Hotel Management Software in Nepal (2026): Features, Prices, IRD Rules & How to Choose

Hotel management software in Nepal: front desk, room booking and IRD billing dashboard

Hotel Management Software in Nepal (2026): Features, Prices, IRD Rules & How to Choose

Updated October 2026 · Written for hotel, resort, guesthouse, homestay and trekking-lodge owners in Nepal

Most hotel software guides you will find online are written by one vendor to sell its own product, or are thin lists copied from global directories. Neither tells a Nepali hotel owner what actually matters here: IRD-approved billing, CBMS sync, 13% VAT and service charge on the same bill, Bikram Sambat dates, foreign guest registration, and a system that keeps working when the internet drops in Pokhara or Namche.

This guide explains what hotel management software (also called a hotel PMS) does, which features a hotel in Nepal genuinely needs, what it costs, which options exist in the market, and a step-by-step way to choose one without regret.

Quick answer

The best hotel management software in Nepal is one that combines reservations, front desk, housekeeping and restaurant POS with IRD-approved billing, handles service charge and 13% VAT correctly, supports Nepali dates and NPR, syncs with Booking.com and Agoda, and comes with local support. Small properties can start on a cloud plan for roughly USD 50–300 a month; larger hotels and groups usually pay more and negotiate custom pricing.

What Is Hotel Management Software?

Hotel management software is a single system that runs the daily operations of a hotel: taking bookings, checking guests in and out, assigning rooms, tracking housekeeping, billing the guest, and producing reports for the owner and the tax office. The core of it is the Property Management System (PMS). Around the PMS, most hotels in Nepal also connect:

  • Channel manager – keeps room availability in sync across Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, Airbnb and your own website.
  • Booking engine – lets guests book directly on your website, so you pay no OTA commission.
  • Restaurant and bar POS – posts food, drink and minibar charges to the guest’s room folio.
  • Billing and accounting – produces tax invoices, credit notes and the sales books IRD expects.
  • Inventory and purchase – kitchen stock, linen, amenities and supplier bills.

Here is how one guest’s stay moves through a connected system:

1. Booking
OTA, website, phone or walk-in
2. Check-in
ID or passport, room assigned, FNMIS entry
3. Stay
Restaurant, laundry and minibar posted to folio
4. Check-out
IRD-compliant bill with VAT
5. Night audit
CBMS sync, reports, room status reset

If any step lives on paper or in a separate Excel file, that is where errors, double bookings and tax mismatches creep in.

Why Nepali Hotels Need Proper Software Now

Tourism is almost back to its pre-pandemic peak. Nepal received 1,158,459 foreign tourists in 2025, a little above the 1,147,548 who came in 2024, and close to the record 1,197,191 of 2019, according to Nepal Tourism Board figures.

Foreign tourist arrivals in Nepal (NTB)

2019 (record year)1,197,191
20241,147,548
20251,158,459

Bars scaled to the 2019 record. 2025 reached about 97% of the pre-COVID peak.

The bigger operational problem is seasonality. Demand spikes in spring and autumn and drops hard in the monsoon. In 2025, arrivals peaked at 121,687 in March and 128,443 in October, but July saw only 70,193 visitors.

Selected months in 2025: why peak season breaks manual systems

121,687
70,193
78,711
128,443
98,190
Mar
Jul
Sep
Oct
Dec

September 2025 fell 18.3% year on year after the Gen-Z protests, then autumn recovered. Source: Nepal Tourism Board via ShareSansar and IANS.

In October a 20-room hotel can receive bookings from four OTAs, phone calls, travel agents and walk-ins on the same afternoon. That is exactly when a paper register or a shared Google Sheet causes an overbooking. Hotel Heranya, a family-run 17-room hotel in Kathmandu that previously ran manually, reports that moving to a cloud PMS solved its overbooking issue and lifted revenue by about 20% (vendor case study, so treat the number as indicative).

Software also lets you do things that are almost impossible by hand: raise rates automatically when occupancy crosses a threshold in peak weeks, push monsoon discounts to every channel at once, and see which channel actually brings profitable guests after commission.

Must-Have Features for Hotel Software in Nepal

Global feature lists are fine, but the items marked Nepal-specific below are the ones international comparison sites almost never mention, and they are often the reason a hotel switches software after a year.

Core PMS features

  • Reservation calendar (tape chart) showing every room by date, with drag-and-drop room moves.
  • Fast check-in and check-out with ID or passport scan and guest history for repeat visitors.
  • Housekeeping module with live room status (clean, dirty, inspected, out of order) on a phone.
  • Guest folio that collects room, restaurant, laundry, transport and tour charges into one bill, with split and group billing.
  • Night audit and reports: occupancy, ADR (average daily rate), RevPAR, cash book and outstanding receivables.
  • Role-based access so a receptionist cannot delete a paid bill or change room rates.

Nepal-specific features (the content most guides skip)

FeatureWhy it matters in NepalWhat to ask the vendor
IRD-approved billingTax invoices from unapproved software can create problems during an IRD audit.Is this exact product and version on IRD’s approved list?
CBMS syncLarger businesses must push bills to IRD’s Central Billing Monitoring System.Is CBMS real-time? What happens to bills raised while offline?
Service charge + 13% VATService charge is applied first, then VAT on the combined amount.Can menu prices be set tax-inclusive while the bill still shows the breakdown?
BS and AD datesBills, VAT returns and fiscal-year reports follow Bikram Sambat (Shrawan to Ashar).Do sales books and reports run on the Nepali fiscal year?
Foreign guest registrationThe Department of Immigration’s FNMIS is being rolled out to hotels in phases.Can I export or reuse passport data for FNMIS entry?
Offline modeInternet drops in hill and mountain areas and during outages.Can the front desk still check in and bill without internet?
Multi-currencyForeign guests often pay in USD, INR or by card.Does the bill show NPR with the rate used for conversion?
Local paymentsMany domestic guests pay by Fonepay QR, eSewa or Khalti.Can these be recorded as separate payment modes for reconciliation?
Nepali-language interfaceHousekeeping and kitchen staff may be more comfortable in Nepali.Is Nepali available for the staff app, not only the bill print?

