Attorney Nepal Leading Law Firm in Kathmandu, Nepal

There is no statutory fee schedule for advocates in Nepal. Fixed fees are standard for defined work like company registration or mutual consent divorce. Hourly billing suits advisory and negotiation work, and retainers suit companies needing ongoing compliance support. Court matters also carry government fees, court fees on the claim value, and translation costs. Always ask for a written engagement letter separating professional fees from disbursements. Send us your issue and we will quote a realistic range.

Company registration is governed by the Companies Act 2063 and runs through the Office of the Company Registrar's CAMIS online portal. You reserve the name, file the Prabandha Patra and Niyamawali with shareholder documents, pay a fee based on authorised capital, and receive the certificate. A single shareholder is sufficient. You then need a PAN, ward registration, and any sector licence. Clean files clear in one to two weeks; drafting errors cause most delays.

The general minimum is NPR 20 million per foreign investor, roughly USD 145,000–155,000. It applies per investor, so in a joint venture each foreign shareholder must meet it separately. The framework is the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2075. Certain IT industries are exempt via the automatic route. The Department of Industry approves investment below NPR 6 billion, the Investment Board above it. Confirm your sector is not on the negative list before committing capital.

Yes, but the two are very different. A branch office can trade, contract, and invoice in Nepal, and requires Department of Industry approval before registration with the Office of the Company Registrar. A liaison office cannot generate revenue at all; it is limited to market research, quality control, and coordination, and may need Nepal Rastra Bank clearance. A Nepali subsidiary is a third option. Choosing wrongly is expensive to correct, so decide based on your intended activity.

Yes. Repatriation is a statutory right under FITTA 2075 and covers dividends, proceeds from the sale of shares, and approved royalties. Two conditions apply: the investment must have been approved and properly recorded with Nepal Rastra Bank when it came in, and Nepali tax obligations must be settled and evidenced. Problems are almost always historical, caused by a missed NRB recording step. Treat that recording as a completion step, not a formality.

Yes, but the visa follows the investment. The Department of Immigration issues it on a recommendation flowing from an approved investment under FITTA 2075, read with the Immigration Act 2049. Eligibility covers the investor, authorised representatives where the investor is a company, and dependent family. An investment of USD 1 million at once may qualify for a residential visa. Employees are separate: they need a labour permit and a working visa. Business cannot be conducted on a tourist visa.