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Citizenship certificate by descent

वंशजको नाताले नेपाली नागरिकताको प्रमाणपत्र

Responsible office

District Administration Office (all 77 districts) or Area Administration Office of your permanent address

जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालय / इलाका प्रशासन कार्यालय

Who can applyA Nepali aged 16 or over whose father or mother was a Nepali citizen at the time of their birth, applying for a first citizenship certificate.

Typical timeSame day once all documents are complete (DAO Ilam, DAO Lalitpur); DAO Nuwakot says usually within about 3 hours. Longer if a local inquiry (सर्जमिन) or police report is ordered.

Taxes / chargesNot stated

01 · Before you apply

Essential information

Legal basis

Constitution of Nepal (Articles 10–12); Nepal Citizenship Act 2063 (Section 3, citizenship by descent; amended up to 2082); Nepal Citizenship Rules 2063 (Schedule-1 form; amended by the Fourth Amendment Rules 2082)

Fee information as of

FY 2083/84 (DAO stamp fee, 2083 charters); ward fee examples only from 2073/2077 BS

Source updated

2083-06-19 BS (DAO Lalitpur services page)

Data confidence

medium

02 · Prepare

Documents you need

Bring original documents together with readable photocopies. Names, dates and record details should match across every document.

Application on the Schedule-1 form (अनुसूची-१) with your photo, certified by your Ward Chairperson — this is the ward recommendation (वडा सिफारिस)
2 recent passport-size photos (DAO Nuwakot asks for 'auto-size' photos showing both ears; an older charter asks for 3)
Father's and/or mother's citizenship certificate — original plus photocopy; if unavailable, an elder sibling's or a relative's within three generations, with proof of the relationship
Your birth registration certificate (जन्म दर्ता) — original plus photocopy
Proof of age/education: SEE/SLC certificate or marksheet and character certificate if you have passed — original plus photocopy
Parents' marriage registration certificate (विवाह दर्ता) — asked by DAO Nuwakot
Parent's death registration (मृत्यु दर्ता) if a parent has died — DAO Lalitpur
Identification in person (सनाखत) by a parent or close relative, who must bring their original citizenship
Married women: marriage registration (original + photocopy), husband's citizenship, citizenship of your parents or siblings, and identification in person by your husband, in-laws or a relative
If you moved from another district (बसाइँसराइ): migration certificate from the local registrar, land ownership certificate (लालपुर्जा) or building completion/map-pass certificate, utility bill or integrated property-tax receipt, and a record-matching letter (अभिलेख) from the district where your parent's citizenship was issued
If no relative can identify you or documents are weak: local inquiry report (सर्जमिन मुचुल्का) or police/local verification report, as the office requires

03 · At the office

Step-by-step process

1
Collect your documents: parents' (or relative's) citizenship, your birth registration, education certificate, parents' marriage registration and 2 photos.
2
Fill in the Schedule-1 form and get the ward recommendation (वडा सिफारिस): the Ward Chairperson of your permanent-address ward certifies the form and photo (pay the ward's fee).
3
Go to the District (or Area) Administration Office of your permanent address together with the relative who will identify you; both bring originals.
4
Take a token, have your documents checked and endorsed at the first window, and fix a Rs 10 revenue stamp (टिकट) on the application.
5
Submit the file at the citizenship section; your relative identifies you (सनाखत) before the officer. If documents are inadequate the office may order a local inquiry (सर्जमिन) or police report.
6
Have your photo/biometrics taken and the certificate printed (DAO Ilam: Window 4).
7
Collect the certificate the same day once the file is complete (DAO Ilam: Window 1).

04 · Cost

Fees and charges

Citizenship certificate

'No fees are required to obtain Nepali citizenship certificates' (DAO Lamjung)

Free

Revenue stamp on the application (टिकट)

DAO Ilam, Lalitpur and Nuwakot charters (2083)

Rs 10

Ward recommendation (वडा सिफारिस)

FY 2083/84 ward fee not published online — confirm at the ward. Older examples: Aandhikhola Rural Municipality Rs 100 (2073 BS charter); Panchkhapan Municipality appears free (2077 BS charter, text unclear)

Varies by local level

06 · Read carefully

Important notes

Minimum age is 16: under-16s get a minor identity card (नाबालक परिचयपत्र) instead. The age is consistent with the DoP (under-16s are minors) and the NID FAQ (citizens aged 16+); the Act's section was not re-read in this research.
Apply in the district of your permanent address. If you have moved, register the migration at the ward first and bring the migration certificate and record letter.
Offices expect originals of every supporting document plus photocopies — 'All services require original documents to be attached' (DAO Ilam).
Make sure names and dates match across your birth registration, school certificate and parents' citizenship; mismatches need a separate correction process.
Citizenship issued on/after 2083 Baisakh 1 (DAO Kaski; DAO Nuwakot gives 2082 Chaitra 8) no longer needs separate NID pre-enrolment.
DAO Kathmandu does not publish its document list online; check its citizen charter at the office.