Nepal Notary Public Council 2026: Role, Rules & Notary Verification

Most people who get a document notarised in Nepal never hear of the body that controls who can do it. Yet every single notarisation — every affidavit, every power of attorney, every sworn statement — is only valid because a single regulator has licensed the advocate stamping it. That regulator is the Nepal Notary Public Council. Here's what it does, how it licenses notaries, and how you can verify your notary is actually authorised.

Notary Kathmandu provides document notarization, certified true copies, and multilingual translation by Nepal Bar Council-registered advocates licensed under the Notary Public Act 2063 BS.

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What Is the Nepal Notary Public Council?

The Nepal Notary Public Council (नेपाल नोटरी पब्लिक काउन्सिल) is an autonomous corporate body created under Section 3 of the Notary Public Act 2063 BS. The Act was certified on 28 Ashoj 2063 BS (11 October 2006) and came into force on 1 Falgun 2063 BS (13 February 2007).

Before the Act, Nepal had no centralised regulator for notarial work — anyone with an advocate's licence and a stamp could effectively act as a notary, with no exam, no register, and no public list. The Council was set up to fix that. It now controls who becomes a notary, what they're allowed to do, what fees they may charge, how they are disciplined, and how the public can confirm their status.

For people in Kathmandu and across Nepal, this means a notarisation is now a legal instrument with traceable accountability — the notary's name, license number, and seal are all on file at the Council, and complaints can be filed directly with it.

Who Sits on the Council? Composition and Leadership

The Council is chaired ex officio by the Attorney General of Nepal under Section 26 of the Act. Membership is approximately nine, drawn from the legal and government establishment to ensure balance between bar, bench, and ministry interests.

Standing members typically include:

• The President of the Nepal Bar Association
• The Secretary of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
• The Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister
• The Secretary of the Nepal Law Commission
• A representative of the Ministry of Land Reform and Management
• A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• The Registrar of the Supreme Court
• An executive Member-Secretary appointed by the Council

This composition reflects how notarial work touches multiple ministries — land transactions go through Land Reform, foreign-bound documents touch MOFA, and disciplinary action sits within the legal-justice apparatus.

How Notaries Are Licensed in Nepal

Becoming a notary in Nepal is not automatic for advocates. The Council runs a multi-stage screening:

Eligibility

To apply for a notary licence, a person must:

• Be a Nepali citizen aged 25 or above
• Hold an LL.B. (or equivalent) recognised by the Nepal Bar Council
• Have at least 7 years of practice as an advocate, OR served as a gazetted judicial officer for an equivalent period
• Have no conviction involving moral turpitude
• Not be insolvent or otherwise disqualified

The Council Examination

The Council administers a written and oral examination periodically as notified. The exam covers the Notary Public Act 2063 BS, Notary Public Rules 2063 BS, the Muluki Civil Code, evidence law, and notarial drafting in both Nepali and English.

Fees and Bank Guarantee (Indicative)

Figures above are commonly cited across Nepali legal-service publications and reflect typical 2026 amounts. The Council does not publish a downloadable fee schedule, so confirm current rates directly with the Council before applying.

Validity and Renewal

A notary's licence is valid for 5 years under Rule 8 of the Notary Public Rules 2063 BS. Renewal must be applied for during the final month of the term. A grace period of up to 1 year (with late fee) is allowed before the licence lapses and the holder must re-qualify by exam.

How to Verify That Your Notary Is Licensed

Before you trust a notarisation, confirm the notary is actually on the Council's register. There are three reliable ways:

1. Online — Notary Public List. The Council publishes the official register at notarypublic.org.np/notary-public-list. Search by name or certificate number. If a person claims to be a notary but isn't on this list, their stamp has no legal value.
2. By phone. The Council's central office in Kupandol confirms licensee status during business hours. Have the notary's full name and certificate number ready.
3. In person. Visit the Council secretariat at Kupandol, Lalitpur for written confirmation if needed for a court or embassy filing.

The Council's Code of Conduct for Notaries

Every licensed notary in Nepal — including those operating in Kathmandu — must follow a strict code framed by the Council under the Act:

• Personal verification of identity. The notary must personally verify the signatory's identity before notarisation. Identity verification by a third party is not allowed.
• Maintain the register (Roznamcha). Every notarisation must be entered in the official register with date, document type, parties involved, and certificate number.
• Use the prescribed format. The notarial certificate must follow the format prescribed in the Rules, with seal, signature, and licence reference.
• Charge only the prescribed fees. Overcharging or kickback arrangements are grounds for licence suspension.
• No personal interest. A notary cannot notarise documents in which they (or close relatives) have a personal stake.
• Confidentiality. Information from a notarisation must not be disclosed to third parties without consent.

Breach of conduct can result in suspension or cancellation of the licence after Council inquiry. Complaints from the public can be filed at the Council secretariat.

Office Location and Contact

The Council secretariat operates from a leased building of the Nepal Bar Council in Kupandol, Lalitpur — across the Bagmati from central Kathmandu. It moved here from Babarmahal around 2010, so older references to "Babarmahal" are outdated.

Why This Matters When You Choose a Notary in Kathmandu

If you are choosing a notary public in Kathmandu, the practical check is simple: confirm the notary's name appears on the Council's public list before you hand over your document. A notary off the register cannot produce a valid notarisation, no matter how official the office looks.

Our team are notary services in Kathmandu staffed by Nepal Bar Council-registered advocates who are individually licensed under the Notary Public Act 2063 BS. Every notarisation we produce — whether an affidavit, a power of attorney, or a document notarisation — carries the licensee's serial number traceable to the Council's register.

Common Misconceptions About Nepal Notaries

Three myths come up regularly with our Kathmandu clients:

1. "Any advocate can notarise." False. Only advocates who have passed the Council exam and hold a current notary licence can notarise. A general advocacy licence alone is not enough.
2. "Notarisation makes a document true." Notarisation certifies that the signatory appeared before the notary and signed willingly. It does not validate the underlying claims in the document.
3. "Online notarisation is fully remote in Nepal." Not under current law. The Notary Public Act 2063 BS requires physical presence and the original document at the notary's office. Online intake (WhatsApp, email) is allowed for paperwork submission, but the notarisation itself happens on paper at the notary's desk.

Conclusion — A Regulator Worth Knowing

Most clients only think about the Nepal Notary Public Council when something goes wrong — a court rejects a stamped document, an embassy questions a certificate, a property deal stalls because the notarisation looked off. By then it's late. The five minutes it takes to check the Council's public register before notarisation can save days or weeks of cleanup.

If you have a document to notarise in Kathmandu and want it done by an advocate whose licence you can verify the same day, send us a message — we'll handle it within hours.

Contact Notary Kathmandu now →

Reviewed by: The Legal Team at Notary Kathmandu — Nepal Bar Council registered advocates

Last reviewed: June 2026