Nepal does not permit dual citizenship, and it asks you to say so in writing. An applicant renewing without a citizenship certificate must provide an affidavit stating that they have not obtained, and have not applied for, a foreign citizenship. That requirement makes the position unusually concrete.
Quick facts
The concession for people without a citizenship certificate is generous but strictly bounded: a passport valid for two years, available once only, after which the certificate must be produced. It exists for people who genuinely cannot travel to Nepal to obtain one.
Your options
| Situation | Position | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nepali citizen, has the certificate | Ordinary renewal | Standard documents |
| Over 16, no certificate, cannot travel | Two-year passport, once | Minor card or birth certificate, plus affidavit |
| Acquired U.S. citizenship | Nepali citizenship lost | Consider the non-resident card |
| Child born in the U.S. to Nepali parents | Documented through the parents | Birth certificate route |
For those who have naturalised, the non-resident Nepali card is the route that preserves a practical connection: it carries rights around entry, residence and investment that ordinary foreign nationals do not have.
How to proceed
- Establish honestly which category you are in, since the affidavit is a sworn statement.
- If you hold the certificate, apply for an ordinary passport.
- If you do not and cannot travel, use the one-time two-year route.
- Plan how you will obtain the certificate within those two years.
- If you have naturalised abroad, look at the non-resident card instead.
- Document children through their birth certificates and their parents’ papers.
Required documents
- Citizenship certificate, or minor card or birth certificate.
- Affidavit regarding foreign citizenship where required.
- Parents’ citizenship certificates for family files.
- Current or most recent passport.
- Proof of status in the United States.
- Photographs and the completed application.
Where to apply
At the embassy in Washington for passports and the non-resident card; at district offices in Nepal for citizenship documents.
Additional notes
The affidavit is a sworn statement
Treat it as such. Take advice rather than guessing if your situation is complicated.
Two years passes quickly
The concession is a bridge, not a solution. Use the time to arrange the certificate.
Children of naturalised parents
Their position differs from their parents’, and the non-resident card framework has provisions for descendants. Check the current rules.
Before you naturalise
Understand the consequence for your Nepali documents first, and plan around it rather than discovering it at a counter.