Growth features (useful once the basics work)

  • Channel manager with two-way sync to Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia and Airbnb.
  • Direct booking engine on your website. If you do not have a site yet, see our guide on website design cost in Nepal.
  • Rate rules for peak weeks, Dashain and Tihar, and monsoon offers.
  • Travel agent and corporate accounts with credit limits, since many Nepali hotels still get a large share of business from agents.
  • Multi-property dashboard for owners running, for example, one hotel in Kathmandu and one in Pokhara.

IRD, CBMS, VAT and FNMIS: The Compliance Layer

This is the biggest content gap in competing articles. A hotel can survive with an average channel manager; it cannot afford billing that fails an IRD review.

1. IRD-approved billing software

If your hotel issues VAT bills from software, that software should be approved by the Inland Revenue Department. Always check the vendor against the official list rather than trusting a sales brochure. We keep an updated IRD-approved billing software list in Nepal, and if you are a developer building your own system, read how to get IRD approval for billing software in Nepal.

2. CBMS connection

The Central Billing Monitoring System sends your bills to IRD. Hotels with a busy restaurant face the same CBMS questions as standalone restaurants: real-time vs batch sync, cancelled bills, and credit notes. Our CBMS integration guide for restaurant billing in Nepal covers this in detail, and the same logic applies to your hotel F&B outlet.

3. Service charge and 13% VAT, calculated in the right order

The standard sequence is: apply the 10% service charge on the subtotal, then 13% VAT on subtotal plus service charge. Good hotel software does this automatically. Here is a worked example for one night:

Room charge (1 night)Rs 5,000
Service charge 10%Rs 500
Taxable amountRs 5,500
VAT 13% on Rs 5,500Rs 715
Total payableRs 6,215

Watch out: a 2022 Kathmandu District Court ruling held that adding VAT and service charge on top of the displayed menu price misleads consumers, and authorities have since pushed restaurants to show tax-inclusive menu prices. Your software should let you display inclusive prices while the bill still breaks out the taxable value, service charge and VAT. Ask the vendor to show you this on a live demo. This is general information, not tax advice; confirm your setup with your auditor.

4. Foreign guest registration (FNMIS)

Nepal’s Department of Immigration has introduced the Foreign Nationals Management Information System (FNMIS). It started with star-rated hotels in Kathmandu Valley, expanded to all star hotels nationwide from 1 March 2026, and is planned to cover all hotels and guest houses in later phases. If a guest does not self-register through the immigration app, the hotel is expected to do it. Software that already stores clean passport, visa and stay data saves your front desk from typing it twice. Check the latest phase with the Department of Immigration before you buy.

Cloud vs On-Premise Hotel Software in Nepal

Cloud systems run in a browser and are billed monthly. On-premise systems are installed on a local computer or server, often with a one-time licence. Both are common in Nepal.

FactorCloud PMSOn-premise PMS
Upfront costLow, monthly or yearly feeHigher, licence plus hardware
Remote accessYes, from phone or laptop anywhereUsually only on the hotel network
Internet dependencyHigh, unless it has an offline modeLow
OTA channel syncEasy and real-timeHarder, often needs add-ons
Backups and updatesHandled by the vendorYour responsibility
Best forCity hotels, owners who travel, OTA-heavy propertiesRemote lodges with unreliable internet, owners wanting data in-house

Practical tip: many Nepali hotels end up with a hybrid: a cloud PMS for bookings and channels, plus a reliable backup internet line (fibre plus a mobile data router) at the front desk. Ask any cloud vendor exactly what happens to check-ins and billing during a two-hour outage.

Hotel Management Software Options Available in Nepal

The market splits into local Nepali vendors (strong on IRD billing and on-site support) and international cloud PMS brands (strong on OTA connectivity and polished apps, usually sold through local partners). The table below summarises publicly stated positioning. It is not a ranking, and no vendor paid to be included.

SoftwareTypeWhat it is known forCheck before buying
Sarvanam SoftwareLocal, cloudKathmandu-based hotel PMS and restaurant POS since 2016; says it serves 300+ hotelsPricing for small properties, channel manager depth
SMTECH Smart ERPLocal ERPPOS, restaurant, hotel and accounting modules from one Kathmandu vendorDepth of front office, housekeeping and night audit
NitiERPLocal ERPMarkets itself as IRD-approved and CBMS-connected with industry packsHotel-specific PMS features vs general ERP
MyHotelLineCloud, mobileNPR currency, Nepali language, OTA links, mobile-first managementIRD approval status and local support coverage in your district
HotelogixInternational cloudCloud PMS with POS and channel sync; active in Nepal through local partnersHow IRD billing and CBMS are handled locally
eZee, mycloud, KWHotelInternational cloudBroad PMS, channel manager and POS bundlesNepal tax invoice format, local onboarding
Oracle OPERAEnterpriseUsed by large international chain hotelsCost and implementation time; overkill for most independents

Vendor claims are taken from their own websites and listings. Always verify IRD approval on the official list and ask for two references from hotels of your size.

Hotel Management Software Price in Nepal

There is no fixed price. Cost depends on room count, modules, integrations and support. Global cloud PMS market ranges published by one vendor give a useful starting point:

Typical monthly cloud PMS cost by hotel size (USD)

Small hotel / hostel (10–30 rooms)$50–$300
Boutique hotel (30–80 rooms)$300–$800
Mid-size hotel (80–150 rooms)$800–$2,500
Large hotel / resort$2,500–$10,000+

Bar lengths show the upper end of each range on a compressed scale. Source: Hotelogix PMS pricing guide. Multiply by the current NPR/USD rate for a rupee estimate.

Directory listings show some entry plans starting from about USD 3–4 per room per month, and a few desktop systems sold as a one-time licence. Local Nepali vendors usually quote on request, often as a yearly fee plus installation.

