Nepal’s Ministry of Law is considering amendments to the Non-Resident Nepali Act 2007 to issue identity cards to foreign nationals of Nepali origin. This move aims to recognize Nepali-origin individuals and families who have lived abroad for generations. Currently, descendants of those who left Nepal a century or more ago are not recognized under the Act. However, foreign nationals of Nepali origin whose families migrated abroad at least three generations ago are eligible for identity cards.
The proposed identity cards will grant limited economic, social, and cultural rights to Non-Resident Nepalis. This development follows other countries’ initiatives to provide identification cards to nationals living overseas, such as South Korea’s mobile ID card service. Pakistani citizens living overseas can also apply for a NADRA NICOP, enabling dual nationals to enter Pakistan without a visa. The move is expected to benefit Nepali-speaking communities in countries like Fiji, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
