Constitution

Nepal 2006 Constitution (reviewed 2012)

Table of Contents

Part 2. Citizenship

8. Citizenship at the Commencement of the Constitution

  1. At the commencement of this Constitution, the persons who have acquired the citizenship of Nepal and who are eligible to acquire the citizenship by virtue of this part shall be the citizenship of Nepal.
  2. At the commencement of this Constitution, the following persons who have their permanent domicile in Nepal shall be deemed to be the citizens of Nepal by descent:
    1. any person who has acquired citizenship by descent prior to the commencement of this Constitution;
    2. any person whose father or mother was a citizen of Nepal at his or her birth.
  3. Every child who is found within the territory of Nepal and the whereabouts of whose parents are not known shall, until the father or the mother of the child is traced, be deemed to be a citizen of Nepal.
  4. Whenever any territory is acquired by way of incorporation into Nepal, every person having his or her domicile in such territory shall become a citizen of Nepal, subject to the provisions of the laws in force.
  5. Any person who was born in the territory of Nepal before or on the last day of the month of Chaitra of the year 2046 (13 April 1990) and has been permanently domiciled in Nepal shall acquire the citizenship of Nepal by birth pursuant to the laws in force.Provided that, for the acquisition of citizenship under this provision, any person must make an application within the prescribed period, for one time, as provided in the laws in force.
  6. A woman of foreign nationality who has a matrimonial relationship with a citizen of Nepal may, if she so wishes, acquire the naturalized citizenship of Nepal, pursuant to the laws in force.
  7. Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Article, in the case of a person born from a woman citizen of Nepal married to a foreign citizen, if such person was born in Nepal, has permanently resided in Nepal and has not acquired the citizenship of a foreign country on the basis of the citizenship of his or her father, he or she may acquire the naturalized citizenship of Nepal, pursuant to the laws in force.

9. Naturalized or honorary citizenship

Except as mentioned in Article 8, the Government of Nepal may grant the naturalized or honorary citizenship of Nepal, as provided in the laws.

10. Acquisition and termination of citizenship

Other necessary matters including the acquisition and termination of citizenship shall be as provided in the laws in force.

11. Deputation of citizenship teams

The Government of Nepal may depute citizenship distribution teams to grant citizenship to those persons who are eligible to acquire citizenship as provided in the laws in force.