The University of North West Himalayas was approved by the State Government of Uttarakhand under the Uttarakhand Private Universities (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Uttarakhand Act No. 13 of 2025), as notified vide Notification No. 245/XXXVI (3)/2025/16(1)/2025 dated 03 July 2025, amending the Uttarakhand Private Universities Act, 2023.

UNwH is recognized under Section 2(f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, by the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, vide Letter No. F.8-15/2025 (CPP-1/PU)/166709 dated 30 September 2025.