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Investing in Nepal: opportunity, rules and risk

Nepal offers real opportunities in energy, tourism, property and new businesses, and real risks. How you can take part depends on who you are and what you invest in.
Panorama of the Annapurna massif from the Annapurna Sanctuary trailLocation Image
Photo: Bijay Chaurasia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab)

The short answer

Yes, you can invest in Nepal from abroad, but your options depend on your citizenship. Nepali citizens living overseas can generally invest and own property as residents do. Non-Resident Nepalis with foreign citizenship have limited rights under NRN rules. Foreign nationals invest under the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act (FITTA), with approval, a minimum of NPR 20 million per project in most sectors, and no access to real estate business.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with a Nepal-qualified lawyer.

Indicators

Selected indicators, with sources

We show only figures we can attribute to a named source, with the year they refer to and when we last checked them.

3,878 MW

Installed electricity capacity, overwhelmingly hydropower, after 631 MW was added in a year.

Source
South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC), Asian Development Bank (opens in a new tab)
Reference year
2025
Last verified

1,158,459

International visitors in 2025, compared with 1,147,548 in 2024.

Source
Nepal Tourism Board, as reported by The Himalayan Times (opens in a new tab)
Reference year
2025
Last verified

NPR 20m

General minimum foreign direct investment per project, with exceptions such as IT.

Source
U.S. Department of State, 2025 Investment Climate Statement: Nepal (opens in a new tab)
Reference year
2025
Last verified

Your status

Your route depends on your status

The single most important question for anyone investing in Nepal from overseas.

  • Nepali citizens living abroad

    Owning property
    Can generally buy land and property as Nepali citizens.
    Investing in businesses and projects
    Can generally invest as residents do.

  • Non-Resident Nepalis (foreign citizens)

    Owning property
    Limited residential ownership under NRN rules, with land-area ceilings.
    Investing in businesses and projects
    Can invest under NRN provisions; check current rules.

  • Foreign nationals

    Owning property
    Generally cannot own land; real estate business is closed to foreign investment.
    Investing in businesses and projects
    Can invest in open sectors via FITTA, subject to approval and minimum thresholds.
Source
Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 2019 (2075), Schedule (opens in a new tab)
Reference year
2019 (as amended)
Last verified
Read the full guide to investing in Nepal from overseas

Sectors

Where the opportunities are

The sectors where Ample has experience, each with its own page covering Ample's involvement and what to consider.

  • Sector 01

    Education Consultancy

    International education services in the UK, Kathmandu and Pokhara, where the Ample journey began.

  • Sector 02

    College

    Higher education in London through SAMS College London.

  • Sector 03

    Energy Sector

    Hydropower and solar generation in Nepal, as a promoter and through associate projects.

  • Sector 04

    Property Development

    Housing and a hotel development in Pokhara: Ample Cozy Homes and a Lakeside hotel.

  • Sector 05

    Financial Channel

    NRN Back 2 Nepal Investment Company: the financial channel between Ample Associates and its community.

For residential property, see Ample Cozy Homes in Pokhara Lekhnath, and for energy, our overview of hydropower in Nepal.

Process

How investing in a Nepal project works

Six steps, whether you invest through Ample or anyone else.

  1. Know your category

    Nepali citizen abroad, Non-Resident Nepali with foreign citizenship, or foreign national: each has different rights.

  2. Check the sector

    Some sectors, including real estate business, are closed to foreign investment under FITTA.

  3. Choose a project

    Look for a real project with clear ownership, approvals and a documented structure.

  4. Do due diligence

    Have title, company documents and agreements reviewed by your own lawyer.

  5. Approvals & agreements

    Foreign investment needs approval from the Department of Industry or the Investment Board Nepal.

  6. Monitor & report

    Expect dated, specific updates through to completion or exit.

Risks

Opportunity and risk belong on the same page

Full risk disclosure
  • Risk 01

    Legal and regulatory change

    Rules on foreign investment, land and repatriation change. What applies today may not apply at exit.

  • Risk 02

    Title and documentation

    Land records can be incomplete or disputed. Independent verification is essential.

  • Risk 03

    Currency

    Returns earned in Nepali rupees change in value for investors who measure wealth in pounds or dollars.

  • Risk 04

    Liquidity

    Property and private project interests can be hard to sell quickly.

  • Risk 05

    Natural hazards

    Earthquakes, floods and landslides are real risks in Nepal and can affect construction and infrastructure.

  • Risk 06

    Execution

    Projects depend on contractors, approvals and people. Delays are common.

Country opportunity is not enough. The project still has to work.

Ample Associates presents specific projects, states its role in each, and supports investors through a staged process, from first conversation to due diligence.
How investing with us worksOur current project: Ample Cozy HomesOur portfolio

Official resources

FAQs

Investing from overseas: FAQs

Can Nepalis living in the UK take part?

Yes, you can contact the team from anywhere. Whether and how you can own property or shares in Nepal depends on your citizenship and the structure of the project, so we recommend independent legal advice.

Can foreign nationals buy property in Nepal?

Generally, foreign nationals cannot own land in Nepal in their own name, and real estate business is on the list of sectors closed to foreign investment under Nepal's Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act. Non-Resident Nepalis have separate, limited rights. Always check your position with a Nepal-qualified lawyer.

What is the minimum for foreign direct investment in Nepal?

Nepal set the general minimum for foreign direct investment at NPR 20 million per project from the 2022/23 budget, with exceptions such as information technology. Rules change, so confirm the current position with the Department of Industry or a lawyer.

Sources used on this page

Let’s build what’s next.

Talk to Ample Associates about our projects, our portfolio or a partnership across education, clean energy, property and the diaspora investment channel.

Talk to Our Team
contact@ampleassociates.com