What This Service Covers
NGO and INGO work follows different routes in Nepal. A domestic non-profit association registers at the District Administration Office in its relevant district, while an international organisation follows the Social Welfare Council agreement route rather than registering as a Nepali association.
The proposed purpose, founders or home organisation, operating context and programme information help determine which route needs to be followed.
What Our Service Includes
- Founding and governance documents, association-registration coordination and Social Welfare Council coordination within the agreed engagement.
- Coordination of the agreed domestic-association or international-organisation document route without treating them as interchangeable.
- Route-first support to distinguish a domestic association, a not-for-profit company and an international organisation.
Who It Is For
- Promoters who need to decide whether an association, not-for-profit company or Social Welfare Council route fits the organisation's intended work.
- Founding members forming a Nepali non-profit association.
- International organisations planning programme work in Nepal.
What Is Not Assumed
- An INGO does not use the domestic-association registration route merely because it works in Nepal.
- District Administration Office registration and Social Welfare Council affiliation are separate decisions by separate bodies.
- A not-for-profit company is a different vehicle registered through the Office of the Company Registrar.
- Fundraising, donor introductions, programme design, authority approval and Company Darta's fee are not assumed.
KEY ROUTE DECISIONS FOR NGO / INGO REGISTRATION
- Intended audience: Nepali associations; international organisations.
- Primary authority or route: DAO; Social Welfare Council.
- Core route definition: NGO and INGO work follows different routes in Nepal. A domestic non-profit association registers at the District Administration Office in its relevant district, while an international organisation follows the Social Welfare Council agreement route rather than registering as a Nepali association.
- Main dependency: For international organisations, the readiness of home-country, programme and funding information for the applicable path.
Doing It Yourself vs. Working With Us
Without Professional Help
- You distinguish the domestic association, not-for-profit company and international-organisation routes before collecting documents.
- You coordinate founding-member or home-country documents, local information and authority follow-up independently.
- You identify the correct route, prepare the founding documents and manage the relevant District Administration Office or Social Welfare Council process yourself.
- You keep the organisation's governance, office and programme information ready for the confirmed authority route.
With Company Darta Nepal
- You receive agreed support for governance documents and DAO/SWC coordination. The District Administration Office and Social Welfare Council retain their own decisions.
- You receive a route-first review to avoid preparing domestic-association papers for an organisation that needs a different path.
- You receive coordinated governance-document preparation within the agreed scope while founders or the home organisation remain responsible for the factual and programme information.
- You receive a practical handoff of the domestic-association or international-organisation next steps identified for the engagement.
NGO and INGO registration routes
Confirm the route first. A domestic association, a not-for-profit company and an international organisation should not be treated as the same registration process.
Confirm the applicable route Before filing
Confirm whether the organisation is a domestic association, a not-for-profit company or an international organisation working through the Social Welfare Council.
Check the name and purpose for a domestic association Depends on the district office
A domestic association checks its proposed name and purpose with the District Administration Office in the district where it will be based.
Prepare the constitution and founding information Depends on committee agreement and signatures
Prepare the constitution for the organisation's objectives, membership, committee structure, meetings, finances and dissolution, together with founding-member information.
File the domestic-association application Depends on document readiness
Submit the application, constitution, member details and identity materials to the relevant District Administration Office with applicable government charges.
Respond to the authority's examination Authority-dependent
The District Administration Office may request changes before it decides on registration and issues a certificate.
Complete the appropriate post-registration or INGO path Separate authority process
A domestic association may need PAN and Social Welfare Council affiliation for projects or external funding. An international organisation instead follows the Social Welfare Council agreement route.
Information to prepare
Requirements vary by district and by whether the organisation is domestic or international. This is a working list, not a legally final checklist.
Check the final requirements with the relevant District Administration Office or the Social Welfare Council before filing. The domestic NGO and INGO routes are different.
What You Receive and What Can Affect the Work
What You Receive
- A route-specific checklist that separates domestic association steps from the international-organisation path.
- A registration roadmap and document pack within the agreed engagement.
- Agreed support with governance documents and DAO/SWC coordination; authority certificates, affiliation and agreements remain authority decisions.
Before You Proceed
- Ensure the organisation can provide the founding, governance, office and programme information needed for its confirmed route.
- Confirm the founders or home-country organisation, objectives, district or programme context, funding position and intended route.
- Confirm whether a not-for-profit company, rather than an association, is the suitable vehicle.
What Can Affect Timing
- For international organisations, the readiness of home-country, programme and funding information for the applicable path.
- Route selection, committee agreement, name availability, constitution changes, document readiness and the relevant authority's process.
- The completeness and consistency of founding, governance, office and programme information for the confirmed route.
CTA Note
Contact Company Darta to confirm whether your organisation needs a domestic association, not-for-profit company or Social Welfare Council route before preparing an application.
Quotation Disclaimer
To request a written quotation, use the Contact Us form or email [email protected]. An initial enquiry does not require document submission. The final quotation is confirmed after the route and agreed scope are reviewed.
A Partner, Not Just a Processor
10+ Years Experience
Years working with Nepal's registration authorities — we know every procedure, form and official requirement.
Dedicated Experts
One specialist owns your file from consultation to completion. No call centers, no handoffs.
Transparent Pricing
Clear, itemized quotes before you commit. Government fees and service fees always separated.
100% Government Compliant
No shortcuts and irresponsible filing, Prepared and reviewed according to the applicable registration requirements
End-to-End Support
We stay with you after registration — compliance, filings and renewals, one partner for the whole journey.
