The Nationality Law of Bhutan, 1958

Having found it necessary to amend this law relating to the acquisition and deprivation of citizenship which has been in force till date, His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo, in accordance with the suggestions put up by the Royal Advisors, People and the Monastic Body, is pleased to incorporate the following changes:

This law may be called the Nationality Law of Bhutan, 1958 and shall be effective throughout the Kingdom of Bhutan.
This law shall be in force throughout the Kingdom of Bhutan from the day of its enactment.
Any person can become a Bhutanese National

If his/her father is a Bhutanese National and is a resident of the Kingdom of Bhutan; or
If any person s born within or outside Bhutan after the commencement of this law provided the previous father is a Bhutanese National at the time of his/her birth.

(1) If any foreigner who has reached the age of majority and is otherwise eligible, presents a petition to an official appointed by His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo and takes an oath of loyalty according to the rules laid down by the official, he any be enrolled as a Bhutanese National, provided that:–
1. The person is a resident of the Kingdom of Bhutan for more than ten years; and
2. Owns agricultural land within the Kingdom of Bhutan.

(2) If a woman, married to a Bhutanese National, submits a petition and takes the oath of loyalty as stated above to the satisfaction of the official, and provided that she has reached the age of majority and is otherwise eligible, her name may be enrolled as a Bhutanese National.

(3) If any person has been deprived o his Bhutanese Nationality or has renounced his Bhutanese Nationality or forfeited his Bhutanese Nationality, the person cannot become a Bhutanese National again unless His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo grants approval to do so.

(1) If any foreigner submits a petition to His Majesty the Druk Gayalpo according to the rules described in the above sections, and provided the person ahs reached the age of majority and is otherwise eligible, and has served satisfactorily in government service for at least five years ad has been residing in the Kingdom of Bhutan for at least 10 years, he mat receive a Bhutanese Nationality Certificate. Once the Certificate is received, such a person has to take the oath of loyalty according to rules laid down by the Government and from that day onwards, his name will be enrolled as a Bhutanese National

(2) Any foreigner who has reached the age of majority and is otherwise eligible, can receive a Nationality Certificate provided that in the opinion of His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo his conduct and his service as a Government servant is satisfactory.

Any person who:–

becomes a national of a foreign country and resides in the country; or
has renounced Bhutanese Nationality and settled in a foreign country; or
claims to be a citizen of a foreign country or pledges an oath of loyalty to that country; or
is registered as a Bhutanese National but has left his agricultural land or has stopped residing in the Kingdom; or
being a bonafide national has stopped residing in the country or fails to observe the laws of the Kingdom:

Shall forfeit his Bhutanese Nationality.

(1) If a Nationality Certificate has been obtained on presentation of false information or wrong facts or omission of facts, the Government may order the Certificate to be cancelled.

(2) (a) If any citizen or national, engages in activities against His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo or speaks against His Majesty, or the people of Bhutan; or

(b)When Bhutan and India is engaged in a war with some other country if any citizen or national of Bhutan is found indulging in business, correspondence or helping the enemies; or

(c) If any person within a period of five years from the day when he was enlisted as a Bhutanese National, if imprisoned in any country for more than one year, the person is liable to be deprived of his Bhutanese Nationality without prior notice.

To implement this law, His majesty the Druk Gyalpo may incorporate additional rules if necessary.