KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to issue separate identity cards for foreigners residing in Nepal and non-resident Nepalis living abroad.

Although the bill related to national identity card does not have any such provision, Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Prem Kumar Rai said foreigners and NRNs would have separate colour-coded identity cards. “However, such cards will be different from the national identity cards,” he said at a meeting of the parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee on Monday. MoHA added that national identity cards would not immediately replace

citizenship certificates.

“After studying practices of other countries, the government will gradually put in place provisions whereby national identity cards will replace other cards such as voter ID cards and social security cards, but not citizenship cards and passports,” Rai said.