The document that governs Nepali life is the citizenship certificate. Without it, an adult cannot obtain a full passport, and it is issued by district administration offices in Nepal — not abroad. That single fact shapes every other page in this guide.
Quick facts
For children the equivalent is the minor identity card issued by a district or area administration office, or a birth certificate where the child was born abroad. The embassy is specific that the number on it must match the citizenship number recorded in the passport.
Fees breakdown
| Service | Cost | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship certificate | Charged in Nepal | District administration office |
| Minor identity card | Charged in Nepal | District or area office |
| Birth certificate | Charged in Nepal | Local registrar |
| Migration certificate | Charged in Nepal | When the address differs |
| U.S. certificate for a child born here | $15–$50 | State vital records office |
The migration certificate is an unusual requirement worth flagging: if your permanent address differs from the one recorded on your citizenship card, you need one before a passport application will proceed.
How to file
- Establish which documents you hold and whether the numbers match across them.
- Obtain a migration certificate if your address has changed within Nepal.
- For a child born in the United States, order the U.S. birth certificate.
- Arrange the Nepali documentation through relatives or on a visit home.
- Keep the citizenship certificate safe: replacing it from abroad is not possible.
- Check name spellings across documents before applying for anything.
Required documents
- Citizenship certificate and photocopy.
- Minor identity card or birth certificate for children.
- Parents’ citizenship certificates for a child’s file.
- Marriage certificate where a name changed.
- Migration certificate where the address differs.
- Proof of status in the United States.
Where to file
With the district administration office in Nepal for citizenship documents; at the embassy for passports and consular services.
Additional notes
Guard the certificate
It cannot be issued or replaced abroad. Keep the original safe and a scan separately.
Numbers that do not match
A mismatch between the certificate number and the number recorded in your passport is a common cause of rejection. Check before the appointment.
Children born abroad
A birth certificate stands in for the minor card where the child was born outside Nepal, which simplifies matters for families here.
Name spellings
Devanagari names romanise inconsistently. Fixing the spelling once and using it everywhere saves years of trouble.