NRN Citizenship in Nepal — Eligibility, Process and Legal Rights

Introduction

Nepal does not allow ordinary dual citizenship. But for the millions of people of Nepali origin who live abroad — and for Nepali citizens who have settled permanently in foreign countries — the Constitution carves out a limited but significant category: Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) citizenship. It is not the same as a full Nepali passport, and it does not carry the right to vote or hold public office. What it does carry is the right to own property, invest, reside in Nepal, and pass the Nepali heritage down — rights that for decades were locked to those who had surrendered their Nepali citizenship on naturalising abroad.

This guide walks through the constitutional basis, the difference between the NRN ID Card (under the NRN Act 2064) and NRN Citizenship (under section 7A of the Citizenship Act 2063 as amended in 2079), eligibility, the application procedure at the District Administration Office (DAO) or Nepali embassy, the documents required, the rights granted, the rights expressly excluded, and the grounds on which NRN status can be revoked.

1. Who Is a Non-Resident Nepali (NRN)?

The Non-Resident Nepali Act 2064 (2008) recognises two categories of NRN:

Only the first category — foreign citizens of Nepali origin in non-SAARC countries — is eligible to apply for NRN citizenship under section 7A. The second category receives only an NRN ID Card.

2. The Constitutional and Statutory Framework

2.1 Constitution of Nepal 2015

Article 14 is the constitutional foundation:

“A citizen of Nepal by descent, who has acquired the citizenship of a foreign country, may acquire non-resident Nepali citizenship that entitles him or her to enjoy economic, social and cultural rights as provided for in federal law.” — Article 14, Constitution of Nepal 2015.

Article 11 sets out the main citizenship categories (by descent, by birth, naturalised, and honorary), and Article 289 restricts certain high constitutional posts to citizens by descent only — which is why NRN citizens cannot hold those offices.

2.2 Nepal Citizenship Act 2063 (2006), as amended

The Second Amendment 2079 (2022) inserted section 7A (and Schedule 8-Ga, 8-Gha, 8-Cha forms) to operationalise NRN citizenship at the DAO level:

• Section 7A(1) — Eligibility for NRN citizenship.
• Section 7A(2)–(3) — Bar on political and administrative rights.
• Section 7A(4) — Procedure for issuance and the authority of the DAO.
• Section 7A(5) — Surrender on reacquisition of Nepali citizenship by descent.

2.3 Non-Resident Nepali Act 2064 (2008) and Rules 2066

The NRN Act governs the NRN ID Card, rights of NRNs in investment, foreign-currency account holding, and the NRNA (Non-Resident Nepali Association) framework. It operates in parallel with the Citizenship Act and does not, on its own, confer citizenship.

3. NRN ID Card vs NRN Citizenship — Know the Difference

4. Eligibility for NRN Citizenship in Detail

Section 7A(1) of the Citizenship Act 2063 opens the door to four sub-categories:

1. A Nepali citizen by descent who has since acquired foreign citizenship of a non-SAARC country.
2. A person whose father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother was a Nepali citizen at any time and who now holds foreign citizenship of a non-SAARC country.
3. The minor children and grandchildren of the above, who have acquired foreign citizenship of the same non-SAARC country.
4. A person who held a valid NRN ID Card issued under the NRN Act and meets the above origin tests.

Nationals of SAARC countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Afghanistan) are not eligible for NRN citizenship, in line with the constitutional and statutory bar.

5. Rights Granted by NRN Citizenship

5.1 Economic Rights

• Invest in Nepal, subject to the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2075 and sectoral caps.
• Hold foreign-currency bank accounts with Nepal Rastra Bank-licensed banks.
• Repatriate profits, dividends, and sale proceeds in convertible currency.
• Participate in the capital markets (listed equities, mutual funds, bonds) through NRN-designated routes.

5.2 Social and Cultural Rights

• Reside in Nepal without a separate residence permit or visa.
• Enrol children in Nepali educational institutions.
• Participate in religious, cultural, and community activities.
• Register births, deaths, and marriages in Nepal at the relevant ward office.

5.3 Property Rights

• Purchase and own land and houses for residential purposes.
• Inherit property in Nepal from family.
• Hold commercial property within the limits set under the Lands Act and NRN Act rules.

