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Citizenship for children of citizens by birth, and citizenship through the mother

जन्मको आधारमा नागरिकता प्राप्त नागरिकका सन्तानलाई वंशज नागरिकता / आमाको नामबाट नागरिकता

Responsible office

District Administration Office (all 77 districts) / Area Administration Office

जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालय / इलाका प्रशासन कार्यालय

Who can applyPeople aged 16+ whose parents are citizens by birth (जन्मसिद्ध), or who apply through their Nepali mother, including when the father is unknown.

Typical timeSame day once complete (DAO Ilam for the mother's-name route; DAO Nuwakot for both routes). Cases needing a CDO inquiry take longer — not published.

Taxes / chargesNot stated

01 · Before you apply

Essential information

Legal basis

Constitution of Nepal Article 11; Nepal Citizenship Act 2063 as amended (incl. Second Amendment Act 2082, certified 2082-06-05 BS); Nepal Citizenship (Fourth Amendment) Rules 2082 (Nepal Gazette 2082-09-21 BS)

Fee information as of

FY 2083/84 (DAO stamp fee)

Source updated

2083-06-16 BS (DAO Ilam services page); Rules published 2082-09-21 BS

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.

Schedule-1 form with photo certified by the Ward Chairperson
2 passport-size photos
Children of citizens by birth: both parents' citizenship-by-birth certificates (originals)
Your birth registration certificate (original; DAO Nuwakot wants it registered in the online civil-registration system)
Local-level recommendation confirming place of birth and lineage; education certificate
Migration certificate if you have moved (DAO Ilam); DAO Nuwakot also asks for land/utility-bill proof, a family photo with names and a local residence certificate
Through the mother: mother's citizenship (original), local recommendation and inquiry report (सर्जमिन मुचुल्का), identification by the mother (सनाखत), and self-declarations on the Schedule 4 formats
If the mother has died: her death registration; if she is of unsound mind: a doctor's recommendation

03 · At the office

Step-by-step process

1
Make sure your birth registration and education certificate are in order.
2
Get the ward/local-level recommendation on place of birth and lineage and have the Schedule-1 form certified.
3
For the mother's-name route, fill in the self-declaration (स्वघोषणा) on the Schedule 4 format; the ward may hold a local inquiry (सर्जमिन).
4
Go to the DAO with your parent(s) for identification and all originals; fix a Rs 10 revenue stamp.
5
The Chief District Officer decides after any inquiry; under the 2082 Rules the CDO can also decide some naturalised-citizenship cases (e.g. father unidentified).
6
Collect the certificate (same day once complete, per DAO Nuwakot).

04 · Cost

Fees and charges

Revenue stamp on the application

DAO Ilam and DAO Nuwakot (2083)

Rs 10

Citizenship certificate

DAO Lamjung

Free

Ward recommendation / local inquiry

FY 2083/84 ward fee not published online — confirm at the ward

Varies by local level

06 · Read carefully

Important notes

What changed in 2082: the self-declaration became a key basis for issuing citizenship (with a set format); the CDO can grant naturalised citizenship to a child whose citizen-by-birth parent's spouse died or disappeared before getting citizenship, and to a child born abroad to a Nepali mother whose father is unidentified (no foreign citizenship, living permanently in Nepal) (eKantipur, Jan 2026).
Home Ministry: 2,948 people had obtained citizenship through their mother under the new rules by March 2026 (eKantipur).
The 'children of citizens by birth' route was introduced by the Citizenship (First Amendment) Act (bill of 2079) — not re-verified here, but DAO Ilam and DAO Nuwakot 2083 charters list it as an active service.
A foreign woman married to a Nepali man now needs a valid Nepal visa before getting marriage-based naturalised citizenship (2082 Rules).

07 · Where to go