The Nepal Policy Institute, an organization that conducts research on non-resident Nepalis, has also suggested changing the name of the 'Non-Resident Nepalis Act, 2064'.
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Nepal Policy Institute (NPI), an organization that researches non-resident Nepalis, has suggested that the name of the 'Non-Resident Nepalis Act, 2064' should be changed from NRN to 'Nepali Abroad'.
The organization, which has been working as a global think tank promoted by the Nepali diaspora, has made this suggestion at a time when the act amendment process is underway in Nepal. After a discussion with experts on May 26, 2026, NPI has made 11 suggestions, including this one, to the existing Non-Resident Nepali Act.
NPI founding president and professor at KMUTNB in Thailand, Khagendra Raj Dhakal, said that they proposed a name change because they need to be able to address everyone when the new law is amended. “The conclusion is that the Non-Resident Nepali Act should not be taken as an opportunity to simply amend it, but as a historic policy opportunity to redefine relations with Nepalis abroad in a long-term, systematic and national interest-based manner,” Dhakal said. “Similarly, it seems that Nepalis abroad should be addressed in three categories.”
Dhakal was joined in the discussion by University of California Santa Cruz Extension professor Vineet Sharma, senior advocate Narayan Ghimire, former judge Shree Krishna Bhattarai, California-based entrepreneur and descendant citizenship continuity activist Vasudev Ghimire, and founding central member of the National Independent Party, Prabhat Adhikari.
Dhakal also said that there are two possible paths before the Nepali government. First, make limited amendments to the current Non-Resident Nepali Act and Citizenship Act, 2063 and formulate a comprehensive Overseas Nepali Engagement Policy and Overseas Nepali Act by conducting a necessary constitutional review including Article 14 of the Constitution.
He said that the concept of linking national development, knowledge diplomacy, investment, generational change, and global networks can be considered, rather than being limited to legal or citizenship issues.
‘It seems that we should move forward from the narrow and sometimes confusing terminology of NRNA and adopt an inclusive policy umbrella concept of Nepalis living abroad,’ the conclusion says.
NPI suggests that instead of including NRNs in the broader term, they should be protected as Nepali citizens. It has been said that labor rights, consular assistance, social security, reintegration, legal protection, and external voting rights are important for them, so they should be kept separate.
The Nepali government should formulate an Overseas Nepali Engagement Policy and then a dedicated Overseas Nepali Act to provide an umbrella policy and legal framework for all Nepalis living abroad, NPI has suggested.
A comprehensive constitutional and legal review is needed, including Article 14, Article 11 of the Constitution and Section 3(1) of the Citizenship Act, 2006, to address the continuity of citizenship of descendants and a strong legal relationship with Nepalis living abroad, the organization said.
It has been suggested that Nepali citizens living abroad, including workers, students and professionals in foreign employment, should be protected as Nepali citizens, including labor rights, consular assistance, social security, reintegration and external voting rights.
'The current amendment to the Non-Resident Nepali Act should not be viewed as an isolated legal exercise. It should be understood as part of a broader national policy agenda that connects Nepali citizens, non-resident Nepalis and people of Nepali origin living outside Nepal with Nepal's long-term development, diplomacy and global identity,' NPI said.
