Nepal dual citizenship is not an option. Even though there are a few exceptions, you might end up wasting time trying to achieve Nepal dual citizenship. The country has a strong focus on nationalism and protecting its people. In fact, their slogan serves as an answer to those who fight for Nepal dual citizenship: ‘One Nation One Citizen.’
They’re so strict about Nepal dual citizenship, that they even punish citizens who find dual citizenship abroad and return. These individuals enter Nepal while breaching the law. If the Immigration sector discovers someone in this situation, they force them to resign one of the two citizenships. Plenty would denounce this decision, but you should investigate before judging them.
Regional Influence
Nepal sits right between two major economic powerhouses with the largest populations on the planet. These countries, namely India and China, are overflowing political energy. One of the reasons Nepal dual citizenship is not an option is because the country needs to defend itself from immigrants that might have a negative impact.
Religious differences in the region also clash frequently. The Chinese Communist Party disavows many religions, including Buddhism. Funnily enough, Nepal is the birthplace of Buddha. However, he gained enlightenment in India. So, there are sometimes mixed feelings in the region.
Another reason that Nepal dual citizenship is not allowed is because of preventative measures that the government takes. In previous decades, the Chinese Communist Party used sleeper cells in Tibet to perform horrible acts. In order to prevent situations like this, Nepal refuses to allow individuals the privilege of maintaining citizenship in two different countries.
Ethnicity vs Nationality
Nepal nationality is referred to as Nepalese. The Nepalese people are descendants of Indo-Aryans and Sino-Tibetans. However, while the citizenship laws are strict, the country does not equate nationality with ethnicity. Instead, they consider any resident of the country as Nepalese.
The country, in fact, is home to many Indian, Burman, Tibetan, and Yunnan people who have discarded their previous citizenship to become Nepalese. It is a multicultural and multiethnic state. It still maintains nationalistic tendencies like refusing Nepal dual citizenship.
Nepal Citizenship Act
On February 28th, 1964, the Nepal Citizenship Act was put into place. This was the push for single citizenship across the country; a direct attack on the possibility of Nepal dual citizenship. It also restricted current citizens from renouncing their citizenship, and foreigners from obtaining it.
On November 26th, 2006, the Nepal government repealed the Nepal Citizenship Act of 1964. The purpose of this act was to allow the acquisition and termination of Nepali citizenship. When discussing Nepal dual citizenship, they brought the hammer down hard. The answer was a strict no. It’s unlikely to change in the future.
Section 10 of the Citizenship Act prohibits Nepali citizens from voluntarily obtaining citizenship of a foreign country. Section 13 of the Citizenship Act says that any person cannot acquire more than one certificate of citizenship if one of the two is Nepali.
Naturalization
As with most countries, Nepali citizenship is obtained via birth and marriage. There’s another option, though. You, as a foreign citizen, can obtain citizenship for contributions in the following fields:
- Science
- Philosophy
- Art
- Literature
- World peace
- Human welfare
- Industrial work
- Financial work
- Social development
The government, while they reject Nepal dual citizenship, is allowed to provide Nepal citizenship to those they consider worthy. At their discretion, they can pick and choose individuals who stand out. This applies only if each person credits their achievements to the country. They’ve also awarded honorary Nepalese citizenship to internationally renowned individuals.
Article 14 of the Constitution of Nepal provides a small exception, as well. Non-Resident Nepalis, also known as “NRNs,” can enjoy social, cultural, and economic benefits in the country if they comply with and match strict residency and descent criteria.
Conclusion
Not only is Nepal against Nepal dual citizenship, it even makes it difficult for descendants to return or obtain their natural citizenship. If we’re looking for Nepal citizenship as an option, you should consider contacting individuals in the Immigration sector for consideration. Nepal dual citizenship, however, is not available.
Descendants and long-term residents can enjoy certain benefits in the country while maintaining citizenship abroad. However, this is limited to a small minority of persons who match extremely strict criteria. For additional details, contact our experts at Citizenships.com and plenty of resources to help you start the process.