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Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal · family

Family Residence: Citizen Relatives and Dependants

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 12 September 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Choose the correct family branch: Relationship Visa for qualifying relatives of Nepali citizens is distinct from dependant permission attached to a foreign principal’s work, business or study status.

Requires sponsorshipDoes not lead to permanent residencyIssued on the basis of the family relationship and renewable while it continues and the main holder's status (where relevant) remains valid.
Processing time
Indicative only. It depends on your relationship documents and the main holder's status; confirm current timing on the official immigration.gov.np page.
Government fees
Indicative only. Visa fees apply; refer to the official page for current amounts.
Typical duration
Issued on the basis of the family relationship and renewable while it continues and the main holder's status (where relevant) remains valid.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) ↗

In short

Choose the correct family branch: Relationship Visa for qualifying relatives of Nepali citizens is distinct from dependant permission attached to a foreign principal’s work, business or study status. Guidance updated 12 September 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/nepal/family-dependent-visa#answer

What is the Family Residence: Citizen Relatives and Dependants in Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal?

Family Residence: Citizen Relatives and Dependants is a sponsor-led Nepal route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only. Visa fees apply; refer to the official page for current amounts; indicative processing time is Indicative only. It depends on your relationship documents and the main holder's status; confirm current timing on the official immigration.gov.np page; typical duration is Issued on the basis of the family relationship and renewable while it continues and the main holder's status (where relevant) remains valid. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

Nepal does not treat every family applicant as a Relationship Visa holder. That category is for qualifying relatives of Nepali citizens and uses a local-body relationship certificate, the Nepali relative’s citizenship evidence and the relative’s personal attendance at DOI. Dependants accompanying a foreign worker, investor or student instead follow the principal’s category and recommendation process; for workers, the relevant ministry recommendation must identify the dependants. A spouse of a Nepali citizen should check the separate Marriage Visa branch. Dependant status does not authorise work. A Relationship Visa also does not grant automatic work rights: paid or unpaid employment requires DOI work agreement and Department of Labour approval. Establish the exact branch before paying for documents or accepting employment.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm your relationship qualifies and obtain the relationship certificate or dependent documents.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather your passport and evidence of the relationship or the main holder's status.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply at the Department of Immigration under the confirmed Relationship, Marriage or principal-category dependant branch.

  4. After approval

    After approval, keep the relationship documents and (where relevant) the main holder's status valid for renewals.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Family Residence: Citizen Relatives and Dependants, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Family Residence: Citizen Relatives and Dependants instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Nepal

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Use official Family Residence: Citizen Relatives and Dependants route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Family Residence: Citizen Relatives and Dependants.

    Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

How do I prove my relationship for a Relationship Visa?+

DOI requires a local-body relationship certificate, the Nepali relative’s citizenship certificate, passport and visa copies, and the application. The named relative must attend personally and must not be a foreign passport holder. A citizen’s spouse and a foreign worker’s dependant use different branches.

Can my family join me on my work or study visa?+

Check the dependant process attached to your specific principal category. For a Working Visa, DOI asks for the principal’s visa and the ministry recommendation identifying dependants. This is not the Relationship Visa for kin of Nepali citizens. Dependants cannot work merely because their principal is permitted to work.

What happens to my family's Dependent Visa if my own work or business visa lapses?+

Dependents' stay is tied to the main holder's valid work, business or study visa, so if that status lapses the dependents' basis is affected. Keep the main holder's status valid and confirm the current rules on the official immigration.gov.np page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Nepal)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

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