Kathmandu: Nepali citizens residing in Kathmandu Valley can now obtain duplicate copies of their citizenship certificates from designated District Administration Offices, even if their original certificates were issued in other districts.
The new arrangement aims to make public services more accessible and reduce the need for citizens to travel to their home districts to obtain replacement copies of citizenship certificates.
The provision has been introduced in accordance with Point No. 21 of the Government of Nepal’s 100-Point Governance Reform Action Plan and the Nepal Citizenship (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2083. According to the Kathmandu District Administration Office, the arrangement has been made following a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Kartik 9.
Under the new system, the three District Administration Offices in Kathmandu Valley will provide services to citizens from different provinces based on their districts of origin.
The Kathmandu District Administration Office will serve citizens whose citizenship certificates were originally issued in districts of Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces.
Similarly, the Lalitpur District Administration Office will provide services to citizens from Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces, while the Bhaktapur District Administration Office will serve citizens from Koshi and Madhesh provinces.
Citizens can apply for duplicate copies if their original citizenship certificates have been destroyed in a fire, damaged by water, lost, or if they need a replacement in a new format. Applications can be submitted to the designated office according to the new arrangement.
Before issuing a duplicate certificate, the authorities will verify the applicant’s citizenship details through the National Identity Management Information System (NIDMIS) and the Centralized Citizenship Information Management System (CCIMS).
However, applicants whose records cannot be located, who need corrections to their names, surnames, dates of birth or other personal details, or whose citizenship certificates appear suspicious during the initial examination, will be required to contact the district administration office that originally issued their citizenship certificates.
The new provision is expected to ease administrative difficulties for people living in Kathmandu Valley, particularly those who would otherwise have to travel long distances to obtain replacement citizenship documents.
The initiative is also part of the government’s broader efforts to improve public service delivery and make administrative procedures more convenient for citizens.
