NRN Citizenship in Nepal: 2026 Guide for FCNO & Property Rights
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- 6 min read
Securing NRN Citizenship in 2026? Learn how the Nepal Citizenship Act and FCNO rules affect your property rights and investments. Get expert help from Emigrate Lawyers.
NRN Citizenship for Foreign Citizens of Nepali Origin (2026 Guide)
You’ve built a life in Australia. You feel secure. But that quiet pride in being Nepali never fades. Somewhere between your morning shift in Melbourne and your evening call to Kathmandu, you realize you don’t just want to visit home, you want to belong to it legally.
Laws Governing the NRN Citizenship in Nepal
Before diving into how, let's get one thing straight: the laws that actually govern your NRN citizenship journey.
Article 11.9 of the Constitution of Nepal is where it all begins. It says you cannot hold a foreign passport and a full Nepali passport at the same time. No dual nationality. But the same article creates a special third category just for people like you, i.e., Non-Residential Nepali Citizenship.
The law defines exactly who qualifies. Under Section 2(b) of the NRN Act, 2064, a Foreign Citizen of Nepali Origin (FCNO) must meet all three of these criteria:
1. Self or ancestral connection to Nepal: You, or your father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother, has to be a Nepali citizen at any point.
2. Acquired foreign citizenship: You should hold a passport from another country.
3. Non-SAARC Country: You should not belong from a SAARC country. Here, even if you were born in Nepal or have direct Nepali ancestry, you are legally ineligible for NRN status if you hold citizenship in any SAARC member nation.
And the laws that will guide your entire application are:
Nepal Citizenship Act, 2063 (2007), Sections 17–20 - This defines who is eligible, how to apply, and the rights you get (economic, social, cultural) versus the rights you give up (no voting or politics).
NRN Act, 2064 (2007)- This governs the NRN ID Card, the alternative path (easier, but limited).
NRN Regulations, 2079 (2022) - This is the manual that introduced the hybrid digital + in-person process.
Citizenship Rules, 2079 (2022), Rule 14 - This one is non-negotiable: it mandates that you must appear in person at a District Administration Office (DAO) in Nepal for final biometrics and an oath.
NRN Citizenship vs. Dual Citizenship in Nepal
As of 2026, the process for obtaining NRN Citizenship (formally for Foreign Citizens of Nepali Origin, or FCNO) has evolved. While Article 11.9 of the Constitution of Nepal prohibits dual nationality, it creates this special third category that allows you to maintain your foreign passport while reclaiming your legal identity in Nepal.
Citizenship Application Process
Phase 1: Remote Preparation with Emigrate Lawyers
Before you book your flight to Kathmandu, we handle the groundwork. We verify your eligibility under Section 2(b) of the NRN Act, 2064 and review your documents as the required documents are:
Original Nepali Citizenship Certificate.
Australian Passport (all pages).
Relationship evidence (if required).
Your parent's citizenship certificates (under special circumstances.
Your Australian residency proof (helpful but not compulsory)
Phase 2: Mandatory In-Person Steps in Nepal
Under Citizenship Rules, 2079 (2022), Rule 14, physical presence is non-negotiable for the final steps.
Ward Office Verification
You must visit the Ward Office where your original citizenship was issued to formally renounce your old citizenship and apply for the new NRN status. The major steps involved are:
Step 1: Online Application Filing: Submitting the application through Nepal’s government digital portal on your behalf.
Step 2: Submitting Application
You submit an application at the Ward Office that covers both requests. One to renounce your old Nepali citizenship and another to apply for the new NRN Citizenship. You can submit separate applications if you prefer, but a single combined application works just as well because legally, your old Nepali citizenship record remains active at the DAO even after you acquire a foreign passport.
That means you cannot simply ignore it. You must formally renounce your old citizenship before the NRN citizenship can be issued.
District Administration Office (DAO)
The DAO handles your biometrics, the official oath, and the signing of the final register. Once your application is completed at the Ward Office (CDO), the Ward Office forwards it to the DAO. At this stage, we may need to draft an additional application specifically addressed to the DAO, outlining the key facts of your case.
After that, you will receive your NRN citizenship directly from the DAO. During your visit to the DAO, you will:
Complete biometrics (fingerprints and photo)
Take the oath in front of the designated officer.
Sign the final register
Step 3: Receive Your NRN Citizenship Certificate
You can expect to receive your NRN citizenship certificate within 3 to 4 days, though in some cases, it may take up to a week. That’s it. No running between offices. No missing documents. No last-minute surprises. You have worked hard to build your life in Australia. Let us work hard to secure your roots in Nepal.
Phase 3: Special Circumstances under NRN Citizenship
What if your citizenship were lost?
