Nepal’s New Citizenship Bill Empowers Mothers to Pass Citizenship to Children

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has clarified that the proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act are designed to establish mothers as the primary guardians of their children for the purposes of citizenship. With the proposed amendments, mothers will be entitled to declare and take responsibility for their child's citizenship without the father's involvement - particularly when the father is not present.

At a meeting of the Legislation Management Committee in the National Assembly, Minister Lekhak addressed concerns with the Nepal Citizenship Bill. He stated that the aim of the Bill is to guarantee mothers the full rights to grant citizenship on behalf of their children if the father cannot be located or produced.

Minister Lekhak stated that the Bill does not grant non-accountable rights to mothers. If the mother makes a false declaration, the law allows for recourse against the mother.

Minister Lekhak stated that there are many children who have not received citizenship and do not have access to education or careers.

On the question of naturalized citizenship, Minister Lekhak stated that the Bill would require the mother to declare that the father has not granted foreign citizenship to the child. Currently, only the application for naturalized citizenship declares that.

By current law, a child born to a Nepali mother and foreign father, who has always lived in Nepal, can apply for naturalized citizenship.