Citizenship Bill Endorsed by President

  May 31, 2023 By: INSEC

President Ramchandra Poudel endorsed the Citizenship Bill passed by the Parliament during the previous term of the House of Representatives on May 31, 2023.

The then President Bidya Devi Bhandari had sent back the bill passed by the parliament in the previous term, for amendment.

The Council of Ministers meeting held on May 26, 2023, presented a letter to President Ramchandra Paudel to approve the Citizenship Bill. The President has certified the bill under Articles 61 and 66 of the Constitution.

The bill mentions that the children of citizens born before June 18, 2015, 2012, if both their father and mother are citizens of Nepal, will get Nepalese citizenship of descent after reaching the age of 16 years. It further mentions that every minor of Nepal with an unknown father or mother will be considered a citizen of Nepal by descent until the identity of one of his parents is revealed.

In the provisions of the bill, it is mentioned that a person who was born in Nepal to a mother who is a citizen of Nepal and resides in Nepal, whose father is not identified and who declares that such identification is not possible, will get the citizenship of the descent, only through the name of the mother. The person should declare that their father is not identified.

If it is revealed that the father is a foreign citizen the citizenship of descent will be canceled until the identity of the father is revealed.

The bill has a provision of citizenship of descent to a person born in Nepal to a Nepali woman married to a foreigner if both his mother and father are Nepali citizens at the time of acquiring Nepali citizenship.

The bill has opened the way for non-resident Nepalis to obtain non-resident Nepali citizenship. It mentions that the citizens residing and residing in SAARC countries cannot get such citizenship.

The bill approved by the President will come into effect after it is published in the National Gazette.

Earlier, former President Bhandari had drawn the attention of the government with 15 points suggestions on the bill and sent it back to the House of Representatives. The bill was not modified.


Bimal Poudel