6. Rights Not Granted by NRN Citizenship

Section 7A(2) and (3) make the political and administrative exclusions explicit:

• No right to vote in any federal, provincial, or local election.
• No eligibility to stand for election to Parliament, Provincial Assembly, or local body.
• No eligibility to hold constitutional offices such as the Presidency, Vice-Presidency, Prime Ministership, Chief Justice, or members of constitutional commissions.
• No civil-service or security-service employment reserved for citizens by descent.
• No right to a Nepali passport — NRN citizenship is not a travel document and does not replace the foreign passport.

7. Step-by-Step Application Procedure

7.1 Where to Apply

• In Nepal: at the District Administration Office (DAO) of the applicant’s ancestral district (the district where the applicant’s father, mother, or grandfather held Nepali citizenship).
• Abroad: at the nearest Nepali Embassy or Consulate-General, which forwards the application to MoFA and onward to the DAO. In practice, most missions currently direct applicants to apply in person at the DAO in Nepal for faster processing.

7.2 Forms Under the Citizenship Act 2063

• Schedule 8-Ga — main NRN citizenship application form.
• Schedule 8-Gha — Commitment Letter acknowledging the limits of NRN citizenship.
• Schedule 8-Cha — Oath of allegiance.

7.3 Required Documents

• Valid foreign passport (original + photocopy).
• Foreign citizenship certificate or naturalisation certificate.
• Renunciation certificate of Nepali citizenship (if applicable).
• Evidence of Nepali origin — father/mother/grandparent’s citizenship certificate.
• Three-generation lineage certificate from the local ward office.
• Birth certificate (and marriage certificate, for spouses/children).
• NRN ID Card (if one was previously issued).
• Passport-sized photographs (usually four).
• Sifaris (recommendation letter) from the ward office of the ancestral municipality.

All foreign-language documents must be translated into English or Nepali and notarised by a licensed notary before submission.

7.4 Timeline

Where documents are complete, the DAO typically issues the NRN citizenship certificate within 10 to 15 working days. Timelines are longer where lineage verification needs to be confirmed back in the ancestral ward.

7.5 Government Fees

Ward-office sifaris fees vary by municipality (commonly NPR 500–1,000) and DAO counter fees are set by executive notification. Confirm the current rates at the counter before paying.

8. Grounds for Revocation

NRN citizenship can be revoked under section 7A and the general provisions of the Citizenship Act if the holder:

• Obtained the certificate through false statements or forged documents.
• Engages in activities against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national interest of Nepal.
• Reacquires Nepali citizenship by descent (NRN certificate is surrendered under section 7A(5)).
• Acquires citizenship of a SAARC country after grant of NRN status.
• Is convicted of certain serious criminal offences under Nepali law.

9. NRN Citizenship and Property — Practical Points

• Ownership limits. Residential land ceilings follow the Land (Seventh Amendment) Rules and vary by municipality (typical urban ceiling around 2–4 ropanis in Kathmandu Valley).
• Commercial property. Allowed within the sectoral caps of the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2075 and Industrial Enterprises Act 2076.
• Inheritance. An NRN citizen may inherit ancestral property on the same footing as a citizen by descent, subject to registration formalities at the Land Revenue Office.
• Repatriation. Sale proceeds can be repatriated in convertible currency through a Nepal Rastra Bank-licensed bank, subject to source-of-funds documentation.

10. NRN Citizenship vs Other Comparable Statuses — Regional Snapshot

11. How Notary Nepal Fits In

Applications for NRN citizenship are filed and decided by the DAO; Notary Nepal does not represent applicants before the DAO. Our role in the NRN journey is the document pack:

• Certified translation of foreign passports, foreign citizenship certificates, marriage certificates, and children’s birth certificates into English and Nepali.
• Notarised true-copy certification of foreign documents and of ancestral citizenship certificates, so the originals stay safe.
• Notarised affidavits and declarations that the DAO often asks for — identity statements, same-person affidavits, and lineage declarations.

If you are preparing an NRN citizenship application from abroad and need a notarised and translated document pack that the DAO will accept without rework, contact us for a quote.

12. Key Takeaways

• NRN citizenship is a constitutional category under Article 14 of the Constitution of Nepal 2015 and section 7A of the Nepal Citizenship Act 2063 (inserted by the Second Amendment 2079).
• Eligibility is limited to people of Nepali origin who hold citizenship of a non-SAARC country.
• The certificate is valid indefinitely and carries economic, social, cultural, and property rights — but not political or administrative rights.
• Applications are filed at the DAO or through a Nepali embassy, with Schedule 8-Ga/Gha/Cha forms.
• Foreign-language documents must be translated and notarised before submission — where Notary Nepal comes in.