Is there an API?

No public API for OCR company data is documented as of May 2026. The CAMIS platform does not publish developer documentation for third-party data integration. Platform-level compliance integrations targeting Nepal currently rely on manual registry queries or licensed local agents.

What you legally cannot do

The OCR’s terms and Nepal’s Electronic Transactions Act 2063 (2006) govern data use from the CAMIS system. Bulk scraping of the OCR portal is not permitted. Company data obtained from the registry is intended for the stated purpose of the query; commercial redistribution requires separate authorization. Nepal’s Privacy Act 2018 (2075 BS) governs the handling of personal data of directors and shareholders extracted from registry records. Compliance buyers must document the legal basis for each registry lookup, particularly given Nepal’s FATF grey-list status which heightens scrutiny on transactions involving Nepali entities.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Registration number is the anchor. The company registration number issued by OCR is the primary identifier. It does not change with name changes or capital restructuring.
• PAN cross-check. The Permanent Account Number (PAN) issued by the Inland Revenue Department cross-references the company in the tax system. Confirming both the OCR registration number and PAN provides stronger identity assurance.
• FATF grey list. Nepal was added to the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring in February 2025, marking its second grey-listing since 2014. This means enhanced due diligence (EDD) is required for transactions involving Nepali entities under most AML frameworks. See the FATF page on Nepal for the current action plan.
• Status field meanings. “Active” means registered and in good standing. “In liquidation” and “Dissolved” are distinct states; an entity in liquidation may still have legal capacity for certain acts. Confirm the specific status meaning with a Nepali legal practitioner before taking compliance decisions.
• Private vs. public company disclosure. Private companies (the majority of Nepali registrations) have more limited mandatory public disclosure than public companies. Director and shareholder records may require a formal extract rather than a public search to access in full.
• Cooperative sector. Nepal’s cooperative sector, which is regulated separately under the Department of Cooperatives rather than the OCR, was cited as a specific high-risk area in the FATF 2025 action plan. Due diligence on cooperative entities requires a separate registry check. For the full due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.

Alternatives if you cannot access OCR directly

• Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates indexes some Nepal company data from the OCR, but coverage is partial and lags the official record. Useful for a quick name check; not for compliance-grade verification.
• CAMIS portal (camis.ocr.gov.np) for account-based access to the official registry directly.
• Local agents: Kathmandu-based law firms and corporate service providers can retrieve certified OCR extracts and arrange translations within 3-7 business days.

Local data suppliers

• BizSewa (bizsewa.com). Nepal-based corporate services platform providing company registration, renewal, and compliance support. Offers registry information services and verification assistance for Nepali entities. Suitable for buyers who need Nepali-language registry support alongside English-summary output.

Use the OCR for the authoritative legal filing record. Use a commercial data provider when you need credit or risk data layered on top of the registry extract.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Nepal OCR registry directly?

Yes, the basic company search at CAMIS is publicly accessible without a Nepali identity document. Foreign buyers can search by company name or registration number. For certified extracts or formal verification documents, account registration is required and in-country representation is recommended.

What is the company registration number in Nepal?

The OCR assigns a unique company registration number at incorporation. This number is the primary identifier in the CAMIS system and is referenced across OCR filings, tax registrations (PAN), and regulatory submissions. The format is a sequential numeric series.

What entity types are registered with the OCR?

The OCR registers private limited companies, public limited companies, non-profit companies, holding companies, subsidiary companies, and foreign company branch offices under the Companies Act 2006. Sole proprietorships and partnerships register with the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection rather than the OCR.

Does Nepal have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Nepal has beneficial ownership reporting requirements under its anti-money laundering framework. The FATF 2025 action plan for Nepal specifically includes strengthening UBO transparency as a required reform. A centralized public UBO registry accessible to foreign compliance buyers has not been confirmed as operational as of May 2026. UBO information is held within OCR company files and is available in formal extracts.

How current is the data in the OCR?

Following CAMIS implementation in March 2025, the OCR database is updated on a filing-event basis. Director changes, address updates, and capital changes are reflected within the OCR’s processing cycle. Real-time data availability may vary; the OCR’s office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm (winter) or 5pm (summer) Nepali Standard Time.

Is Nepal on the FATF grey list?

Yes. Nepal was placed under FATF increased monitoring in February 2025, its second grey-listing since 2014. The FATF identified deficiencies in enforcement and prosecution of financial crimes, and inadequate supervision of high-risk sectors including cooperatives and real estate. The government has committed to implementing an action plan targeting removal by early 2026, per FATF reporting. As of May 2026, Nepal remains on the grey list. Enhanced due diligence is required for Nepali counterparties under most institutional AML policies.

What’s the difference between the OCR registry and tax/financial filings?

The OCR maintains company registration and incorporation records. Tax registration (PAN), annual tax filings, and financial statement submissions are handled by the Inland Revenue Department of Nepal. Listed companies are additionally subject to Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) disclosure requirements. A thorough compliance file may need data from all three sources.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Office of the Company Registrar Nepal (ocr.gov.np, camis.ocr.gov.np); FATF Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring, February 2025 (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.