How to Register a Free .np Domain in Nepal (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
By Yes Informatics Team
Starting a blog, portfolio, or business website in Nepal? Here's something most people don't realize: Nepal offers one of the few genuinely free country-code domains in the world. Unlike virtually every other country TLD, .com.np domain registration is completely free for Nepali citizens and organizations and renews annually for free indefinitely.
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This guide walks you through exactly how to claim yours — who's eligible, what documents you need, and how to get your site live.
What is a .np domain?
The .np domain is Nepal's official country-code top-level domain (ccTLD). Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. is the official domain registry provider of .np domain in Nepal. You've probably seen it as extensions like .com.np (businesses), .org.np (organizations), .edu.np (schools), and .name.np (individuals).
Register.com.np
The best part: there is no fee for registering a .np domain. It is based on First-come-First-Served (FCFS) and for lifetime. The .np domain does not have an expiration date. For a blogger or small business, that's a professional, locally-trusted web address at zero cost.
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Why choose .np for your blog? A .np domain signals you're genuinely Nepali, builds trust with local readers, and helps your local SEO — search engines use the country extension as a signal that your content is relevant to people searching in Nepal.
Image suggestion: A clean hero graphic showing a browser address bar with "yourblog.com.np" typed in, on Nepal's flag colors (crimson and blue). Alt text: "Free .np domain registration for a blog in Nepal."
Who is eligible?
You must have a genuine connection to Nepal. You qualify if you're:
An individual Nepali citizen — with a valid citizenship certificate, passport, driving license, or voter's card.
A registered business or organization in Nepal — company, NGO, school, or institution.
A foreign national with local presence — foreign nationals with a Non-Resident-Nepalese ID Card or Nepalese resident visa can also register a domain.
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One important naming rule for businesses: a company/organization can only select domain names based on the company/organization's name, product's name, service's name, and brand name. Personal domains must be based on your own name as it appears on your ID.
Mercantile
Image suggestion: A simple checklist-style graphic with three icons — a citizenship card, a company certificate, and an NRN ID — under the heading "Are you eligible?" Alt text: "Eligibility for free .np domain in Nepal."
Documents you'll need
Prepare these before you start (scanned and clear):
For a personal blog:
Scanned copy of your citizenship certificate, passport, driving license, or voter's card
A cover letter / domain request letter (more on this below)
For a business or organization:
Company/organization registration certificate
PAN registration certificate
A cover letter on official letterhead, signed and stamped
For NGOs/INGOs: certificate of affiliation with the Social Welfare Council
A note on file formats: use pdf or jpeg image files. Also, keep your scanned image size less than 200 K.B. Name each file clearly — for example, yourblog.com.np_citizenship.jpg.
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About the cover letter
The cover letter trips up a lot of first-timers, so it's worth understanding. The cover letter serves as an official request to Mercantile Communications, verifying your identity and the purpose of domain registration. It should include your full name, address, contact details, domain name request, and purpose of use, along with your signature. Several Nepali hosting providers offer free cover-letter generators if you'd like a formatted template.
Image suggestion: A sample cover letter document with key fields highlighted (name, domain requested, purpose, signature). Alt text: "Sample cover letter for .np domain registration."
Step-by-step: registering your free .np domain
Step 1 — Check availability. Go to the official registry at register.com.np, enter your desired domain, and search. If the domain is available for registration, click on "Register Now" for the further process. And if not, then search again for the available domain name.
Mercantile
Step 2 — Create your account. In the login page enter the email and your desired password for registration. Fill in your details and create the account.
Prabhu Host
Step 3 — Fill the form and upload documents. Sign in, complete the registration form, and attach your documents. They accept jpg, png, jpeg, gif, svg file extensions with a maximum of 800 kilobytes.
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Step 4 — Provide DNS / nameserver details. This is a step .np is unusual about: a lot of domain registries provide DNS servers, but .np does not, so we need to use another DNS server. You'll get these nameservers from your hosting provider once you've chosen hosting for your blog.
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Step 5 — Confirm and submit. Verify your request via the confirmation email, then submit. Review everything for accuracy first — mistakes are the main cause of delays.
Step 6 — Wait for approval. The approval process usually takes 1-3 business days, but it may take longer depending on the accuracy of your documents. Once approved, you'll get a confirmation email and your domain is live.
Image suggestion: A numbered horizontal flow diagram (Search → Register → Upload docs → DNS → Confirm → Approved) using your brand colors. Alt text: "Step-by-step .np domain registration process in Nepal."
After registration: getting your blog online
A domain is just your address — you still need hosting (where your blog's files live) to launch. When you sign up for hosting, you'll receive nameservers to enter in your .np domain's DNS settings, pointing the domain to your site.
The key DNS records to know: an A Record points your domain to your hosting server's IP address, a CNAME Record creates an alias (www → @ makes www.yourdomain.com point to the same place), and an MX Record directs email to your mail server.
Abstract Infosys
Image suggestion: A simple DNS-records table graphic (A, CNAME, MX rows) with plain-language captions. Alt text: "Basic DNS records for pointing a .np domain to hosting."
A few tips to avoid rejection
Match your name to your documents — personal domains must reflect your legal name; business domains must reflect your registered name or brand.
Check trademarks first. Before registering, search Nepal's Department of Industry trademark database to ensure you're not infringing on an existing trademark.
Abstract Infosys
Keep scans clean and correctly sized — blurry or oversized files are a common reason for delays.
Double-check every field before submitting; accuracy speeds up approval.
Conclusion
Registering a free .np domain is one of the smartest first moves for any blogger or business in Nepal — a professional, credible, locally-trusted web address that costs nothing and never expires. Get your documents ready, head to register.com.np, and claim your name before someone else does.
Ready to launch? Once your .np domain is approved, pair it with reliable hosting and you'll be publishing in no time.