How to accept eSewa payments on your online store

eSewa reports more than 10 million registered users worldwide. For Nepali stores whose customers already use the wallet, adding it to checkout can remove the need to collect payment screenshots in chat.

But there is a major difference between a personal eSewa account (where you manually tell customers "send रु 500 to my number and send me a screenshot") and a true eSewa payment gateway integration (where the customer pays directly during checkout and the order is marked paid automatically).

To accept eSewa on a website, you need a merchant account, the required business documents, and either a direct API integration or a commerce platform that includes one.

Personal transfers and a merchant gateway

If you are running a small shop, you might be tempted to keep taking payments manually. Here is why that fails as you grow:

• Manual verification is slow: You have to check your phone for SMS alerts, cross-reference the sender's name with their chat, and verify the screenshot (which can be easily faked).
• High abandonment rates: A customer who has to exit your website, open their wallet app, copy-paste your number, enter the amount, and send a screenshot is highly likely to change their mind mid-purchase.
• No order matching: If three people send रु 1,200 at the same time, figuring out which transfer belongs to which order is a daily headache.

A payment gateway integration connects a payment to the correct order. When a customer clicks "Pay with eSewa" at checkout:

1. They are securely redirected to the eSewa login or app.
2. They pay the exact order amount with a single click.
3. eSewa instantly notifies your website.
4. Your website automatically updates the order status to "Paid" and sends a confirmation to the customer.

Step 1: gather your registration documents

eSewa does not allow unregistered businesses or personal accounts to access their automated API gateway. You must apply as a merchant. To do this, you will need:

• Business Registration Certificate: A copy of your registration from the local ward office, Department of Commerce, or Office of the Company Registrar.
• PAN or VAT Certificate: Proof of tax registration with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).
• Business Bank Account: A corporate/business bank account (eSewa settlements cannot go directly to a personal bank account).
• Authorized Signatory Documents: Copies of the citizenship certificate (citizenship card) of the business owner or directors.
• A Live Website: eSewa will review your website to ensure it has clear pricing, terms of service, and a refund policy before granting access.

Step 2: apply for an eSewa merchant account

Once your documents are ready, you can submit an application to the eSewa Merchant team.

1. Contact: You can apply online through the eSewa merchant portal or by contacting their merchant support team via email or visiting their offices.
2. Review: The eSewa compliance team will verify your business details. This review typically takes between 3 to 7 business days.
3. Agreement: You will sign a merchant agreement specifying commission rates and settlement terms.
4. Credential issuance: Once approved, eSewa will issue your merchant credentials: a Service Code, a Secret Key, and access to a merchant dashboard to track transactions.

Fees and settlement

eSewa's charges vary by business size, transaction volume, and merchant agreement. A planning range often quoted to merchants is 1.5% to 2% of the order value. Settlement is commonly on a T+1 schedule, or the next business day. Ask the merchant team for written terms before signing.

Step 3: integrate eSewa into your website

This is the technical hurdle where most DIY store builders get stuck. You have two main integration paths:

Direct API integration

If your website is built on custom code (e.g., Node.js, React, Laravel) or a standard CMS like WordPress without a dedicated plugin:

• You (or a hired developer) must write code to connect your site to eSewa's API endpoints.
• You must configure webhooks to handle transaction responses (success, failure, pending).
• You must implement secure hash generation (using HMAC-SHA256) to ensure transactions cannot be tampered with.
• The cost: Developer fees depend on the website and scope. Ask for a quote that includes testing, error handling, and future API updates.

Integration through a commerce platform

If you build your store on a local platform designed specifically for the Nepali market, the integration is already complete.

On Pasalos, eSewa is part of checkout. Add your eSewa merchant credentials in the Pasalos dashboard, then run a test transaction before accepting live payments.

Checks before launch

Before launch, test these parts of the payment flow:

• Verify checkout redirect: Test a transaction in eSewa's sandbox/test mode to ensure users are redirected back to your "Thank You" page upon success.
• Check the mobile flow: Open the payment page on a phone and confirm that every button, amount, and return screen is readable.
• Add a backup method: Offer at least one alternative, such as Khalti or cash on delivery, in case a customer's eSewa account lacks balance or the service is unavailable. See our comparison of eSewa, Khalti, Fonepay, and connectIPS when choosing the mix.