Now Nepali citizenship even for NRN,

Kathmandu : Another great attempts made by honourable Prime Minister of Nepal to encourage Nepalese on applying for foreign countries PR(Permanent Residence) instead of staying in Nepal .The government has given citizenship to non-resident Nepalese (NRNs). Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” distributed citizenship to non-residents on 17th October 2023 A.D, Tuesday morning after a program held at his official residence, Baluwatar.

In the program, Prime Minister Prachanda started the distribution of non-resident citizenship by awarding citizenship to pair of Chairman of NRNA, International Coordinating Council, Kul Acharya and Dr. Badri K.C.After receiving the citizenship, Chairman KC and Acharya responded that the campaign “Once Nepali Forever Nepali” has come to reality.

They also raised the opinion that if citizenship is granted on the basis of descendants, the future of their descendants will also be secured.According to the Citizenship Act, which was amended last May 2023 A.D, where the Government has approved the Citizenship Regulations, which has opened the way for non-resident Nepalese to get Nepalese citizenship.According to section 7 (a) 1 of the Citizenship Act, a person who acquired the citizenship of a foreign country and resided in a country other than the member countries of the South Asian Regional Cooperation Organization and who acquired the citizenship of a foreign country after his/her father or mother, Grandfather or Grandmother, was a citizen of Nepal by descent or birth. Then there is a provision for non-residents to obtain Non-residential Nepalese citizenship so that they can enjoy economic, social and cultural rights.

Citizens of the NRN will not be allowed to do politics, hold government positions and vote. But they will be allowed to do business in Nepal and keep property in Nepal. A special session has been held during the 11th International Conference of NRNA on the issue of franchise. The conference started on 17th October and will continue till 19th October in Kathmandu.

There is also a provision in the law that citizenship can be revoked if it is found that the act is against the independence, sovereignty, geographical integrity and national interest of Nepal.

In order to obtain Nepali citizenship, a non-resident Nepali must submit proof that the applicant’s parents or grandparents were citizens of Nepal in the past. And If they have taken Nepalese citizenship in the past then they should provide proof of relinquishing the old citizenship, along with proof of citizenship of a foreign country will be required.

In addition, a legal provision has been made that the commitment to comply with the Constitution and laws of Nepal is also necessary and an oath must be taken. Along with this, Prime Minister Prachanda has responded that granting citizenship to non-resident Nepalese is a great achievement.

Recalling the old provision of citizenship for non-resident Nepalese with economic, social and cultural rights in the constitution of Nepal, the prime minister said “There was a great struggle to make the legal arrangement before, but now with this amendment fifty million non-resident Nepalese have been arranged to get non-resident Nepalese citizenship going through easier procedure and this is a very big achievement.”

Similarly, former NRNA president Dr. Upendra Mahato has played an important role to provide citizenship to non-resident Nepalese. He worked hard to make legal arrangements for non-resident Nepalese to be allowed to do business in Nepal and have property rights. His hard work has now paid off.

This Amendment of the Citizenship Act has made two different changes in one hand encourage Nepalese Youth to go foreign countries and become NRNs whereas in other hand those NRNs who are rich can help in the economic investment of our country as well as perform economic, social and cultural activities within Nepal.