Hidden costs to budget for

  • Setup and data migration from your old register or Excel.
  • Hardware: front-desk PC, thermal or A4 bill printer, KOT printer for the kitchen, tablet for housekeeping.
  • Channel manager and booking engine, sometimes priced separately.
  • Restaurant POS add-on and extra user licences.
  • Annual renewal and support (AMC), including on-site visits outside Kathmandu.
  • Training every time staff turn over before the season.

The pattern is similar to what we found for restaurants: the subscription is rarely the biggest number in year one. See our breakdown of restaurant billing software price in Nepal for how to build a true first-year budget, which applies directly to a hotel’s F&B side.

Which Type of Software Fits Your Property?

Homestay or guesthouse (1–10 rooms)

A simple mobile-first cloud PMS or even a channel manager with basic billing. Priority: OTA sync and easy phone use. Make sure bills are IRD-compliant if you are VAT registered.

City hotel (10–50 rooms) in Thamel, Lakeside or Sauraha

Full PMS with channel manager, restaurant POS, housekeeping app and IRD billing. Priority: overbooking control in peak season and travel agent accounts.

Resort or star hotel (50+ rooms)

PMS plus multiple POS outlets, banquet and events, inventory, accounting integration, CBMS and FNMIS workflows. Priority: audit trail and reporting.

Trekking lodge or remote resort

Offline-capable or on-premise billing, with bookings synced whenever internet is available. Priority: works without connectivity, simple training.

Illustrative scenario: a 20-room hotel in Thamel

Picture a typical family-run 20-room hotel. In October the owner gets bookings from Booking.com, Agoda, two trekking agencies and walk-ins. The receptionist updates a paper register and then each OTA extranet by hand. One evening, two OTAs sell the last deluxe room within ten minutes of each other, and a guest arrives after a 12-hour flight to find no room.

With a PMS plus two-way channel manager, the first booking closes that room on every channel within seconds. The restaurant bill posts to the room automatically, the checkout bill calculates service charge and VAT correctly, and the owner sees occupancy and cash on a phone from home. That is the practical difference software makes, not fancy dashboards.

How to Choose Hotel Management Software in Nepal: 7 Steps

  1. List your real problems first. Overbooking? Lost restaurant bills? Slow checkout? Tax worries? Rank them; they decide which modules you need.
  2. Shortlist only IRD-approved options. Cross-check names on the IRD-approved software list before any demo.
  3. Ask for a live demo with your own scenario. A group of 8 trekkers, one room split across two bills, a restaurant charge moved to the room, a cancellation with a credit note.
  4. Test the bill. Check service charge, VAT order, BS date, PAN number, and how a cancelled bill appears in reports.
  5. Test the internet failure. Unplug the router during the demo and see what still works.
  6. Confirm support and data ownership. Response time in peak season, on-site support outside the valley, and whether you can export all guest and billing data if you leave.
  7. Go live in the off-season. Install in June to August, train staff, run parallel with the old method for two weeks, and be fully ready before the September–November rush.

Red flags

  • The vendor cannot show an IRD approval letter for the exact product.
  • Bills can be edited or deleted after printing with no trace.
  • Data export is “not possible” or charged heavily.
  • No references from hotels in Nepal of your size.
  • Long lock-in contracts with no trial period.

If your property is mainly a restaurant with a few rooms, a restaurant system may serve you better. Compare options in our guide to restaurant management software for small businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best hotel management software in Nepal?

There is no single best system for every property. The best choice for a Nepali hotel is IRD-approved, handles 10% service charge and 13% VAT correctly, supports Nepali dates, syncs with OTAs, and has dependable local support. Small guesthouses need simplicity; resorts need POS, inventory and audit features.

How much does hotel software cost in Nepal?

Cloud PMS plans for small hotels commonly fall around USD 50–300 a month, boutique hotels around USD 300–800, and large hotels much more. Some entry plans start near USD 3–4 per room per month. Add setup, hardware, POS add-ons and annual support to your budget.

Does hotel software in Nepal need IRD approval?

If you issue VAT bills through software, the billing software should be approved by Nepal’s Inland Revenue Department. Verify the product on the official IRD list rather than relying on the vendor’s claim.

How are service charge and VAT calculated on a hotel bill in Nepal?

The 10% service charge is added to the subtotal first, then 13% VAT is charged on the subtotal plus service charge. A Rs 5,000 room becomes Rs 5,500 with service charge and Rs 6,215 after VAT.

Is cloud hotel software reliable in Nepal?

Yes in cities with stable fibre, especially with a backup mobile data connection. For remote lodges, choose software with an offline mode or an on-premise billing component that syncs later.

Do hotels in Nepal have to register foreign guests online?

The Department of Immigration is rolling out FNMIS in phases. Star hotels nationwide were included from 1 March 2026, with all hotels and guest houses planned in later phases. Check the current phase with the Department of Immigration.

Can one software manage both my hotel rooms and restaurant?

Yes. Most hotel PMS options include or integrate a restaurant POS so food and drink charges post to the guest’s room bill, with kitchen order tickets and a single tax invoice at checkout.

Final Thoughts

With arrivals back near record levels and compliance tightening through IRD billing, CBMS and FNMIS, running a Nepali hotel on paper is getting riskier every season. Choose software for the problems you actually have, insist on IRD approval and a correct tax bill, test what happens when the internet fails, and go live before the autumn rush.

For more guides on billing, POS and business tools in Nepal, visit our Web, SEO and Business Software hub.

How to Recharge NTC from Abroad (2026): 7 Ways to Top Up Any Nepal Telecom Number

Recharge NTC SIM from abroad using card, wallet or PIN

How to Recharge NTC from Abroad (2026): 7 Ways to Top Up Any Nepal Telecom Number

Updated: October 20, 2026 · Reading time: about 10 minutes · Checked against Nepal Telecom’s CardPay process and current validity rules

You are in Doha, Seoul, Sydney or London. Your bank in Nepal sends an OTP to your NTC number, or your mother’s phone in the village just ran out of balance. Either way, you need to recharge NTC from abroad — quickly, safely and without asking a cousin to run to the shop.

