How to Start an Education Consultancy Business in Nepal

Every year, tens of thousands of Nepali students leave home with one goal in mind: an international education that opens real career doors. Australia, Canada, the UK, Japan, and increasingly parts of Europe have become familiar names in Nepali households. What was once a small advisory business has now grown into one of Nepal’s most consistent and regulation-driven service industries.

If you’re planning to enter this field, understand one thing clearly: you are not just opening another office in a busy chowk. You are stepping into a role that directly shapes life decisions, finances, and futures. Because of this impact, the government no longer treats education consultancies casually. Credibility, compliance, and transparency now matter as much as connections.

This guide walks you through the licensing process in Nepal and, more importantly, what it takes to build a consultancy that survives beyond the first few years.

What Counts as an Education Consultancy in Nepal?

Under Nepalese regulations, an Education Consultancy is not limited to visa filing. The scope officially includes:

• Career and country counseling
• University and course selection
• Documentation and application processing
• Visa guidance and interview preparation
• Entrance exam preparation (IELTS, PTE, JLPT, TOPIK, SAT, etc.)

Because the work directly involves student welfare and foreign institutions, the sector is tightly monitored.

Who Issues the License? (Federal Shift Explained)

After Nepal adopted a federal system, education consultancy licensing moved from the central level to provincial governments.

If your office is located in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, or Bhaktapur, your licensing authority is:

Ministry of Social Development (MOSD), Bagmati Province – Hetauda

All approvals, renewals, and inspections for Bagmati-based consultancies now fall under this office.

Step 1: Set Up a Proper Legal Entity

Before approaching the Ministry, your business must exist legally and cleanly on paper.

1. Company Registration (OCR)

• Register a Private Limited Company at the Office of the Company Registrar
• Education consultancy must be clearly mentioned in the objectives

2. Local Business Registration

• Obtain business registration from your Ward Office / Municipality

3. PAN / VAT Registration

• Register with the Inland Revenue Office
• VAT registration is generally mandatory for education consultancies due to service nature

A weak or incomplete company setup is one of the most common reasons applications get delayed later.

Step 2: Document Preparation (Where Most Applications Fail)

The Ministry does not issue licenses based on promises. It looks for proof that you are capable of advising students responsibly.

Core Company Documents

• Company Registration Certificate
• Memorandum of Association (प्रबन्धपत्र)
• Articles of Association (नियमावली)

Shareholder & Management Details

• Citizenship copies of all shareholders
• Share structure and internal operation policy

Certified Counselors (Non-Negotiable)

This is the single most important requirement.

• Minimum two counselors certified by TITI (Training Institute for Technical Instruction)
• Certificates must be valid and verifiable

Without TITI-certified counselors, your application does not move forward—no matter how strong the rest of your file is.

Foreign University MOUs

• MOUs with at least two foreign colleges or universities
• Institutions must be legitimate and operating in recognized education destinations

These MOUs demonstrate that you are not operating blindly or relying solely on sub-agents.

Financial & Operational Proof

• Bank confirmation letter
• Internal policy covering share certificates and operational authority

Office Infrastructure

• Office lease agreement (minimum 2-year term)
• Clearly defined counseling space

The Ministry places strong emphasis on a physical, accessible office where students can reach you.

Step 3: Online Application & Inspection

Bagmati Province processes applications through the ECIS Portal.

The process includes:

• Online document upload
• Government fee payment
• Scheduling of physical office inspection

Inspectors verify:

• Office location and setup
• Counselor presence
• Display of company and registration details

If everything checks out, the license is issued.

What Actually Makes a Consultancy Work

Plenty of licensed consultancies shut down within three years. The reason is simple: licensing gets you permission, not sustainability.

1. Specialization Beats Volume

The era of being “everything for everyone” is fading.

Instead of competing with 500 Australia-focused consultancies, consider:

• Healthcare and nursing pathways in Europe
• Tech and AI programs in Finland, Germany, or the Baltics
• Vocational and language-linked programs in Japan and Korea

Focused expertise builds trust faster than generic promises.

2. Counselors, Not Salespeople

Students today research extensively before walking into your office. They can tell the difference between guidance and pressure.

Strong consultancies invest in:

• Continuous counselor training
• Country-specific knowledge
• Honest eligibility assessment (even when it means saying no)

Trust converts better than persuasion.

3. Your Real Office Is Digital

Most students will discover you before they ever visit you.

That means:

• A fast, informative website that answers real questions
• Strong Google visibility for study-abroad searches
• Active presence on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

If you’re invisible on a phone screen, you’re invisible—period.

A Practical Word Before You Start

Nepal’s regulatory process is manageable, but it is detail-heavy. Missing one clause, certificate, or wording can cost months.

If you prefer to focus on building student trust and international partnerships rather than running between offices, professional support can make a real difference.

We Help With:

• Company & Tax Registration – clean setup from day one
• MOSD Licensing Support – documentation, portal filing, and follow-ups
• University MOUs – guidance and introductions where possible
• Growth Strategy – websites, SEO, and digital systems that convert inquiries into enrollments

Starting right is far cheaper than fixing mistakes later.

If you’re serious about entering Nepal’s education consultancy sector, build it on compliance, clarity, and long-term thinking—not shortcuts.