Citizenship in Nepal (2080)

What is citizenship?

Article 10 of the Constitution of Nepal states that individuals cannot be deprived of the right to obtain citizenship. It has been provisioned for a single federal citizenship with state identity in Nepal.

What are the four types of citizenship in Nepal?

The four types of citizenship in Nepal are:

1. Citizenship by Descent
2. Naturalized Citizenship
3. Honorary Citizenship
4. NRN Citizenship

What is the new citizenship law in Nepal?

The Citizenship Regulation of Nepal has been amended to incorporate the procedure for the issuance of a citizenship certificate for non-resident Nepali citizens. Initially, a recommendation must be obtained from local-level authorities, followed by a recommendation letter from the respective embassy.

Thereafter, an application must be submitted to the District Administration Office after submitting all required documents. Thereafter, a dual citizenship certificate is issued to the non-resident Nepali.

How do I get citizenship in Nepal?

Individuals desiring to get a citizenship certificate in Nepal are required to apply to the district administration office of their district of residence along with the required documents mentioned below.

What are the requirements for obtaining citizenship in Nepal?

The requirements for obtaining citizenship by descent in Nepal are:

1. The individual applying for citizenship should be over sixteen years of age.
2. The individual should have resided in Nepal and the proposed district.
3. The individual should have either of the parents residing in Nepal with citizenship by the descent of the parent.

What is the process of obtaining citizenship in Nepal?

Step 1: Decide the Type of Citizenship

Before obtaining Nepalese citizenship, the individual must inspect the type of citizenship they are eligible for. Usually, if the parents of the individual reside in Nepal, they are eligible for citizenship by descent.

Step 2: Submit an application to the District Administration Office.

Thereafter, an application must be submitted to the District Administration Office along with required documents such as a Certificate of Birth Registration, a Certificate of Migration (if the parents have migrated to another municipality or local municipality), and a Proof of Residence with Three Witnesses.

Step 3: Validation and Certification by the Office

After the submission of the application, the government officers of the District Administration Office validate the details of the application and certify the witness signatures upon the application.

Step 4: Issuance of the Certificate of Citizenship

Finally, a certificate is issued to the individual. The citizen is required to have a gender identity with the name of his or her mother or father.

What are the documents required for obtaining citizenship in Nepal?

The general documents required for obtaining citizenship in Nepal are as follows:

1. Certificate of Birth
2. Certificate of Migration
3. Proof of Residence with Three Witnesses

What is the cost of obtaining citizenship in Nepal?

The cost of obtaining a citizenship certificate in Nepal is not specified for citizenship by descent or birth. However, for obtaining naturalized citizenship in Nepal, a fee of Rs. 100 is required from the son, daughter or descendant of a Nepali citizen. A fee of Rs. 500 is extracted from other foreigners.

What is the time period for obtaining citizenship?

If the individual has gathered all relevant documents, the citizenship certificate can be obtained on the same day as the application. It takes 1-2 hours for the processing of the certificate. However, the number of citizenship applications impacts the time period for obtaining the certificate.

How do I terminate Nepalese citizenship?

The citizenship of Nepal can be terminated under various circumstances. If the individual has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of any foreign country, the citizenship of Nepal is considered to have lapsed ipso facto.

Moreover, if a person has become a citizen of a foreign country and a citizen of Nepal by birth and descent at the same time, they will be required to choose the citizenship of either country within five years of attaining sixteen years of age.

What are the penalties related to citizenship in Nepal?

Any individual that obtains either naturalized citizenship or citizenship by the Descent of Nepal through false details or statements can be imprisoned for up to five years, fined up to ten thousand rupees, or both.

Moreover, any person who makes a recommendation through false details and statements with the intention of doing it or getting it done or if an individual makes an application by giving false details or statements to do so, can be imprisoned for up to five years or with a fine of up to ten thousand rupees or both.

Conclusion

Citizenship in Nepal, as enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution, guarantees the right for individuals to obtain citizenship. There are four types of citizenship: by Descent, Naturalized, Honorary, and NRN. To obtain citizenship, applicants must apply to their district administration office with relevant documents, including proof of residence and birth.

Nepalese citizenship can be terminated if one acquires foreign citizenship voluntarily or fails to choose between Nepali and foreign citizenship within five years of turning sixteen.