KATHMANDU, Jan 8: A legal provision allowing children whose father’s identity is unknown to obtain Nepali citizenship through their mother’s name has come into force.
The provision was implemented after the government approved the Nepal Citizenship (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2082 through the Cabinet and published them in the Nepal Gazette. With this, the relevant provisions of the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2006 have been formally enforced.
To facilitate citizenship for children born to Nepali mothers, the Nepal Citizenship (Second Amendment) Act, 2082 was certified by the President on October 22, 2025. To operationalize the amended law, the Citizenship Rules, 2006 were revised for the fourth time.
The amended rules were approved by the Cabinet on December 25 and published in the Gazette on January 4, after which the Ministry of Home Affairs issued circulars to all 77 District Administration Offices.
Refusing to grant citizenship in name of mother is unconstituti...
What the New Provision Includes
Under the revised rules, children whose father or mother had obtained citizenship by descent, but where one parent died or became untraceable before acquiring citizenship, can now obtain naturalized Nepali citizenship after completing the required procedures and documentation.
Similarly, individuals born abroad to a Nepali mother, who have not acquired foreign citizenship or a foreign passport, cannot identify their father, and have permanent residence in Nepal, are also eligible for naturalized citizenship upon fulfilling the prescribed conditions.
The new provision authorizes Chief District Officers (CDOs) to issue naturalized Nepali citizenship after necessary verification to:
Children whose one parent obtained citizenship by descent while the other parent died or is missing before acquiring citizenship, and
Children born abroad to Nepali mothers with unknown fathers who permanently reside in Nepal.
The amendment recognizes self-declaration as a key basis for issuing citizenship, in addition to documents specified in the rules, and introduces a standardized format for such declarations.
Previously, except for marital naturalized citizenship, other forms of naturalized citizenship required a decision by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The new rules allow this authority to be delegated to CDOs.
The amendment also includes provisions related to the distribution of minor identity cards and stipulates that foreign women married to Nepali men must have a valid visa before being granted marital naturalized citizenship.
