Citizenship through mother’s name to be allowed in Nepal
He said the proposed bill includes provisions allowing children to receive citizenship from their mother if the father is deceased, unwilling to assist in the citizenship process while alive, or has remarried.
KATHMANDU: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has announced plans to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act to ensure children can obtain citizenship through their mother’s name.
Speaking at the National Assembly’s Legislative Management Committee meeting on Monday, he said the proposed bill includes provisions allowing children to receive citizenship from their mother if the father is deceased, unwilling to assist in the citizenship process while alive, or has remarried.
He clarified that even if the father does not show affection or accept the child, the law currently requires recognizing him as the father.
Minister Lekhak further explained that the government is moving forward with the bill based on a directive from the Supreme Court to grant citizenship through the mother’s name. Citizenship can be granted upon the mother’s self-declaration alone.
The bill also addresses situations where a child is born abroad or the mother returns to Nepal during pregnancy but the father’s whereabouts are unknown, ensuring rights for both mother and child through the mother’s self-declaration.
Additionally, the proposed amendment allows children to acquire citizenship through the mother even if they choose not to use the father’s name.
