Business Visa in Nepal: Process, Fees & Requirements (2026)

By: Sameep Khanal, Advocate, Nepal Bar Council — Immigration & Foreign Investment Law, Niti Partners & Associates
Last updated: September 9, 2026

A business visa in Nepal is a non-tourist visa that allows a foreign investor, shareholder, or company representative to legally reside in Nepal while managing an approved business. It is issued by the Department of Immigration (DOI) based on foreign investment approval and company registration, and it does not double as a general work permit.

This guide covers eligibility, cost, timeline, and the practical steps our team handles for clients going through the Foreign Direct Investment approval and visa process in Nepal  including a few things most guides leave out, like what actually happens at the DOI interview and whether you need office space before you apply.

Our team has secured business visas for clients from Sweden, Belarus, China, India, Bangladesh, and more than 30 other nationalities. Because we handle every visa category in Nepal, we also see how each category interacts with the others. When a tourist visa can convert to a business visa, where a business visa ends and a working visa begins, and where a marriage or relation visa changes an applicant’s options.

Recent Update: Shorter Validity Periods

Recent October, 2026 update: based on filings handled by our office, business visas are currently being issued for six months at a time rather than the longer terms sometimes cited elsewhere, even where a longer validity is technically available under the Immigration Rules. Because this can affect renewal timing and budgeting, we recommend confirming your specific validity period with our team before you file.

Key Authorities Involved

Minimum Investment Requirement

The general minimum foreign investment required is NPR 20 million. Certain sectors falling with IT sector as per gazette such as IT parks, software development, data centers, and BPO/KPO  are exempt from this minimum, which is why smaller foreign-owned IT companies in Nepal are more common than the headline threshold suggests. See our Industry pages for sector-specific rules that affect eligibility.

Company Structuring Considerations

Two decisions matter more than clients usually expect:

• Wholly-owned subsidiary vs. joint venture. Some sectors on Nepal’s foreign investment negative list restrict foreign ownership to a capped percentage, which forces a joint venture structure.
• Structure before you file, not after. Changing the shareholding structure after FDI approval typically means re-filing, which resets the clock on the whole visa timeline. Deciding the structure before submission is the single most common way we’ve seen clients avoid a multi-week delay.

Our Company Secretarial Services team typically gets involved at this stage, before incorporation, rather than after.

Do You Need an Office Lease Before Applying?

Yes, in practice. A registered office address  owned, leased, sub-leased  is required and that same address carries through to the business visa application. While lease agreement is not mandatory for company registration in Nepal, figuring out address later may mean changing registered address and amending the charter documents.  A short-term lease is generally acceptable for registration purposes, but we typically advise clients to secure at least a one-year lease upfront, since a lease that expires shortly after registration means updating company records mid-process  which is an avoidable delay.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Secure foreign investment approval from the Department of Industry or Investment Board Nepal, depending on investment size.
2. Register your company with the Office of the Company Registrar, using the leased or owned office address.
3. Obtain PAN/VAT registration from the Inland Revenue Department.
4. Secure a recommendation letter from the approving authority once investment is approved.
5. Apply to the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu, or through a Nepalese embassy abroad.
6. Attend the DOI verification interview (see below and this is where most avoidable delays happen).
7. Receive visa issuance, valid for the approved period and renewable on continued compliance.

The DOI Interview: What to Expect and How to Prepare

This is the step most guides skip entirely, and it’s often the step that decides how smoothly the whole application goes. For business visa applications, the DOI generally requires the applicant to appear in person.

At this stage, officers typically:

• Verify the source and trail of the invested funds
• Ask the applicant directly about the nature and operations of the business
• Confirm the applicant’s stated role matches what’s recorded in the company’s registration documents

Practice insight: discrepancies between what’s written in the FDI approval file and what an applicant says at interview are one of the most common causes of delay we see and more common than missing paperwork itself. This is why we run applicants through the same questions an officer is likely to ask before the actual appointment, not just review the file. Preparing the person, not only the documents, is what shortens processing time in practice.

Documents Required

• Completed business visa application form
• Valid passport
• Company registration certificate
• Foreign investment approval letter (DoI or IBN)
• PAN/VAT registration certificate
• Registered office lease or ownership document
• Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA/AOA)
• Shareholder documents
• Recommendation letter from the approving authority
• Tax clearance certificate (for renewals)
• Bank statement or proof that investment funds have entered Nepal

Costs of Business Visa in Nepal

Given the recent shift toward six-month issuance noted above, confirm with our team whether the yearly and 5-year rates are still being applied at filing, or whether fees are now assessed per six-month period.

Processing Timeline for Business Visa in Nepal

Business Visa vs. Working Visa

A common mistake we see is assuming a business visa covers hired staff when it does not. A business visa is for the investor and their authorized representatives. A foreign employee hired by the company needs a separate working visa, which additionally requires a labour permit. Because our team manages both categories, we typically map out which people need which visa before filing anything, rather than discovering the gap mid-process.

Governing Laws

• Immigration Act, 2049 (1992) — primary law governing visa issuance
• Immigration Rules, 2051 (1994) — procedural framework for applications and renewals
• Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act (FITTA), 2075 (2019) — governs foreign investment approval and minimum capital
• Companies Act, 2063 (2006) — governs company registration
• Income Tax Act, 2058 (2002) — governs tax compliance, including PAN/VAT

Common Challenges

• Coordination delays between DoI/IBN (investment approval) and DOI (visa issuance)
• Mismatches between filed documents and what’s said at the DOI interview
• Office lease timing — registering before securing a lease long enough to cover the process
• Maintaining ongoing compliance with tax and company law ahead of renewal
• Larger investors weighing a business visa against direct private equity or venture capital structures should confirm which route fits their entry size before filing.

FAQs

Who issues the business visa in Nepal?

The Department of Immigration (DOI) issues and renews all business visas.

What is the minimum investment required?

NPR 20 million, with exemptions for certain IT-sector businesses.

Do I need an office address or lease before applying?

Yes, a registered office (owned or leased) is required for company registration, and that address is used in the visa application itself. We can advise on available options.

Is an in-person interview required at the DOI?

Yes physical interview is required.

How long is a business visa valid for right now?

 Recent filings by our office indicate six months at a time, though the Immigration Rules technically allow longer terms in some cases. Confirm current practice with our team before budgeting for a longer validity period.

How long does the process take?

Roughly 7–10 working days from FDI approval to visa issuance, if all documents are complete.

Can I get a business visa without registering a company first?

No. Company registration and FDI approval must precede the visa application.

What’s the difference between a business visa and a working visa?

A business visa is for the investor and authorized representatives managing the business; a foreign employee hired by the company needs a separate working visa and labour permit.

Does a business visa cover my spouse and children?

Dependents are generally covered under the same visa category and fee structure.

Can I convert a tourist visa to a business visa without leaving Nepal?
 In many cases, yes, once investment approval and company registration are complete.

This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, contact our immigration attorney.