Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) who have acquired citizenship of other countries are facing difficulties in managing their parental property in Nepal. The civil code bars foreigners to the sell or transfer ownership of their property in Nepal. After a Nepali acquires citizenship of another country, his/her Nepali citizenship is automatically scrapped, according to the Citizenship Act. “NRNs have reported several such cases,” said Ram Babu Dhakal, under secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) at a thematic session of the NRN conference. “I have dealt with hundreds of such cases.” Dhakal suggested NRN representatives to manage their parental property here before acquiring other countries’ citizenship. With many NRNs yet to take NRN identity cards from the foreign ministry and Nepali embassies abroad, Dhakal urged them to get such cards to take benefits of being an NRN. At the discussion, speakers demanded that NRNs Nepali citizenship not be scrapped even if they acquire other countries citizenship.

source:The Kathmandu Post, 13 Oct 2011