Kathmandu, September 13
The government, along with members of a key parliamentary committee, has proposed that citizenships be issued to foreign men who wed Nepali women only if they live in Nepal for 15 years.
During a discussion over the proposed citizenship bill at a meeting of Parliament’s State Affairs and Good Governance Committee on Friday morning, the committee chair announced that the Home Ministry had prepared a proposal to allow citizenship to a man married to a Nepali woman after staying in the country for 15 years.
The provision also states that the person will have to give up the citizenship of his native country if he wants Nepali citizenship. He will also have to show good conduct and will have to learn how to speak any of the languages in spoken in Nepal. As of now, there is no provision to give foreign men Nepali citizenships. However, there is a provision under which foreign men get citizenships if they stay in Nepal for over 15 years.
On the other hand, the committee has proposed that citizenship be issued to foreign women married to Nepali men only after seven years of marriage. They shall be provided an identity card for seven years using which they can enjoy socio-economic rights.