The good news: every Nepal Telecom prepaid and postpaid number can be topped up from any country. The catch most guides skip is that some methods quietly need an OTP on a Nepali SIM, which is exactly what you may not have working abroad. This guide sorts the seven methods by what you actually have in your pocket — a foreign card, a Nepali wallet, or just a recharge PIN — and shows how to keep your number alive so it is never recycled to someone else.

Quick answer

  • Best official way: NTC CardPay (cardpay.ntc.net.np) — pay with any Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card, no NTC login or Nepali OTP needed.
  • Easiest in your own currency: Hamro Recharge (USD, JPY, AUD and EUR) or a global top-up app like Ding.
  • Cheapest with no card: ask family to send a recharge card PIN, then dial *412*PIN# (prepaid) while roaming or enter it in the NTC app over Wi-Fi.
  • To keep your SIM alive long term: one Rs 1,000 recharge gives 690 days of validity.

Which Method Should You Use? Start Here

Most people pick the wrong method because they start with the app instead of the problem. Answer two questions — whose number and how will you pay — and the right option falls out.

Recharge NTC from abroad: decision chart

What do you have to pay with?

↓

A foreign or dollar card

Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay

→ NTC CardPay (official)
→ Hamro Recharge

PayPal or Apple Pay

No card details to share

→ Global top-up apps (Ding, Recharge.com)

Nepali wallet or bank

And the login still works

→ eSewa / Khalti
→ Bank app top-up

Nothing online

Family in Nepal can help

→ Recharge PIN via *412# or NTC app
→ Family top-up

Rule of thumb: if you are not sure your Nepali OTP will arrive, choose a method in the blue or green box.

All 7 Ways to Recharge NTC from Abroad, Compared

The column most articles leave out is the third one. If a method needs an OTP on your Nepali number and that SIM is switched off in a drawer at home, it will not work for you — however popular it is.

MethodPay withNeeds Nepali OTP?Official?Best for
1. NTC CardPayVisa, Mastercard, UnionPayNo (card OTP comes from your own bank)Yes, Nepal TelecomAnyone with a card that allows online payments
2. Hamro RechargeInternational card in USD, JPY, AUD or EURNoThird party (Hamro Patro)US, Japan, Australia, Europe
3. Global top-up appsCard, PayPal, Apple Pay (varies)NoThird partyPeople who prefer PayPal or Apple Pay
4. eSewa / KhaltiWallet balanceOften, on new devicesLicensed Nepali walletsPeople who set the wallet up before leaving
5. Nepali bank appNepali bank accountUsuallyYes, your bankStudents and workers who still bank in Nepal
6. Recharge PIN (*412# or NTC app)A PIN family sends youNo for *412#; app first login mayYes, Nepal TelecomNo card, no fees, roaming SIM
7. Family top-upRemittance or cash in NepalNo (for you)—Recharging parents’ phones every month

Method 1: Recharge NTC from Abroad with NTC CardPay (Official)

NTC CardPay is Nepal Telecom’s own online recharge portal, run with Nabil Bank as the payment partner. It accepts local and international debit and credit cards — Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay — and works for both prepaid top-ups and postpaid bills. Because you never log in to an NTC account, it does not need an OTP on the NTC number you are recharging. That makes it the most reliable option for Nepalis abroad.

Step-by-step: NTC CardPay

1
Open the portal. Go to cardpay.ntc.net.np. Type the address yourself or use this link — do not follow “NTC recharge” links from Facebook ads.
2
Enter the NTC number. Type the 10-digit number (98XXXXXXXX or 97XXXXXXXX), tick the captcha and click to proceed.
3
Choose the amount and confirm. Amounts are in Nepali rupees; your bank converts them to your card currency.
4
Pay on the Nabil Bank page. Enter card number, expiry date, cardholder name and CVV. Add your email if you want a payment receipt.
5
Approve the OTP. The code comes from your card issuer to the phone or app registered with your card abroad — not to the NTC number.
6
Confirm the balance. The person in Nepal can dial *400# to check. Keep the receipt email until you see the balance.

Before you pay

  • Turn on online / international transactions in your card app. Many Gulf and Malaysian salary cards ship with this off.
  • Your bank may add a foreign transaction fee because the merchant is in Nepal. Check your statement once and you will know the real cost.
  • Double-check the number. A recharge sent to the wrong number is almost never reversed.

Methods 2 & 3: Hamro Recharge and Global Top-Up Apps

Method 2: Hamro Recharge (by Hamro Patro)

Hamro Recharge was built for Nepalis abroad and supports NTC, Ncell and Smart Cell numbers. It started with US dollars, later added Japanese yen and Australian dollars, and now also takes euros; if you live somewhere else you can still pay in USD with an internationally enabled card. If you already use Hamro Patro for the calendar, you are one login away.

  1. Open Hamro Recharge on the web or in the Hamro Patro app and log in.
  2. Enter the NTC number. The operator is detected from the number.
  3. Pick a top-up amount. You see the price in your currency and the rupee value NTC will credit.
  4. Pay by card and wait a few seconds for the balance to land.

Method 3: Global apps such as Ding and Recharge.com

International top-up companies sell NTC airtime in dozens of currencies. Ding lets you send NTC recharge from India, Australia, the USA or anywhere else, while Recharge.com lists Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Amex and Apple Pay among its payment options for NTC Nepal. The trade-off is price: these apps set their own exchange rate and may add a service fee, so a top-up usually costs a little more than CardPay. Compare the rupee amount credited, not the headline price.

How to compare the real cost in 30 seconds

Divide what you pay in your currency by the rupees the receiver actually gets. Do it for two apps with the same top-up. The lower number is your cheaper option — the same trick we use in our UK to Nepal money transfer guide to expose hidden exchange-rate margins.

Methods 4 & 5: eSewa, Khalti and Nepali Bank Apps

If you still have a working Nepali wallet or mobile banking app, topping up NTC is the same as at home: open Top-up, enter the NTC number and amount, confirm with your MPIN. Khalti even advertises cashback on NTC top-ups. The steps are easy; access is the hard part.

