NRN Citizenship Application: DAO Process & Required Documents 2026

Most Nepali embassies do not process NRN Citizenship Certificate applications. Applicants must travel to Nepal and present at their home district DAO. Complete this process before deploying capital — it determines which legal framework applies to your investment.

Without NRN Citizenship Certificate status, diaspora investors face the full Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act (FITTA 2019) framework requiring NPR 20 million (USD 150,000) minimum equity for most sectors. NRN status bypasses several thresholds for residential property and capital markets access.

6-Step DAO Application Process

Step 1: Apply at DAO in your home district. Travel to home district required — often not your current residence in Nepal. For applicants from rural districts living in Kathmandu, this requires a separate inter-district trip.

Step 2: Obtain Ward Office recommendation (Sifaris). Officials may be unfamiliar with NRN process. Cite Section 7A of the Nepal Citizenship Act (amended 2022) if needed.

Step 3: Arrange two Nepali citizen witnesses. Must be available in person at DAO. Power of Attorney not accepted for this step. Coordinate with relatives in Nepal beforehand.

Step 4: Provide original citizenship renunciation certificate. This document was likely not retained at renunciation. You must locate it via your home country records before traveling.

Step 5: Submit three-generation lineage proof (Teen Pustha). Citizenship documents for parents and grandparents required. Rural records often incomplete — start document collection early.

Step 6: Take oath of allegiance at DAO. Must be in person. No remote or video option currently available.

Complete Document Checklist

• ✓ Valid foreign passport
• ✓ Original Nepali citizenship renunciation certificate
• ✓ Your original Nepali citizenship certificate (if available)
• ✓ Parents' Nepali citizenship certificates
• ✓ Grandparents' citizenship or birth certificates (Teen Pustha requirement)
• ✓ Ward Office Sifaris (recommendation letter)
• ✓ Two Nepali citizen witnesses (in person at DAO)
• ✓ 4 recent passport-size photographs
• ✓ DAO application form

Timeline & Costs (2026)

Processing time: 2-3 business days (stated) when documents complete.

Realistic timeline: 2-6 months including document preparation and travel coordination.

Travel costs: USD 2,000-5,000 per application trip depending on origin country.

Document procurement: USD 200-800 for older records.

Legal advocate fees: USD 300-1,000 (not optional — engage before and during DAO visit).

Pro Tips to Avoid Rejection

• Assemble document packets before booking travel. Incomplete documents = DAO rejection + return trip.
• Brief your ward office contact in advance. Cite Section 7A of Nepal Citizenship Act if officials are unfamiliar.
• Engage a qualified Nepali advocate before and during DAO visit.
• Do not confuse Power of Attorney for property registration with witness requirement — different rules apply.

FINAL CALL: PREPARE — Initiate process now. Embassy processing not yet available; travel required.