Quick answer: Demand attestation in Nepal means getting your job demand letter stamped by the Chamber of Commerce in your country, then by the Nepali Embassy in your country (or your country’s embassy in Kathmandu), and finally pre-approved by Nepal’s Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE). The full process takes 2-3 weeks and typically costs USD 150-400 in stamps and government fees (employer side; the worker pays nothing under the Free Visa Free Ticket rule). Scroll on for the document checklist, per-country fee table and step-by-step process.
Documents Required for a Nepal Demand Letter (Employer Checklist)
Employers stall the attestation when a document is missing or wrongly worded. This table lists exactly what to prepare before you send anything to Nepal:
| Document | Who Issues It | Common Mistake to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Demand letter (original, on company letterhead) | Your company | Generic titles ("worker") instead of role + salary + contract length |
| Power of attorney to the Nepal agency | Your company | Name mismatch with the agency’s DOFE licence |
| Company registration / trade licence copy | Your country | Expired licence attached |
| Employment contract template (bilingual) | Your company | Salary below destination minimum wage |
| Guarantee letter (for female domestic roles, where allowed) | Your company | Required format varies by current DOFE rule |
How to Check Your DOFE Demand Letter Status
After your Nepal agency submits the demand letter, track it in three steps:
- Ask your agency for the DOFE file number — every submitted demand letter gets one; request it in writing.
- Check the status on dofe.gov.np — the Department of Foreign Employment publishes demand-letter and pre-approval status; your agency can pull the live status with the file number same-day.
- Verify the sticker before departure — final approval is the DOFE sticker in the worker’s passport; no sticker means the worker is not cleared to fly.
Status stuck longer than expected? WhatsApp +977 9801153854 with your file number and our processing desk will trace it.
How to do the Job Demand Attestation process for Nepali workers: Complete Guide for Employers (2026)
Let's be honest: navigating international labor laws can feel like an overwhelming maze. If you are an HR manager or business owner looking to scale your workforce with highly dedicated talent, expanding into overseas recruitment is a brilliant strategy. The benefits of hiring Nepali workers—from their incredible work ethic to their adaptability—are well-documented globally.
However, you cannot simply fly to Kathmandu, interview candidates, and put them on a plane. The Government of Nepal has strict, highly regulated protocols to protect its citizens from exploitation. At the very center of this legal framework is the Demand Attestation process.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down exactly what demand attestation is, why it is the "golden ticket" to your recruitment drive, and how to execute it flawlessly in 2026.
What Exactly is Demand Attestation?
In simple terms, Demand Attestation is the official, legal verification of your company's job offer documents. Before a licensed recruitment agency in Nepal can legally advertise your jobs, interview candidates, or process visas, the Nepalese Embassy located in your country must verify that your company is legitimate and that your job offers meet Nepal's minimum salary and safety requirements.
Think of it as a background check performed by the Nepal government on the foreign employer.
Why You Cannot Skip This Step
Attempting to bypass demand attestation is not just a procedural error; it is illegal. Here is why the Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE) strictly enforces this rule:
- Prevention of Recruitment Fraud: It ensures shell companies or fraudulent brokers cannot exploit workers.
- Worker Protection: It guarantees that the employment terms (salary, working hours, accommodation) align with bilateral labor agreements.
- DOFE Labor Approval: Without attested documents, the Nepal government will not issue the final "Labor Sticker" required for the worker to exit the Kathmandu airport.
For a deeper dive into compliance, review our Legal Guide to Hiring Nepali Workers.
The 5-Step Demand Attestation Process
While the exact timelines vary by country, the fundamental workflow remains consistent. Here is the step-by-step process your HR team needs to follow:
1. Document Preparation
Your company must draft a specific set of legal documents on your official company letterhead. These documents explicitly state the number of workers needed, the job titles, the salaries, and the authorization for your chosen Nepali agency to act on your behalf.
2. Chamber of Commerce Verification
Before the Nepal Embassy will look at your documents, they must be stamped and verified by your local Chamber of Commerce (and sometimes your Ministry of Foreign Affairs), proving your business is legally registered and operating in your host country.
3. Submission to the Nepal Embassy
The documents are submitted to the Nepal Embassy (or diplomatic mission) covering your region. The embassy staff will review the salaries against current costs and fees standards to ensure fairness.
4. Embassy Attestation
Once verified, the Embassy physically (or digitally, in the case of some GCC nations) stamps and attests the documents, assigning them a unique verification number.
5. DOFE Pre-Approval in Nepal
You courier the attested original documents to your recruitment partner in Kathmandu. The agency uploads these to the FEIMS (Foreign Employment Information Management System) portal to secure final pre-approval to begin hiring.
The "Big Five" Required Documents
To ensure a smooth process, you must prepare the following documents flawlessly. Use our Employer Checklist to keep track:
- The Demand Letter: Specifies the job categories, quantity of workers required, basic monthly salary, working hours, and benefits (food, accommodation).
- Power of Attorney (POA): A legal document authorizing your chosen Nepalese recruitment agency to source, test, and process visas on your behalf.
- Employment Contract: A specimen contract detailing the exact terms and conditions the worker will sign.
- Guarantee Letter: A sworn statement guaranteeing that the workers will only be employed by your company and will not be transferred to another country.
- Interparty Agency Agreement: The commercial contract established between your company and the recruitment agency in Nepal.
Country-Specific Hiring Corridors
The attestation process features unique nuances depending on your location. For instance, European attestation differs vastly from GCC procedures. We highly recommend reviewing our specific corridor guides:
- How to Hire Nepali Workers for Saudi Arabia (Focuses heavily on the Qiwa platform).
- Hiring for the UAE
- Hiring for Qatar
- Hiring for Malaysia
- European Hiring: Be sure to understand permit verification, such as how to check a Romania work permit.
The number one reason demand documents are rejected by the embassy is inconsistent salary figures. If your Demand Letter states a salary of $500, but the Employment Contract states $450, it will be instantly rejected. Read more about recruitment mistakes to avoid when hiring Nepali workers.
Cost and Timeline Expectations
Demand attestation fees charged by the embassy vary from country to country, usually ranging from $100 to $400 USD per set of documents.
Timeline-wise, once documents are submitted to the Nepal Embassy, attestation usually takes 3 to 10 business days. However, this relies entirely on submitting perfectly drafted paperwork on the first try.
Why Partner with an Elite Recruitment Agency?
You don't have to navigate this legal labyrinth alone. When you partner with the best manpower supply agency in Nepal, our legal compliance team provides you with exact document templates, pre-fills the technical details, and guides your HR team through the local Chamber of Commerce requirements.
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Stop stressing over rejected paperwork and embassy delays. Let our experts handle the compliance while you focus on scaling your business.
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