The OTP trap most guides ignore

eSewa, Khalti and Nepali bank apps tie your account to your Nepali mobile number. Logging in on a new phone, resetting a password or approving a large payment can trigger an OTP to that number. Remittance company OrbitRemit points out that managing your own eSewa account from overseas effectively needs a working Nepali SIM. So:

  • If your NTC SIM is with you and roaming works, the OTP arrives and wallets work normally.
  • If the SIM is at home, a family member can read you the OTP — only do this with someone you fully trust.
  • If neither is possible, skip wallets and use CardPay or a PIN.

How to fund the wallet from abroad

You cannot load eSewa or Khalti with a foreign card, but you can send remittance straight into a wallet through partner money-transfer apps — Khalti lists WorldRemit and Remitly, and eSewa has its own remittance partners. Our send money to Nepal guide compares those apps country by country. Once the money is in the wallet, you or your family can recharge any NTC number in seconds.

Methods 6 & 7: Recharge PIN While Roaming and Family Top-Up

Method 6: Use a recharge card PIN

This is the lowest-cost route: no card fees, no exchange-rate markup. A family member buys an NTC recharge card in Nepal, scratches it and sends you the 16-digit PIN on Viber or WhatsApp. Then:

If your NTC SIM is roaming

Prepaid: dial *412*PIN#

Postpaid: dial *412*PIN*10#

If you only have Wi-Fi

Open the Nepal Telecom app → Recharge Now → Self or Others → enter or scan the PIN.

NTC switched international roaming on by default for prepaid numbers from Shrawan 30, 2081, so most prepaid SIMs can already register on a foreign network. Dial *1415*7# to check roaming status before you rely on USSD codes. A full list of codes is in our NTC USSD codes guide.

Damaged card with unreadable digits? NTC’s PIN recovery portal can still credit it if enough digits and the serial number are readable — but you only get five attempts.

Method 7: Let family top up, and pay them back

For parents who need balance every month, the simplest system is often a small monthly remittance plus a standing request: “keep Rs 500 on Aama’s phone.” Family can also move balance between numbers instantly — see how to transfer balance from NTC to NTC. In an emergency, the NTC number itself can borrow credit with NTC loan (Sapati).

Example scenario: a worker in Qatar

Ramesh works in Doha with a local salary card. His NTC SIM stays in his phone’s second slot on roaming so bank OTPs still reach him. Every few months he:

  • Uses NTC CardPay with his Qatari card to put Rs 1,000 on his own number (690 days of validity, no fuss).
  • Uses the same portal to top up his mother’s NTC number with Rs 200 each month.
  • Keeps Hamro Recharge as a backup in case his card is ever declined.

Recharging an Ncell number from India instead? The methods differ slightly, so follow our India to Nepal recharge Ncell guide, which covers UPI options at the fixed 1.6 rupee rate.

NTC Recharge Validity: How Long Each Amount Lasts

When you recharge from abroad, validity matters more than balance. Your balance does not disappear, but if validity runs out your SIM starts heading toward deactivation. Online (MPOS) recharges, which include CardPay and wallet top-ups, follow this table; the minimum online top-up is Rs 20.

Days of validity by online recharge amount (NTC prepaid)

Rs 20
7 days
Rs 30 / 40
14 days
Rs 50
25 days
Rs 100
55 days
Rs 150
75 days
Rs 200
130 days
Rs 300
180 days
Rs 500
330 days
Rs 1,000+
690 days

Amounts are the lower edge of each band (e.g. Rs 100–149.99 gives 55 days). Source: NepaliTelecom, updated June 2026.

The “validity per rupee” insight

Bigger recharges buy validity more efficiently. Rs 20 gives about 0.35 days per rupee, Rs 100 gives 0.55, Rs 500 gives 0.66 and Rs 1,000 gives 0.69. Because unused balance stays on the SIM, one Rs 1,000 top-up is the cheapest way to keep a number you rarely use alive for almost two years.

Physical recharge cardSIM validity
Rs 5025 days
Rs 10055 days
Rs 200130 days
Rs 500330 days
Rs 1,000690 days

How to Stop Your NTC Number Being Recycled While You Are Abroad

This is the real reason many people search how to recharge NTC from abroad. Nepal’s Supreme Court has allowed telecom companies to recycle long-inactive numbers, and losing your number can lock you out of mobile banking, wallets and social media. Here is what happens after validity ends:

Day 0

Validity ends. One-way barring: you can receive calls but not make them.

About day 30

Two-way barring: no calls or SMS in or out. Bank OTPs stop.

About day 60

Balance wiped, registration cancelled, number returned to the pool for resale.

A recharge at any point before deactivation restores service. After that, getting the same number back is not guaranteed. To stay safe:

  • Recharge Rs 500–1,000 before you fly for 330–690 days of validity.
  • Set a calendar reminder one month before validity ends, then top up with CardPay.
  • Use the number occasionally — an SMS or call now and then shows it is active.
  • Make sure the SIM is in your name. Check with our SIM owner name guide and transfer ownership before leaving.
  • Consider an NTC eSIM. On a dual-SIM phone you can keep NTC as an eSIM and use a local SIM for daily calls. See how to activate an NTC eSIM — do it in Nepal, not after you land.

Leaving Nepal soon? Your pre-departure phone and paperwork checklist

  • Recharge NTC for long validity, confirm roaming with *1415*7#, and register the Nepal Telecom app.
  • Log in to eSewa, Khalti and your bank app on the phone you will carry, so OTP checks happen while you are still in Nepal.
  • Going for work? Keep your labour permit current with our Shram Swikriti renewal online guide.
  • Many visas and jobs ask for a police clearance certificate — apply online before you go.
  • Planning to drive abroad? Get an international driving permit from NASA Nepal.
  • Settling abroad long term? Read how to get an NRN card.

