NRB IT Export Forex Limit Increased to $5,000 in Unified Circular 2082

8th April 2026, Kathmandu

In a significant move to bolster Nepal’s burgeoning tech sector, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced a major policy update in its “Unified Circular 2082.”

NRB IT Export Forex Limit Increased

Recognizing the vital role of software and Information Technology (IT) exports in bringing foreign currency into the country, the central bank has increased the annual limit for prepaid dollar cards to $5,000 USD for eligible exporting companies.

This policy shift comes at a time when Nepal’s IT export industry is estimated to have crossed the $1 billion milestone, driven by a surge in software development, AI services, and cloud-based solutions.

Understanding the New NRB Forex Provision

Under the previous guidelines, standard IT-related businesses were capped at $3,000 per year for online service purchases. The new amendment specifically rewards export-oriented firms with an additional $2,000 cushion.

Why This Matters for Nepalese Startups

For many Nepalese startups, the primary hurdle to global scaling has been the difficulty in paying for international infrastructure. The increased $5,000 limit allows companies to seamlessly manage:

Cloud Infrastructure: Monthly payments for AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure.

SaaS Tools: Subscriptions for essential development software and project management tools.

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Global Hosting: Maintaining high-speed servers located closer to international clients.

By relaxing these constraints, the NRB is enabling local firms to remain globally competitive without the bureaucratic delays often associated with traditional foreign currency exchange processes.

Strengthening Nepal’s Position in the Global IT Market

Industry experts suggest that this flexibility is a direct response to the increasing demand for “Digital Nepal” initiatives. With the IT sector now employing over 100,000 professionals, policy stability and financial ease-of-doing-business are critical for sustaining the 20% annual growth the industry has witnessed recently.

“This is a welcome step that acknowledges IT as a priority sector. By simplifying how we pay for global tools, the government is effectively reinvesting in our capacity to earn more foreign revenue.” — Industry Perspective

Looking Ahead: The Future of IT Policy

While the increase to $5,000 is a positive start, many in the tech community view this as a building block for more comprehensive reforms.

As Nepal aims to become a regional hub for AI-enabled services and high-value software exports, further integration between digital payment systems and international banking remains a key area for future policy updates.

For more: NRB IT Export Forex Limit Increased