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Kathmandu, Aug 15 Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has reaffirmed that Nepal’s constitution does not permit dual citizenship.

Speaking at the Law Management Committee on Thursday, Lekhak addressed demands from descendants of Gurkha recruits seeking Nepali citizenship by descent, clarifying that the government cannot grant citizenship of two countries simultaneously. He said any Nepali who acquires foreign citizenship automatically loses their Nepali citizenship under the current law.

According to Lekhak, if a former Nepali citizen wishes to regain Nepali citizenship, they must first renounce their foreign citizenship, submit the relevant documentation, and register in Nepal. Citizenship would then be restored from the date of registration, as provided by existing legislation. Allowing dual citizenship, he noted, would require a constitutional amendment.

Lekhak also highlighted that the government aims to make it easier to obtain citizenship through the mother’s name. Discussing the Nepal Citizenship (Second Amendment) Bill, 2081, he said the bill’s objective is to grant citizenship if a mother declares the applicant as her child, provided her own citizenship is verified. He invited lawmakers to suggest additional provisions to ensure the legislation addresses all potential scenarios not anticipated in the current draft.

People’s News Monitoring Service