.com.np domain registration is done online at register.com.np, run by Mercantile Communications, which manages Nepal's .np country-code domain. Registration has historically been free for Nepali citizens and organisations registered in Nepal, as long as the requested name matches your registered name or trademark, you upload supporting documents, and your name servers are already working when you apply.
It is a good domain for a business whose customers are in Nepal. If most of your customers are abroad, a .com is usually the better main address, and there is a case for holding both. This guide covers eligibility, documents, the application and that choice. Policies can change, so treat register.com.np as the final word on current rules.
Who can register a .com.np domain?
Individuals with Nepali citizenship, and businesses and organisations registered in Nepal. The requested name normally has to correspond to your own name (for individuals) or your registered business name or trademark (for organisations). Generic words that are not your registered name are usually refused, so "shoes.com.np" is unlikely unless "Shoes" is your registered name.
Nepal's domain space is divided into second-level zones for different kinds of registrant:
| Zone | Intended for |
|---|---|
| .com.np | Companies, firms and individuals |
| .org.np | Non-profit organisations and NGOs |
| .edu.np | Schools, colleges and other educational institutions |
| .net.np | Network and internet service providers |
| .gov.np | Government bodies, through a separate government process |
If you are a foreign company, or your brand differs from your registered name, check the current policy before applying; those are the cases where rules are most specific.
What documents do you need for .com.np registration?
Clear scans that prove who you are and your right to the name. What is usually asked for:
| Applicant | Typical documents |
|---|---|
| Individual | Citizenship certificate, both sides |
| Company or firm | Registration certificate, PAN or VAT certificate, and a request letter on the letterhead, signed and stamped |
| Brand that differs from the company name | Trademark registration certificate, plus the company documents |
| NGO | Registration certificate from the District Administration Office, and Social Welfare Council affiliation where applicable |
| School or college | Registration or approval documents from the relevant authority |
Scan in colour, with all four corners visible and text readable. Most delays come from unreadable scans, or from names that do not match exactly between the documents and the requested domain.
The .com.np domain registration process, step by step
- Check availability. Search for the name on register.com.np. If it is taken, a variation that still matches your registered name may be accepted.
- Set up DNS first. The application asks for name servers, and they must already answer for your domain. Add the domain at a DNS provider, such as Cloudflare or your hosting company, and note the name servers it assigns. This is the step that trips up most first-time applicants.
- Create an account with a business email address, not a developer's or employee's personal address. This account controls the domain from then on.
- Complete the application: the domain name, the name servers, contact details, and your uploaded documents.
- Wait for the approval email. Approval typically takes a few working days; check spam folders. A rejection usually says what needs fixing.
- Add DNS records once approved: A or CNAME records for the website, MX records for email, and SPF, DKIM and DMARC records so your email is not marked as spam.
- Record everything. Save the account login, the approval email and the documents you used somewhere the business controls.
Why are .com.np applications rejected or delayed?
Almost always for predictable reasons:
- The requested name does not match the documents.
- Scans are blurry, cropped or in the wrong format.
- The name servers do not respond for the domain.
- The request letter is missing, unsigned or unstamped.
- The name is a generic word rather than a registered name.
Fix the specific problem and resubmit. Setting up DNS properly before applying avoids the most common delay entirely.
.com vs .com.np: which should your business use?
Use .com.np as your main domain if your customers are in Nepal, and .com if they are mostly abroad or you want freedom to choose any available name. Many businesses hold both and redirect one to the other.
| Factor | .com.np | .com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Historically free for eligible applicants | Paid yearly, priced in US dollars |
| Who can register | Nepali citizens and Nepal-registered organisations | Anyone |
| Name choice | Must match your registered name or trademark | Any available name |
| Speed | Manual approval, usually days | Minutes |
| Search signal | Tells Google the site targets Nepal | No country signal; targeting comes from content |
| Local recognition | Clearly Nepali | Neutral |
| Best for | Shops, clinics, schools, local services | Exporters, tourism, IT services, global brands |
A .np domain helps local relevance a little. Content, speed and your Google Business Profile matter far more; SEO in Nepal explains where the domain fits among them.
Holding both domains
If you register both, choose one as the main address and 301-redirect the other to it, page by page. Never publish the same content on both, which splits signals and confuses customers. A Pokhara hotel with mostly foreign guests might run on .com and redirect its .com.np; a Kathmandu clinic might do the opposite.
If you run separate Nepali and English content, keep both languages on one domain in subfolders rather than using .com.np for Nepali and .com for English. Our guide to Nepali-English bilingual websites explains the structure.
How do you keep control of the domain after registration?
- Register it to the business, with a business email you control, not to a staff member or developer.
- Turn on two-factor authentication at your DNS provider; whoever controls DNS controls your website and your email.
- Keep copies of the documents you used, since changes to the registration may need them again.
- List the domain account, DNS provider and any renewal steps in your handover documentation.
Changing hosting or developers later
Moving to a new host does not usually require touching the .com.np registration at all. If your DNS sits with an independent provider such as Cloudflare, you only change the A, CNAME or MX records there. If DNS sits with your old hosting company, first recreate every record at the new DNS provider, then update the name servers in your register.com.np account, and keep the old hosting running for a few days while the change spreads. Email is where this goes wrong most often: copy the MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records exactly, or messages start bouncing.
A domain nobody can log in to is a common reason small businesses end up paying for a new website. That and other running costs are covered in how much a website costs in Nepal.
How Meritbyte Technologies handles domains
Meritbyte Technologies, a Nepal-based web and software development company, sets up domains, DNS and email records as part of our web development and managed IT work. We can prepare DNS and the application with you, but the account is created in your business's name with your email, and the logins are yours from day one. More on how we work with local businesses is on our page for website development in Nepal.
Frequently asked questions
Is a .com.np domain really free?
It has historically been free for Nepali citizens and organisations registered in Nepal that meet the conditions and supply the documents. You still pay for website hosting and email, and possibly for DNS depending on your provider. Policies can change, so check register.com.np before applying rather than relying on older articles or a developer's word.
How long does .com.np registration take?
With a complete application and working name servers, approval typically arrives by email within a few working days. Unclear scans, mismatched names or unresponsive name servers send the application back for correction, which adds days each time. Public holidays and festival periods such as Dashain and Tihar can slow things down, so do not leave it until the week before a launch.
Can a foreign company register a .com.np domain?
Generally only with a legal presence in Nepal, such as a registered branch or subsidiary, or in some cases a trademark registered in Nepal. The rules for foreign applicants are more specific than for Nepali businesses and can change, so check register.com.np first. Foreign companies targeting Nepali customers without a local entity usually use a .com with Nepal-focused content.
Can I use a .com.np domain for business email?
Yes. Once the domain is approved, add MX records for your email provider, such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, then SPF, DKIM and DMARC records so messages reach inboxes rather than spam folders. A .com.np domain works for email exactly like any other domain. Keep the email provider's admin account in the business's name too.