Document Checklist for Nepal Investor Visa Applications 2027

Foreign nationals who invest in Nepal need the right paperwork at every stage, from the first foreign investment approval to visa issuance and renewal. The investor visa Nepal documents you need depend on your investment structure, the visa category, and the stage of your application. An individual investor, for example, submits different records from a foreign company investing through a corporate entity.

Two authorities sit at the centre of the process. The Department of Industry (DOI) handles foreign investment approval and the visa recommendation, and the Department of Immigration issues and extends the visa. Several other bodies, including the company registrar, the tax office and the central bank, supply or verify supporting records along the way.

This checklist sets out which documents you need, who handles them, how to prepare foreign documents and what to do if something goes wrong.

Key Takeaways

• There is no separate "investor visa" form in Nepal. Investors usually obtain a business visa, issued by the Department of Immigration on a recommendation from the Department of Industry.
• You must obtain foreign investment approval before the visa recommendation, and the recommendation before the visa application.
• Documents differ for first-time applications, renewals, individual investors, corporate investors and dependents.
• Proof that the investment actually reached Nepal through banking channels is as important as the approval itself.
• Foreign documents often need notarisation, authentication and certified translation, depending on the country of origin and the receiving authority.
• Renewal usually requires a current tax clearance certificate and updated company progress records.
• Fees and thresholds change, so confirm the current figures with the Department of Immigration and the Department of Industry.

What Is an Investor Visa in Nepal?

In simple terms, an investor visa in Nepal is permission for a foreign investor to live in the country and manage an approved business investment. In practice, Nepal handles this through the business visa. Eligible investors, their authorised representatives and their eligible family members can apply, once the Department of Industry has issued the required recommendation. High-value investors may instead qualify for a residential visa, which we cover below.

Which Government Authorities Handle Investor Visa Documents in Nepal?

• Department of Industry (DOI): Foreign investment approval, investment-related documentation and the visa recommendation.
• Department of Immigration: Business visa issuance and extension.
• Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB): Foreign currency inflow, foreign investment recording and banking documentation.
• Office of the Company Registrar (OCR): Company incorporation, shareholding and corporate records.
• Inland Revenue Department (IRD): PAN/VAT registration and tax compliance.
• Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies: Relevant industrial policies and regulatory oversight.
• Ministry of Home Affairs: Relevant government approval processes, particularly for applicable residential visa applications.

Very large investments may be routed through the Investment Board Nepal rather than the Department of Industry, so confirm the correct approval route for your project early.

What Documents Are Required for Nepal Investor Visa Applications?

Documents are requested at four stages:

• Foreign investment approval
• OI visa recommendation
• Department of Immigration application
• Extension or renewal

Always check the latest checklists published by each department, because forms and requirements can change.

Documents Required for Initial Foreign Investment Approval

Investors must first obtain the relevant foreign investment approval before proceeding to the visa recommendation. Typically, this requires:

• Completed online FDI approval application.
• Project proposal or project report signed by the investor.
• Joint Venture Agreement (JVA), where applicable.
• Foreign investor's valid passport copy.
• Foreign company's Certificate of Incorporation, where the investor is a corporate entity.
• Foreign company's Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA), where applicable.
• Local partner's citizenship certificate or company incorporation documents.
• Investor's bio-data or company profile.
• Financial Credibility Certificate issued by a bank in the investor's home country.
• Letter of Authorisation, where applicable.

The supporting documents differ between investor types. An individual investor proves identity and personal financial standing through a passport, bio-data and a bank-issued credibility certificate. A corporate investor must also prove the company's legal existence and authority to invest, through incorporation documents, constitutional documents and a board resolution. We set these out side by side in a later section.

Documents Required for Department of Industry Visa Recommendation

Once the investment is approved and registered, you can request the DOI's recommendation for a business visa:

• Online visa application through the DOI's Industry Management Information System.
• Notarised copy of passport with the most recent Nepal visa.
• Foreign Investment Approval Letter from the Department of Industry.
• Company or industry registration certificate.
• Industry inspection or monitoring report, if the industry is already operational.
• Investor's contact address and telephone number.
• Letter of authorisation and authorised representative's passport, where applicable.
• Relationship documents for dependent family members, where applicable.

Documents Required for Department of Immigration Visa Issuance

After the DOI recommendation, the immigration application requires:

• Completed online visa application.
• DOI recommendation letter.
• Valid passport and the latest Nepal visa copy.
• Six passport-sized photographs, as specified in the DOI's published checklist.
• Company incorporation certificate.
• PAN/VAT registration certificate.
• Industry registration certificate.
• Share certificate, where applicable.
• Investor's bio-data.
• Other supporting documents requested by the immigration authority.

Documents Required for Investor Visa Extension or Renewal

Renewal documents differ from the first application because the authorities now want proof that the business is operating and compliant, not only that the investment was made.

• DOI recommendation letter for visa extension.
• Valid passport copy with the latest visa.
• Three passport-sized photographs, where required.
• Latest tax clearance certificate.
• Updated company or industry progress report.
• Industry monitoring and supervision report, where applicable.
• Updated investment and shareholding evidence, if requested.
• Investor's bio-data.