This is one of the major hurdles that often causes delays in NRN citizenship application status checks. Here's how we handle it:
1. If your own citizenship is lost, you can still qualify for NRN citizenship using the citizenship certificate of either of your parents.
2. If your parent’s citizenship certificates are also lost, you are not stuck. Under Section 3(2) of the Citizenship Rules, 2063 (2006), you can provide secondary evidence to prove your Nepali origin. Acceptable documents include old Lalpurja (land titles) or voter lists from the time your ancestors lived in Nepal. So even if the original documents are gone, the law provides a path forward. We just need to find the right evidence.
Comparison Table: NRN ID Card vs. NRN Citizenship
Feature | NRN ID Card | NRN Citizenship (FCNO) |
Issued By | MoFA / Embassies | MoHA / District Office (DAO) |
Physical Presence | Not required | Mandatory in Nepal |
Validity | 2 or 10 years | Permanent (Life-long) |
Property Rights | Limited | Broad (Nearly equal to citizens) |
NRN Benefits: Property Rights & Investment (2026 Update)
For years, NRNs who wanted to invest in Nepal faced delays, approvals, and bureaucratic headaches. That changed in February 2026. The government of Nepal issued a new Gazette Notification that fundamentally restructured foreign investment approval. For NRNs in Australia, the UK, the US, or anywhere else, this is the most NRN-friendly investment climate Nepal has ever created. Before 2026, the automatic approval route covered only 60 sectors and had an upper limit of NPR 500 million. That changed on 16 February 2026 (2082/11/04 in the Nepali calendar), when a new Gazette notification removed the investment cap entirely.
After 2026: Nepal Gazette Notification dated 16 February 2026 (2082/11/04), issued by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies expanded the Automatic Route to 102 sectors with no upper limit on investment and explicitly exempted the Information Technology and digital industry from the minimum capital requirement. This means if your business falls within these 102 sectors, like energy, tourism, agriculture, processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, or IT, you simply apply online through the Department of Industry portal and get automatic approval. As per the Non-Resident Nepali Rules of 2066, the property ceiling for purchase is:
Property Ceilings for Purchase:
Kathmandu Valley: 2 Ropani
Terai Municipalities: 8 Kattha
Hilly/Mountain Rural: 10 Ropani
Note: These limits do not apply to inherited ancestral property.
The IT Sector Advantage: No Minimum Investment
General rule: Foreign investment (including NRN investment) requires a minimum of NPR 20
million (approximately AUD 225,000).
IT exception: For 14 specific digital sectors, including software development, BPO, KPO, data
centers, cloud computing, web portals, and IT parks, there is no minimum investment
requirement at all.
What You Cannot Invest In (The Negative List)
Some sectors remain fully or partially restricted for foreign investment, including primary
agriculture (small-scale), cottage industries, retail business, real estate brokerage, travel
agencies, mass media in the Nepali language, personal services (hair cutting, tailoring), and domestic courier services. While the partially restricted areas are ride-sharing (max 70% foreign ownership) and domestic airlines (max 49%)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can I use a power of attorney (wareshnama) for everything?
A: A lawyer can act as your administrative liaison for filing and ward recommendations. However, they cannot take the oath for you.
Q2: What is the NRN citizenship fee structure?
A: Fees vary slightly by district and embassy, typically covering application processing, biometric capture, and certificate issuance.
Q3: Can I hold a local Nepali bank account?
A: Yes. Unlike the Non-Resident Nepali Card, which limits you to convertible currency accounts, NRN Citizenship allows you to operate standard local currency accounts much more easily.
Q4: What if my original documents are lost?
Under Section 3(2) of the Citizenship Rules, 2063, we can use secondary evidence like old Lalpurja (land titles) to prove your origin.
Final Thoughts
Getting NRN Citizenship in 2026 lets you keep your Australian passport while reclaiming your legal identity in Nepal. You get property rights, investment access, and a permanent connection to home.
Yes, you must come to Nepal for few processes as mentioned above. But the process is now easier than ever especially with new 2026 rules that remove investment caps for NRNs.
Don't stress, Emigrate Lawyers handles your paperwork, guides you through every step, and makes sure you walk away with your NRN certificate no stress, no missing documents, no last-minute surprises.
Contact Emigrate Lawyers today and come home the right way.
Need Legal Help or Consultation?
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to the legal matter, please contact us at:
Emigrate Lawyers
Email: info@emigratelawyers.com
WhatsApp: 0458 745 646
Phone: 1300 807 134
Text Us: 0483 959 572
Writer: Kusum Parajuli
Position: Legal Officer at Emigrate Lawyers
Licensed Advocate of Nepal
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