Prepare EIA scoping and terms of reference in Nepal
A plain-language Nepal guide for project proponents beginning a full environmental impact assessment who need to prepare scoping and terms of reference documents, with evidence, submission, safety, and official-source checks.
Independent guide, not an official website
Nepal Docs Guide is not affiliated with the Government of Nepal. This guide helps you prepare, but official portals and offices control final rules, fees, forms, and timelines.
Quick answer
To prepare scoping and terms of reference documents, prepare project concept and alternatives, site maps and baseline plan, stakeholder and affected-area details, legal and sector approvals, confirm the current process with the responsible environment, forest, local or mines authority, complete the official application, and keep the receipt or reference for follow-up.
Eligibility
- Project proponents beginning a full environmental impact assessment
- Applicants who need to prepare scoping and terms of reference documents using matching and genuine records
- An authorized representative only when the responsible authority accepts representation
Required documents checklist
- □ Citizenship, company registration or authorized project identity
- □ project concept and alternatives
- □ site maps and baseline plan
- □ stakeholder and affected-area details
- □ legal and sector approvals
- □ Official environmental, forest or mineral application and technical reference
- □ Official fee, royalty, deposit or permit receipt when applicable
- □ Any correction, consent, authorization, or supporting record required for your specific case
Step-by-step process
- Confirm that the responsible environment, forest, local or mines authority is the correct authority for this request.
- Compare names, dates, addresses, registration numbers, account numbers, and other identifiers across project concept and alternatives, site maps and baseline plan, stakeholder and affected-area details, legal and sector approvals.
- Define the study boundary, issues, alternatives, methods, consultation plan and specialist inputs before seeking approval of the scope and TOR.
- Submit through the official portal or office and pay only through the approved channel.
- Save the application number, receipt, uploaded-file copies, and any written instruction for follow-up.
Fees and timelines
- Do not rely on an old fee screenshot or an agent's estimate. Check the latest official notice, citizen charter, portal, or responsible office before paying.
- Processing time depends on document matching, office workload, inspection, examination, technical review, or approval level. Keep the receipt and follow-up reference.
Common mistakes
- Using an old form, notice, fee, or unofficial link
- Submitting incomplete or mismatched project concept and alternatives, site maps and baseline plan, stakeholder and affected-area details, legal and sector approvals
- Paying an unofficial person or personal account without an official receipt
- Ignoring the difference between a new application, renewal, correction, duplicate, verification, or transfer
- A weak TOR leads to missing baseline data, incomplete impact analysis and repeated review comments.
Confirm the current environmental, forest and mining law and approval authority
This is an independent preparation guide, not an official notice, legal opinion, professional licence, approval, or guarantee. Requirements can change. Confirm the current form, fee, deadline, jurisdiction, and eligibility with the responsible authority before submitting.
To prepare scoping and terms of reference documents, prepare project concept and alternatives, site maps and baseline plan, stakeholder and affected-area details, legal and sector approvals, confirm the current process with the responsible environment, forest, local or mines authority, complete the official application, and keep the receipt or reference for follow-up.
Who this guide helps
Project proponents beginning a full environmental impact assessment Applicants who need to prepare scoping and terms of reference documents using matching and genuine records An authorized representative only when the responsible authority accepts representation
Why this document or approval matters
A weak TOR leads to missing baseline data, incomplete impact analysis and repeated review comments.
Evidence to prepare
- Citizenship, company registration or authorized project identity
- project concept and alternatives
- site maps and baseline plan
- stakeholder and affected-area details
- legal and sector approvals
- Official environmental, forest or mineral application and technical reference
- Official fee, royalty, deposit or permit receipt when applicable
- Any correction, consent, authorization, or supporting record required for your specific case
A safe step-by-step process
- 1Confirm that the responsible environment, forest, local or mines authority is the correct authority for this request.
- 2Compare names, dates, addresses, registration numbers, account numbers, and other identifiers across project concept and alternatives, site maps and baseline plan, stakeholder and affected-area details, legal and sector approvals.
- 3Define the study boundary, issues, alternatives, methods, consultation plan and specialist inputs before seeking approval of the scope and TOR.
- 4Submit through the official portal or office and pay only through the approved channel.
- 5Save the application number, receipt, uploaded-file copies, and any written instruction for follow-up.
The decision point most applicants miss
Confirm the study area, seasonal data need, associated facilities, cumulative impacts and which authority approves the TOR.
After submitting
- Check the spelling and reference number on the acknowledgement or receipt.
- Track the application only through the official portal, SMS, email, or office contact.
- Respond to a deficiency notice with the requested evidence rather than creating a duplicate application.
- Keep the final certificate, licence, approval, account update, or rejection reason with the supporting records.
Avoid document and payment shortcuts
Do not alter certificates, hide mismatches, upload another person's records, share passwords or OTPs, pay an unofficial personal account, or accept a promise of guaranteed approval. Use the official portal and keep payment and submission evidence.
What was verified from the official source
The official ministry source publishes environmental and forest laws, policies, assessment requirements, climate and biodiversity guidance. Check Ministry of Forests and Environment for the newest notice, form, service link, fee, and final instruction.
Office and portal links
Printable checklist
Prepare EIA scoping and terms of reference in Nepal
- Citizenship, company registration or authorized project identity
- project concept and alternatives
- site maps and baseline plan
- stakeholder and affected-area details
- Official environmental, forest or mineral application and technical reference
- Official fee, royalty, deposit or permit receipt when applicable
- Official source checked on the submission date
FAQ
Official sources
Use these references for final confirmation before applying. Nepal Docs Guide is independent and does not replace official instructions.
- Ministry of Forests and Environment
Government of Nepal · last accessed Jul 12, 2026
The official ministry source publishes environmental and forest laws, policies, assessment requirements, climate and biodiversity guidance. Time-sensitive requirements must still be rechecked before submission.
Need official confirmation?
If your case involves corrections, deadlines, legal use, foreign submission, or a rejected application, contact the relevant official office before paying fees or submitting documents.
Author
Nepal Docs Guide Editorial Desk
Citizen services research team
Our editorial desk turns official notices, portal instructions, and field-tested document workflows into plain-language guides. Every guide is independently written and points readers back to official sources for final confirmation.
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