Recharge Failed? Common Problems and Fixes

ProblemLikely causeFix
Card declined on CardPayInternational or online payments disabled; bank blocks Nepal merchantsEnable online/overseas use in your card app, then retry; try a different card or Hamro Recharge
Money deducted, no balanceDelay between bank and NTCWait, check with *400#, keep the receipt; failed payments are normally reversed by the bank
*412# does not respondSIM not registered on a roaming networkCheck roaming with *1415*7#, select a partner network manually, or use the NTC app on Wi-Fi
Wallet asks for OTP you cannot receiveNew device or password resetUse CardPay or a PIN instead; fix the wallet next time you are home
Recharged the wrong numberTypoContact the provider at once, but expect no refund; always re-read the number

Avoid recharge scams

  • Never post a recharge PIN in a public Facebook group or comment.
  • Enter card details only on CardPay, your bank, or a well-known top-up company — not on look-alike sites promising “double balance”.
  • Never share a wallet or bank OTP with a “recharge agent”. A recharge never needs your OTP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recharge an NTC number from abroad?

Yes. Any NTC prepaid or postpaid number can be recharged from any country using NTC CardPay, Hamro Recharge, global top-up apps, Nepali wallets or bank apps, or a recharge card PIN.

What is the official website to recharge NTC with a foreign card?

NTC CardPay at cardpay.ntc.net.np. It accepts Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards issued in Nepal or abroad, with Nabil Bank processing the payment.

Can I recharge NTC with PayPal?

Not on NTC’s own portal. Some international top-up services, such as Recharge.com, list PayPal and Apple Pay as payment options for NTC.

How do I recharge NTC with a PIN while roaming?

Dial *412*PIN# for prepaid or *412*PIN*10# for postpaid. If USSD does not work, enter the PIN in the Nepal Telecom app over Wi-Fi.

What is the minimum NTC recharge amount online?

Rs 20 for online (MPOS) top-ups, which gives 7 days of validity. Physical recharge cards start at Rs 50.

How long before an unused NTC SIM is deactivated?

After validity ends, the SIM is one-way barred, then two-way barred after about 30 days, and can be deactivated and recycled after about 60 days. Recharging before then restores it.

Which recharge gives the longest NTC validity?

Rs 1,000 or more gives 690 days, the longest validity available, which makes it the best option for a number you will not use for a long time.

Final Word

For most Nepalis abroad, the answer is simple: use NTC CardPay with your foreign card, keep Hamro Recharge or a PIN as backup, and put Rs 1,000 on any number you need to protect. Sort your wallets and roaming before you leave Nepal, and your number — and every OTP tied to it — will be waiting for you when you come home.

More phone and internet guides: Telecom & Internet in Nepal.

.com.np Domain Registration in Nepal (2026): Free Step-by-Step Guide, Documents & Cover Letter

.com.np domain registration in Nepal step by step guide 2026

.com.np Domain Registration in Nepal (2026): Free Step-by-Step Guide, Documents & Cover Letter

Last checked: October 2026 · Every rule below was verified against the official registry pages at register.com.np

A .com.np domain is still one of the best deals on the internet: it is Nepal’s own address, Nepali customers trust it, and the registry charges nothing for it. The catch is that the process is document-based, not click-and-pay, and small mistakes (a blurry citizenship scan, a domain that doesn’t match your name, an IP address instead of a name server) get applications rejected every day.

While researching this guide we also found that several top-ranking articles now give wrong information, such as claiming .com.np costs NPR 1,500 to 2,000 a year, that individuals cannot register it, or that it must be renewed annually. We compared those claims with what the registry itself publishes, so you can apply once and get approved.

Quick answer: how to register a .com.np domain

  1. Search your name on register.com.np and click Register Now.
  2. Create an account with your email and password, then verify the email.
  3. Log in, fill the domain form and add your hosting name servers (in ns1.example.com format).
  4. Upload your ID (personal) or company registration + stamped request letter (business) as JPG/PNG, each under 800 KB.
  5. Wait for approval, usually 3 to 4 business days. Registration is free.

Rs 0

Registration & modification fee

3–4 days

Typical approval (business days)

800 KB

Max size per uploaded file

No expiry

Periodic reverification instead

What Is a .com.np Domain?

.np is Nepal’s country code top-level domain (ccTLD). You cannot register a name directly under .np; instead you register under a second-level extension such as .com.np, .org.np or .edu.np. The registry is run by Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. (Hiti Pokhari, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu), which also operates the primary name server for .np.

Officially, .com.np is described as an open extension: originally meant for businesses, it has become the “main” Nepali extension and is now used by companies, non-profits, schools and private individuals alike. That is why you see everything from bank websites to personal portfolios on .com.np.

Is .com.np Domain Registration Really Free in 2026?

Yes. The registry’s own FAQ, registry policy and terms all state that registration and modification under .np are free of cost. Mercantile provides it as a service to Nepal’s IT sector, and its terms note it will stay free as long as Mercantile continues providing it.

So where does the confusion come from? Mostly from reseller blog posts and from a government draft bill. Here is what is actually true:

Claim you may read onlineWhat register.com.np says
✗ “.com.np costs NPR 1,500 to 2,000 per year”✓ Registration under .np is free of cost
✗ “Individuals can’t register .com.np”✓ Nepali citizens can register personal domains based on their own name
✗ “Renew every year or lose it after a 30-day grace period”✓ .com.np domains do not expire; inactive ones go through reverification
✗ “Upload your documents as PDF”✓ Accepted formats are JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF and SVG, max 800 KB each
✗ “Give your server IP for DNS”✓ Only FQDN name servers (ns1.host.com) are accepted; IP addresses are rejected

What about the “government will charge for .np” news?

In 2024 the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology published a draft Information Technology and Cyber Security Bill. It proposed moving .np management to a government department, charging a registration fee and renewing domains every two years, with existing domains re-registering within six months of the law taking effect. As of October 2026 it is still a proposal; no fee has been announced and register.com.np still lists registration as free. If the law passes, expect a transition window rather than overnight loss of your domain. We will update this guide if that changes.

