If you are a Nepali founder planning to start a company in Korea, this page lists the official contacts on both sides, the trade and tax basics, and the practical path to a startup visa. Korea and Nepal have a double tax treaty in force, which matters once your company starts paying salaries or dividends across borders.
Key contacts
| Contact | Official website |
|---|---|
| Korean mission: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal (Kathmandu) | https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/np-en/index.do (English version); Korean version: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/np-ko/index.do |
| Nepali mission in Korea: Embassy of Nepal in Seoul | https://kr.nepalembassy.gov.np/ |
The Korean embassy listed above handles visa applications and consular questions for people in Nepal.
Trade and tax
Trade agreements
Korea’s official FTA portal does not list a trade agreement between Korea and Nepal, either in force or under negotiation. Source: Korea FTA portal – status of Korea’s FTAs.
Double tax treaty
A Korea–Nepal double tax treaty is in force: it was signed on 5 October 2001 and entered into force on 29 May 2003. The treaty helps prevent the same income, such as salaries, dividends or royalties, from being taxed twice. Source: Korean government list of tax treaties (조세조약 체결 현황), Public Data Portal, as of 20 July 2026.
Your path to starting a business in Korea
- Startup visa (D-8-4) and OASIS: the usual route for founders from Nepal is the startup visa (D-8-4). It requires a company set up in Korea and a minimum score in the OASIS points system (Overall Assistance for Startup Immigration System), which you build through OASIS courses, IP applications or startup competition awards. See our D-8-4 startup visa and OASIS guide.
- K-Startup Grand Challenge: this government accelerator program is open to founders from any country and offers funding, office space and visa support to selected teams. Read the K-Startup Grand Challenge guide.
- Office space and global startup centers: several public centers in Seoul and other cities offer free or low-cost desks to foreign founders, and some of these spaces can also serve as your business address. See free office space for foreign founders in Korea.
- Government support programs: an overview of the main programs open to foreigners, from mentoring to grants, is in our guide to Korean government startup programs for foreign founders.
- Studying in Korea first: if you are, or plan to be, an international student, you can move from a D-2 student visa to the D-8-4 startup visa. See the international student startup guide (D-2 to D-8-4).
- Check visa details with official offices: before you apply, confirm the current document list with the Korean mission in Nepal listed above, as requirements can change.
Sources
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal (Kathmandu) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal (Kathmandu) (Korean version)
- Embassy of Nepal in Seoul
- Korea FTA portal – status of Korea’s FTAs (발효/서명/협상 현황)
- Korean government list of tax treaties (재정경제부 조세조약 체결 현황), Public Data Portal, as of 20 July 2026
Latest updates for founders from Nepal
No country-specific updates yet. New programs for founders from Nepal will appear here automatically. Meanwhile, start with our visa guides and government programs.