Business Visa in Nepal Procedure: Step by Step Guide (2079/2080) and detailed procedures

No foreigner can work in Nepal without getting a working/business visa from the Department of Immigration. A working visa is issued to a foreigner willing to work in Nepal. This article will help you all with the legal procedure for obtaining a business visa in Nepal.

A business visa is the travel permission issued by national governments. It is essential for foreign business travellers who are willing to visit other countries to explore commercial chances for advancement, attend events, or collaborate with local businesses. Business visa permit foreign nationals to enter Nepal stay for a short period of time and conduct activities and transactions while visiting. It is a must to obtain a labor permit for a working/business visa in Nepal.

Immigration Act, 1992, Immigration Rules, 1994, and Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 2019 are the laws that govern the business visa in Nepal. The Department of Immigration(DOI) is the authority to regulate business visas in Nepal.

Procedure for Obtaining Business Visa in Nepal

  1. Receive the recommendation letter from the DOI.
  2. After proper investigation, DOI will provide the business visa after the recommendation letter.

Documents Required

In the procedure for obtaining a business visa in Nepal, the following documents are required:

  1. Online application
  2. Recommendation letter from Department of Industry or related line agency of government
  3. Bio Data (only for first-time applicants)
  4. Foreign Investment Acceptance letter from the Department of Industry.
  5. Copy of Company Registration Certificate
  6. Copy of PAN/VAT certificate
  7. Copy of Share certificate
  8. Copy of Industry Registration Certificate
  9. Copy of Passport and latest visa
  10. Latest tax clearance (for regular visa)
  11. Industry Monitoring and Supervision report
  12. Progress report of company or industry (for renewal)

Fee for Business Visa Processing

Business Visa Processing fee differs with the amount of investment made.

  1. Investors who are investing less than 10 million (NRS) – USD 35/month, USD400/year, USD 1000 for five years
  2. Investors who are investing more than 10 million (NRS) – USD 20/month, USD 200/year, USD 500 for five years
  3. Investors who are investing more than 100 million (NRS) – No Charges

Eligibility for Obtaining a Business visa in Nepal

The following people are eligible for obtaining a business visa in Nepal:

a) Foreigners who have obtained permission to make any investment in any trade or industry in Nepal or a permitted representative of such trade.

b) Foreigners who have obtained permission to make an investment in order to carry on export trade from Nepal.

c) Foreigners who come to Nepal from third countries and who buy and export goods manufactured in Nepal or make a purchase order for exports.

For Answers and Questions

How much time is required to receive a business visa in Nepal?

Commonly it may take about 3 to 4 weeks at DOI or the concerned line agency to obtain the recommendation letter and may need about 5 working days to receive the business visa from the Immigration Department.

 Who is eligible for receiving a business visa?

The following people are eligible for obtaining a business visa in Nepal:

a) Foreigners who have obtained permission to make any investment in any trade or industry in Nepal or a permitted representative of such trade.

b) Foreigners who have obtained permission to make an investment in order to carry on export trade from Nepal.

c) Foreigners who come to Nepal from third countries and who buy and export goods manufactured in Nepal or make a purchase order for exports.

What if a Business Visa applicant has made an investment of more than 10 million (NRS)?

If a Business Visa applicant has made an investment of more than 10 million (NRS), ‘Share Details’ are mandatory along with other required documents for visa processing.