Who Can Register a .com.np Domain? (Eligibility)

According to the registry FAQ, three groups are eligible:

  • Nepalese citizens, for a personal domain based on their own name.
  • Local entities: companies, firms, partnerships and organizations registered in Nepal.
  • Foreign and multinational companies that legally exist in Nepal (branch, liaison office, joint venture, agent or licensee).

Non-Resident Nepalis (with an NRN ID card) and foreign nationals holding a Nepalese resident visa can also apply for a personal domain. Entities with a trademark registered in Nepal, or a trademark filing receipt from the Department of Industry, qualify too.

The name-matching rule (the #1 reason people get rejected)

  • Personal: the domain must be based only on the name in your ID. Example: Ram Bahadur Thapa can apply for rambahadurthapa.com.np or ramthapa.com.np, but not bestnepalitravel.com.np.
  • Last name or caste name alone (thapa.com.np, sharma.com.np) is not allowed for personal requests; those are reserved for organizations representing that name.
  • Business: the domain must match your company name, product name, service name or brand name as shown in your registration documents. Generic keyword domains are not given to foreign corporations either.

Which .np Extension Should You Choose?

Picking the wrong extension is an official rejection reason. Use this table from the registry’s extension list:

ExtensionMeant forBest for
.com.npCommercial / openBusinesses, startups, freelancers, personal sites
.org.npNon-profit organizationsNGOs, clubs, associations
.edu.npEducational institutionsSchools, colleges, universities
.net.npNetworks / umbrella portalsISPs, multi-site portals
.name.npIndividuals, by namePersonal portfolios
.coop.npCooperatives onlySaving & credit cooperatives
.gov.npGovernment bodiesHandled by NITC, not register.com.np
.mil.npNepal militaryNepal Army only

Documents Required for .com.np Registration

Personal domain

  • One ID showing your name: citizenship certificate (both sides), passport, driving license or voter card
  • Or NRN ID card / Nepalese resident visa
  • A short request (cover) letter, signed
  • Your hosting name servers

Company / organization domain

  • Company / firm / organization registration certificate
  • Request letter on official letterhead with stamp and authorized signature
  • Foreign entities: branch/liaison registration or SWC affiliation; PAN certificate for non-incorporated entities
  • Trademark certificate or filing receipt if applying by brand

File rules: JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF or SVG only, maximum 800 KB per file. Phone photos are usually 2 to 5 MB, so compress them first (any free image compressor works) while keeping the name and citizenship number clearly readable.

Before You Apply: 3 Things to Prepare

  1. Get hosting first. The form asks for name servers, and they must be valid hostnames such as ns1.yourhost.com. Buy hosting (or set up Cloudflare) before applying. Our web hosting Nepal price guide compares real NPR costs.
  2. Shortlist 2 to 3 names that match your ID or company documents, in case your first choice is taken.
  3. Scan and compress every document under 800 KB, and write your cover letter in advance (templates below).

How to Register a .com.np Domain: Step-by-Step

This is the official flow on register.com.np, shown as a diagram first and then explained step by step.

1
Search domain
2
Register Now
3
Create account
4
Verify email
5
Fill form + upload
6
Approval ✓

Step 1: Check availability

Go to register.com.np, type the name you want with the extension and click Search. If it is taken, try your next shortlisted name. You can also use the Whois Lookup to see who holds an existing domain.

Step 2: Click “Register Now”

If the domain is available, click Register Now. You will be taken to the login/sign-up page.

Step 3: Create your account

Enter your email and a password, fill in your details and click Create Accounts. Use an email you will keep for years: it becomes the registrant contact, and you need it later to change name servers or pass reverification.

Step 4: Verify your email

Open the verification email (check spam) and confirm your account.

Step 5: Fill the domain form and upload documents

Sign in and complete the application:

  • Administrative contact: full name, organization, address, phone and email. Missing fields are an official rejection reason.
  • Technical contact: your web developer or yourself.
  • Name servers: at least the primary and secondary from your host, for example ns1.yourhost.com and ns2.yourhost.com.
  • Attachments: ID or company certificate plus cover letter, each under 800 KB.

Step 6: Wait for approval

The FAQ says approval usually takes 3 to 4 business days or more depending on backlog; the registry policy mentions a minimum of 24 hours. If rejected, read the reason in your dashboard and resubmit quickly, because rejected requests are not held for more than three to four business days.

Sample Cover Letter for .com.np Domain Registration

Copy, edit the brackets, sign, then photograph or scan it as JPG/PNG.

Personal domain request letter

Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

To,
The Hostmaster
Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Hiti Pokhari, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu

Subject: Request for registration of .com.np domain

Dear Sir/Madam,

I, [Full Name as in citizenship], a citizen of Nepal (Citizenship No. [number]), request you to kindly register the domain [yourname].com.np in my name. The domain will be used for my [personal website / portfolio / blog].

Primary name server: [ns1.yourhost.com]
Secondary name server: [ns2.yourhost.com]

A copy of my citizenship certificate is attached for verification.

Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Full Name]
[Address, Phone, Email]

Company domain request letter (print on letterhead)

[Company Letterhead]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

To,
The Hostmaster
Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Hiti Pokhari, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu

Subject: Request for registration of [companyname].com.np

Dear Sir/Madam,

[Company Name], registered at the Office of Company Registrar (Reg. No. [number]), requests the registration of [companyname].com.np for our official website and email. The domain matches our registered company name.

Primary name server: [ns1.yourhost.com]
Secondary name server: [ns2.yourhost.com]

Our company registration certificate is attached.

[Authorized Signature] [Company Stamp]
[Name, Designation]
[Phone, Email]

How Long Does .com.np Registration Take? (Timeline)

From starting the form to a live website, plan for about one working week. Here is how the time splits, based on the registry’s published processing times (upper typical range):

Typical time per stage (days)

Account, form & uploads: under 1 hour

Document review & approval: 1 to 4 business days

Name server changes: processed twice a day

DNS propagation: 24 to 48 hours

14 Official Rejection Reasons (and How to Avoid Them)

The registry publishes 14 common rejection cases. We grouped them by cause: half of them are about documents, which you fully control.

