Step-by-Step Implementation Guide
Understand the Payment Rails in Nepal
Nepal offers digital wallets (eSewa, Khalti), interbank clearing networks (ConnectIPS / NCHL), and national QR switches (Fonepay, NepalPay). Selecting the right combination depends on whether your customers are retail mobile users or B2B enterprise payers.
Merchant Onboarding & API Credentials
Submit your business PAN/VAT, OCR certificate, corporate bank account details, and director KYC to gateway merchant portals. You will receive Merchant IDs, Secret Keys, and UAT Sandbox testing credentials.
Implementing Secure Payment Initiation
Generate unique order IDs and digital signatures on your backend (Python FastAPI or Node.js) using HMAC-SHA256. Never expose your Secret API Key in the frontend client code.
Webhook Verification & Server-to-Server Confirmation
When a user finishes paying on eSewa or Khalti, the provider sends a webhook callback to your server. Always make an independent server-to-server inquiry request to confirm that the amount and payment status are legitimately marked "PAID" before dispatching orders.
Automated Reconciliation into Your Ledger
Each gateway deducts a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) fee (typically 1.5% to 2.5%). Use an automated accounting suite like KhataIN to credit customer receivables while allocating the gateway fee to payment processing expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions (Nepal Context)
Q: Can an individual without a registered business get a payment gateway in Nepal?
Most licensed payment service providers in Nepal require a registered business PAN/VAT and corporate bank account to activate automated merchant checkout APIs.
Q: What is the settlement timeline for eSewa, Khalti, and ConnectIPS?
Standard merchant settlements occur on a T+1 business day basis directly into your linked Nepali commercial bank account.