Bhutan

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

Embassy Finder: Bhutanese Missions Abroad

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	15 years (20 years under the 1985 Act for certain categories)
Language requirement	Must be able to speak and write Dzongkha (national language)
Civics test	Must have good knowledge of the culture and history of Bhutan
Processing time	12—36 months (highly discretionary)
Naturalization fee	Ngultrum 15,000—50,000 (approximately USD 175—585)
Dual citizenship	Not permitted
Citizenship by birth in Bangladesh	Not applicable — no jus soli provision
Citizenship by descent	Both parents must be Bhutanese citizens (strict patrilineal until 1985 Act reforms)
Governing law	Bhutan Citizenship Act, 1985; Constitution of Bhutan, 2008 (Articles 6—7)

Dual Citizenship

Bhutan does not permit dual citizenship under any circumstance. This is enshrined in both the Citizenship Act of 1985 and the Constitution of Bhutan (2008).

Article 6(3) of the Constitution states: “A citizen of Bhutan shall not be a citizen of a foreign country.” This is an absolute prohibition with no exceptions.

Consequences:

A Bhutanese citizen who acquires foreign nationality automatically loses Bhutanese citizenship.
A foreign national applying for Bhutanese citizenship must renounce all other nationalities before naturalization can be granted.
There is no provision for retention of Bhutanese citizenship while holding another nationality, even temporarily.

This reflects Bhutan’s emphasis on maintaining a cohesive national identity and cultural sovereignty as a small Himalayan kingdom.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Bhutan does not recognize jus soli (citizenship by birth on territory). Being born in Bhutan does not confer citizenship. Citizenship is determined exclusively by parentage.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Under the Constitution and the 1985 Citizenship Act:

Both parents Bhutanese: A person whose father and mother are both citizens of Bhutan is a citizen by birth (Article 6(1) of the Constitution).
One parent Bhutanese: A person whose one parent is a citizen of Bhutan may be granted citizenship by naturalization, provided they have been registered and meet residency requirements. This is not automatic.

Historical context: Under the 1958 Citizenship Act, citizenship was transmitted primarily through the father. The 1985 Act tightened requirements significantly, requiring both parents to be citizens for automatic citizenship by descent, which affected the status of many southern Bhutanese of Nepali descent.

By Adoption

There is no specific provision in the Citizenship Act for automatic citizenship by adoption. Adopted children may apply for citizenship through naturalization, subject to all standard requirements.

By Marriage

Marriage to a Bhutanese citizen does not confer automatic citizenship. A foreign spouse must:

Have been domiciled in Bhutan for at least 15 years after the registration of marriage.
Have no record of having spoken or acted against the King, Country, and People of Bhutan.
Formally renounce citizenship of any foreign state.
Be granted citizenship at the discretion of the Druk Gyalpo (King).

By Naturalization

Naturalization requirements are among the most restrictive in Asia.

Requirement	Details
Residence	Minimum 15 years of domicile in Bhutan (for persons whose one parent is Bhutanese); 20 years for persons with no Bhutanese parentage
Age	Must have attained the age of 15 (for children of one Bhutanese parent) or 21 (general)
Language	Must be able to speak and write Dzongkha proficiently
Cultural knowledge	Good knowledge of the culture and history of Bhutan
No anti-state record	No record of having spoken or acted against the Tsa Wa Sum (King, Country, and People)
Renunciation	Must renounce citizenship of any other country
Oath	Must take a solemn oath of allegiance
Approval	Citizenship is granted by Royal Kasho (decree of the King) — entirely discretionary

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Bhutanese citizen may voluntarily renounce citizenship by submitting a written application to the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs. The renunciation must be accepted by the government.

Involuntary Loss

Ground	Details
Acquisition of foreign citizenship	Automatic loss upon acquiring citizenship of another country
Fraud or misrepresentation	Citizenship obtained through false information or concealment
Disloyalty	Speaking or acting against the Tsa Wa Sum (King, Country, and People)
Marriage to a foreigner (historical)	Under certain historical provisions, Bhutanese women who married foreign nationals lost citizenship; this has been partially reformed
Residing abroad	Naturalized citizens who reside outside Bhutan for more than 2 consecutive years without government permission may have citizenship revoked

Restoration of Nationality

There is no formal statutory procedure for restoration of Bhutanese citizenship. However, the Constitution provides:

Article 6(4): “A person who has lost citizenship of Bhutan may apply to resume citizenship” subject to conditions prescribed by law.

In practice, former citizens may petition the government through the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs. Restoration is discretionary and typically requires:

Return to Bhutan and establishment of permanent residence.
Renunciation of any foreign nationality held.
Demonstration of continued cultural and national ties to Bhutan.
Approval by the government.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Bhutan is not a party to the 1954 Convention on Statelessness or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Foundlings: There is no explicit statutory provision for foundlings. In practice, children found in Bhutan with unknown parents may be registered, but automatic citizenship is not guaranteed.
Statelessness concern: The 1985 Citizenship Act’s strict requirements (both parents must be citizens) contributed to large-scale statelessness among the Lhotshampa (southern Bhutanese of Nepali origin), leading to the displacement of over 100,000 people in the early 1990s. Many were resettled to third countries through UNHCR programs.

Document Checklist

Sources

Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008 — Articles 6—7 on citizenship. https://www.nab.gov.bt/en/business/constitution-of-bhutan
Bhutan Citizenship Act, 1985 — Primary legislation governing citizenship acquisition and loss. Available through the National Assembly of Bhutan.
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs — Responsible for immigration and citizenship. https://www.mhca.gov.bt/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Bhutanese missions abroad. https://www.mfa.gov.bt/
UNHCR — Reporting on statelessness and Lhotshampa resettlement. https://www.unhcr.org/

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