Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Expert FDI lawyers in Nepal advising foreign investors on market entry, regulatory approvals, compliance, incorporation, and investment structuring.
Updated Feb 23, 2026 2 min read
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as Nepal's Economic Engine Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the cornerstone of Nepal’s long-term economic strategy, offering international investors access to a rapidly developing consumer market, strategic geographical position, and significant potential in high-growth sectors like energy, tourism, and IT.

Approval of Foreign Direct Investment in Nepal by Corporate Law Firm in Nepal is primary and most important concern. Process of registration of foreign direct investment in Nepal is not as easy and fast proper support and guidance is necessary from trustworthy corporate law firm in Nepal. 

Lawin and Partners is one of leading and premium corporate Law firm in Nepal with profound experienced corporate lawyers in registration and approvals of Foreign Direct Investment. 

Permitted Foreign Direct Investment Modalities in Nepal

Applicable Law is Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 2019 (2075) which allows investment in following ways:

i. Equity Investment

ii. Assets Purchase

iii. Lease Financing 

iv. Technology Transfer

v. Loan Investment 

Foreign Direct Investment Permissibility

1. Must not fall under Negative list of industries of FITTA (Annex-1)

2. Industry or nature of business mut be classified under positive List under Industrial Enterprise Act, 2020 (2076)

Capital Investment Requirements

Minimum Capital investment to establish FDI is 20 million Nepalese Rupees. 

Most Common Foreign Direct Investment Establishment Practiced in Nepal

1. Registration of Branch Office in Nepal

Foreign Company or individual can conduct business in Nepal by registering branch office in Nepal. 

2.  Registration of Liaison Office in Nepal

No government approvals required for liaison office establishment, not allowed to generate income or marketing activities. It’s a contact point to communicate and coordinate with local parties. 

3. Trading for Foreign Companies in Nepal

No trading business is permitted in Nepal so no subsidiary company can be established. Thus, foreign investors can appoint local agent to distribute its products in Nepal through agency distributorship agreements.

4. Foreign Investment Business through Franchise Agreement

Foreign business has to enter into franchise agreement in Nepal. There is no permissibility restrictions by registration of trademark in Department of Industries, execute franchise agreement with foreign company and local company, franchise agreement approval in DOI. 

Foreign Direct Investment Procedure in Nepal

Step 1: Obtaining the Foreign Investment Approval from DOI or IBN

Step 2: Registration of company at Office of the Company   Register

Step 3: Tax Registration at Inland Revenue Office

Step 4: Business Registration at Local Ward  Office

Step 5: Obtaining the recommendation letter from the Local Ward Office for Industry Registration

Step 6: Registration of industry before the Department of Industry.

Step 7: Obtaining the "non-black certificate" from the Credit Information Bureau

Step 8: Opening the local bank account of the company

Step 9: Recording the investment amount before NRB

After Registration and approval of Foreign Direct Investment in Nepal; Lawin and Partners Law Firm in Nepal additionally assists on following Compliances to make easy operation of your business in Nepal:

Consult with Lawin & Partners (Law Firm) : +977 9841933745

Compliances, Related other Approvals and Due Diligence 

Approval from Nepal Rastra Bank

For easy fund injection from abroad, and repartition of profit earned from business, Lawin and Partners law firm in Nepal handles all the process of ministries and central bank approvals for operation of your foreign investors business in Nepal. Lawin and Partners, a team of experienced corporate lawyers helps you in documentation, registration, approvals from concerned authorities of Nepal government. 

Tax Liabilities of Foreign Direct Investment Companies

  1. Corporate Tax rate is 25%
  2. manufacturing and hydropower tax-20%
  3. Agriculture, forestry mining -20% tax liabilities
  4. Banking and Finance institutions-30% tax liabilities
  5. Dividends -5% tax liability

Business Visa for Foreign Investors in Nepal

Once Foreign Investment is registered in Nepal, Investors gets business visa in Nepal. Obtaining business visa by investors in FDI in Nepal takes time of month and Lawin and Partners as top FDI law firm in Nepal assist you with all legal process to get business visa in Nepal. 

Intellectual Property Protection of Your Business 

Advisory services on securing and enforcing intellectual property rights within Nepal, ensuring legal protection under copy right, and patent laws. 

Repatriation of Foreign Investment from Nepal

Foreign investors are permitted to repatriate 

1.  Earnings and Profit through dividend, sales, investment in shares

2. Compensation and Indemnity

3. Sale Proceeds form Share Transfer

4.  Return of capital at the time of Liquidation

5. Royalty, technology transfer fee, license fee

6. Lease rent

Professional Legal Advice from Lawin and Partners (Law Firm) 

Foreign Direct Investment in Nepal, by specialized Corporate Lawyers in Nepal. 

We welcome inquiries regarding Registration of foreign Direct Investment in Nepal. 

Major challenges are there for foreign investors and procedural complexities therefore expert guidance on Business registration in Nepal is mandatory. Lawin and Partners (Law Firm in Nepal) have advice several international foreign companies and business and have been legal partner in each step during operation of business.

Our experienced corporate lawyers in our Law firm assist strongly in providing advices for structuring FDI, Getting Documentations and approvals, Compliances and Due Diligence. 

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