The government has started the task of issuing identity cards to people and families of Nepalese origin who have been living in different countries as foreign citizens for generations. Foreign citizens of Nepali origin, who are not included in the definition of non-resident Nepalis, have been tried to give a separate identity card.

For that, the Ministry of Law has started discussions on amending the Non-Resident Nepali Act 2064. 

For non-resident Nepalis, there is a law that gives 'non-resident Nepali citizenship' with limited rights. According to Law Minister Ajay Kumar Chaurasia, the task of giving identity cards to foreigners of Nepali origin who have been living in different countries for generations has been started. Nepalese speakers who have been living in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Fiji for generations have been demanding such an identity card. 

At the inauguration of the 'Global Conclave' of non-resident Nepalis held in Kathmandu on October 27 and 28, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also said that the government is positive towards the demands raised by people of Nepali origin who have been outside for generations. 

'We are Nepali and we want to be known as Nepali, so their demand is that the Nepal government should make us proud of being Nepali,' Prime Minister Oli said, 'It is not their big demand or problem. There is no demand for crops, money, pension, or land. He has asked for a dignified life with just a Nepali identity. Why do you care so much? let's solve it together.'

Law Minister Ajay Kumar Chaurasia says, 'Nepalese who have been living in non-SAARC countries for generations, who have been building up the Nepali language, art and culture in those countries, have started a positive discussion about their demands. They have been asking for proof that they are of Nepali origin, and work is being done on the legal provisions necessary to issue such a proof of identity.

Act on Non-Resident Nepalis considers only the families of Nepali citizens who have been abroad (except SAARC countries) for at least three generations as foreign citizens of Nepali origin. There is a provision that the government can issue identity cards for them. Similarly, there is a provision in the Citizenship Act that non-residents will get Nepalese citizenship so that they can enjoy economic, social and cultural rights.

 But the law related to non-resident Nepalis does not recognize the descendants of those who left Nepal a hundred/two hundred years ago. Kumar Karki of Nepalese origin living in Thailand says that his generation left Nepal 120 years ago and went to Myanmar (Burma) and later came to Thailand.

'We are Nepali, wherever we are, we have been passing on the Nepali language, culture and customs from generation to generation. Wherever we live, people know us as Nepali or Gorkhali," he said. "We want to be connected with Nepal. Our demand is that the Nepal government should issue an identity card.

He complained that the Non-Resident Nepali Act did not cover them. According to Karki, there are descendants of Nepalese who have gone generations before in Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Mauritius, Fiji and other countries. "We only want them to be recognized as Nepalese by the Nepalese government, we are not asking for any rights or citizenship," he said.