Globally, .net long ago became a general-purpose fallback when .com was taken. In Nepal the story is different: .net.np retains its original meaning and the NIC.np registry at register.com.np reserves it for organizations that provide network infrastructure and internet services. Understanding this saves you a rejected application.

Who .net.np Is Actually For

  • Internet service providers licensed by the telecommunications authority
  • Network service providers and data carriers
  • Data centers and network infrastructure operators
  • Telecommunication companies

The registry expects license or authorization documents proving you operate network services, in addition to standard company papers.

Documents Required

  1. Company registration certificate
  2. PAN or VAT certificate
  3. Relevant service license or authorization for network or internet services
  4. Cover letter on company letterhead, stamped and signed, requesting the domain
  5. Nameservers from your hosting environment

The domain name must match the registered company or brand name, exactly as with .com.np. Review takes the usual 1 to 3 business days when documents are complete, and like all .np second-level domains, registration and renewal are free.

If You Are Not an ISP: Better Options

Most applicants who look at .net.np are ordinary businesses whose preferred .com.np name is taken. Better paths:

  • Adjust the .com.np name: add your city, sector or a short qualifier that still matches your brand.
  • Register the global .com or .net: no eligibility rules apply; a .com typically costs around NPR 1,500 to 2,200 per year in Nepal.
  • Consider modern extensions: .store, .tech and similar generic TLDs are open to everyone.

Why the Restriction Is Good for the Ecosystem

Because .net.np is enforced, a visitor seeing the extension knows they are dealing with a network operator, the same way .edu.np reliably means an educational institution. This predictability is one of the quiet strengths of the .np namespace and part of why Nepali users trust local extensions.

Application Walkthrough for Qualifying Companies

  1. Verify availability of your company name under .net.np.
  2. Create an account at register.com.np with a company email.
  3. Submit the application with license documents, cover letter and nameservers.
  4. After approval, configure DNS, SSL and corporate email on the new domain.

What Reviewers Actually Check the License Document For

Beyond simply confirming a license exists, reviewers verify that the license's stated scope genuinely covers network or internet service provision, not an adjacent but different telecommunications activity, and that it is currently valid rather than expired. A company holding a general telecommunications-sector business registration but no specific ISP or network-service license typically does not qualify, even if their day-to-day work touches networking — the license itself, not the general nature of the business, is what the registry checks against.

Frequently Asked Questions

My IT company builds networks for clients. Do we qualify?

Usually not. System integrators and IT service firms without a network service license are directed to .com.np, which suits commercial IT businesses fine.

Can an ISP hold both .com.np and .net.np?

Yes. Many ISPs register both, using .com.np for marketing and .net.np for network infrastructure, customer portals and technical services.

Is .net.np worse for SEO than .com.np?

No. Search engines treat both as Nepali country-code domains. Eligibility, not SEO, is the deciding factor.

Not sure which extension fits your business? Try the domain search tool, read our domain registration guide, or ask us directly.