Official rejection cases by category (out of 14)

Document problems: 7

Name does not match documents: 3

Form, extension or DNS errors: 3

General policy rejection: 1

Rejection reasonHow to avoid it
Missing name, email or mobileFill every contact field before submitting
Last name / caste name onlyUse first + last name, e.g. sitasharma.com.np
Wrong extensionSchools use .edu.np, NGOs .org.np, others .com.np
Unreadable or blurry documentsScan in good light; compress, do not crop
Missing request letter or company certificateUpload both for every business application
Missing identity documentAttach citizenship, passport, voter ID or license
Citizenship number or name not visibleUpload both sides in full
Domain does not match company registrationUse company, brand, product or service name
Letter without letterhead, stamp or signaturePrint on letterhead, sign and stamp
Invalid DNS (IP address given)Enter ns1/ns2 hostnames from your host
Additional document requiredKeep trademark or brand proof ready
Personal domain does not match ID nameSpell it exactly as on your ID
Required documents not submittedCheck uploads before clicking submit
General policy rejectionRead the stated reason and resubmit corrected

After Approval: Connect Your Domain (DNS Setup)

If you entered your host’s name servers in the form, your domain points to your hosting automatically once approved. To change them later:

  1. Run a Whois lookup and make sure the registrant email is yours.
  2. Log in to register.com.np and open your domain list.
  3. Choose Edit DNS and enter the new name servers in FQDN format.
  4. Submit once and wait. Requests by email are not accepted, and repeated requests can delay propagation.

Changes are processed twice a day, then take 24 to 48 hours to propagate worldwide. Once live, install SSL and set up your site; if you are hiring someone, see our guides on website design cost in Nepal and how to hire a freelance web developer in Nepal.

Renewal, Reverification & Ownership Transfer

Do .com.np domains need renewal?

No annual renewal. Because .com.np domains do not expire, Mercantile runs a periodic reverification to release unused, inactive or parked domains. Act only if your dashboard shows the status “Reverification State”. You then submit a request letter confirming ownership plus your ID (personal) or a stamped letter with registration documents (organizations). Ignoring it can lead to the domain being stopped or released, so keep your contact email current.

Can you transfer a .com.np domain?

You cannot move .com.np to GoDaddy, Namecheap or any outside registrar; it stays at register.com.np. You can move it between register.com.np accounts (for example, from your developer’s account to yours). Send a formal letter naming both the current and destination accounts, with ID (personal) or company/brand registration on letterhead (organization), to hostmaster@mercantile.com.np. The receiving person must already have a register.com.np account.

Watch out for paid “.com.np registration”

Some international resellers list .com.np at over USD 60 a year, and some local agencies bundle “domain fees” into website quotes. The registry fee is zero; you only pay for hosting, design or optional help with paperwork. Also make sure the domain is registered in your name and email, not your developer’s.

.com.np vs .com: Which Should You Register?

Factor.com.np.com
CostFreePaid yearly
Activation timeDays (document review)Minutes
Name freedomMust match name / brandAny available keyword
Local trust & geo-targetingStrong for NepalNeutral / global
Transfer to other registrarsNoYes
Best forNepal-focused businesses, personal sitesGlobal audience, export, SaaS

Our take: if your customers are in Nepal, start with .com.np. A ccTLD tells Google your site targets Nepal, which helps local rankings. If you sell abroad, add the .com too and redirect one to the other. Whichever you pick, measure results with the right tools; see our best SEO tools roundup and the Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Ubersuggest comparison.

From Our Desk: Practical Lessons

This site, wilson.com.np, runs on a .com.np domain, and we help readers and small businesses with the same process. A few lessons that save the most time:

  • Hosting first, domain second. Having real name servers ready avoids the “Invalid DNS” rejection and a second wait.
  • Phone photos fail the 800 KB limit. Compress them, but zoom in afterwards to confirm the citizenship number is still sharp.
  • Match the spelling on your ID exactly. Romanized names vary (Shrestha/Shresta); use the one printed on your document.
  • Use your own email. Many business owners later lose control because a developer registered the domain under the developer’s account.
  • Keep the site live. A parked, empty domain is exactly what reverification targets. Once online, promotion via Facebook advertising in Nepal can bring your first visitors fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is .com.np domain registration free in Nepal?

Yes. Registration and modification under .np are free according to register.com.np. A draft cyber security bill proposes a fee in future, but it has not been implemented as of October 2026.

Can an individual register a .com.np domain?

Yes. Nepali citizens can register a personal domain based on the name on their citizenship, passport, driving license or voter card. NRN card holders and foreigners with a Nepalese resident visa also qualify.

How many days does .com.np approval take?

Usually 3 to 4 business days, sometimes longer when there is a backlog. The minimum is about 24 hours.

Do I need to renew my .com.np domain every year?

No. .com.np domains do not expire. Instead, Mercantile periodically asks owners of domains in “Reverification State” to confirm ownership with a letter and ID.

Can I register any name I want, like bestshoes.com.np?

Not as an individual. Personal domains must match your name, and businesses must use their company, brand, product or service name. For free keyword names, buy a .com instead.

Can I upload a PDF cover letter?

The registry lists JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF and SVG as accepted formats, with a maximum of 800 KB each. Convert your signed letter to an image to be safe.

Can I transfer my .com.np domain to GoDaddy or Namecheap?

No. .com.np stays with register.com.np. You can only move it between register.com.np accounts by emailing a transfer letter to hostmaster@mercantile.com.np.

Why was my .com.np domain rejected?

The most common causes are unreadable documents, a name that doesn’t match your ID or company certificate, a missing stamped letter, or an IP address entered instead of name servers. Fix the stated reason and resubmit within three to four business days.

Conclusion

Registering a .com.np domain in Nepal costs nothing and takes about a week from start to a live site, as long as your paperwork is clean. Get hosting first, choose a name that matches your ID or company documents, compress clear scans under 800 KB, and attach a proper cover letter. Do that, and you avoid nearly every one of the 14 official rejection reasons.

Ready to build the site? Compare hosting prices in Nepal and website design costs next.