Archive · 9 Jan 2026
Nepal Allows Citizenship in Mother's Name
Nepal has made a new rule that helps children get citizenship.
Before, if a child didn't know who their father was, they couldn't easily get citizenship.
Now, they can use their mother's name to get citizenship.
This rule also helps people whose parents died or disappeared before they could get citizenship.
It even helps people born outside Nepal to Nepali mothers, as long as they don't have foreign citizenship.
The rule says people can use a special form to say who they are, and that's enough to get citizenship.
This makes it easier for many people to become official citizens of Nepal.
Nepal has implemented a new rule allowing children with unknown fathers to obtain citizenship through their mother's name.
The Nepal Citizenship (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2082 BS, was approved by the cabinet and published in the Nepal Gazette.
Children with deceased or untraceable parents and individuals born abroad to Nepali mothers without foreign citizenship are also eligible for naturalised citizenship.
The amendment introduces self-declaration as a key basis for issuing citizenship, along with standardised forms.
Human rights activists welcome the revised regulations, stating it will provide relief to thousands deprived of citizenship certificates.
- Who
- Children with unknown fathers, individuals born abroad to Nepali mothers, and those with deceased or untraceable parents
- What
- New legal provision allowing citizenship in the mother's name
- When
- Implemented after approval on December 25, 2025, and published on January 4, 2026
- Where
- Nepal
- Why
- To facilitate citizenship for children born to Nepali mothers and address issues of citizenship deprivation
- Country
- Nepal
- Amendment Name
- Nepal Citizenship (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2082 BS
- Approval Date
- December 25, 2025
- Gazette Publication Date
- January 4, 2026
- Eligibility Criteria
- Children with unknown fathers, children with deceased or untraceable parents, individuals born abroad to Nepali mothers without foreign citizenship
- Key Provision
- Self-declaration as a basis for citizenship