Kathmandu, 8 Jun: In Nepal, transgender women face extremely complex legal, economic, and social barriers when trying to obtain citizenship documents that reflect their gender identity.
Although the constitution guarantees the right to gender identity, unclear government policies, cumbersome procedures, and the high cost of surgeries often deemed necessary for recognition have left many transgender individuals deprived of their fundamental rights.
Samragyee Bogati from Kailali is a representative example of this struggle. She recently appeared before the medical board at Bir Hospital to verify her identity. Due to financial constraints, she has been unable to undergo full gender-affirming surgery, leaving her—and hundreds like her—forced to live with an incomplete legal and social identity.
She has already undergone breast transformation through hormone therapy. Although she wishes to have gender-affirming surgery, she shared that she hasn’t been able to afford it. “I don’t have the money right now; I’m planning to have the surgery once I can afford it,” she said.
Transgender women in Nepal are required to go through a complex, multi-step process to obtain citizenship that reflects their gender identity. This includes a recommendation from the local government, a medical certificate from a government body such as the medical board at Bir Hospital, and ultimately, a verdict from the concerned district court.
According to the medical board at Bir Hospital, around 5 to 7 individuals seek such recommendations each year. Board member Arun Mehta stated that 100 percent of those who come for the recommendation are individuals transitioning from male to female.
According to the Blue Diamond Society in Nepal, gender-affirming surgery can cost anywhere from NPR 300,000 to 1.5 million (approximately USD 2,250 to 11,300), an amount well beyond the reach of most individuals.
Former president of the society and transgender rights activist Bhumika Shrestha emphasized that a person’s identity is a private and natural right, and it should not be tied to an expensive and complicated process like surgery. “The administrative mindset remains outdated, and our community is directly suffering because of it,” she said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also lacks a clear stance on this issue. Its Citizenship and National Identity Card Division has admitted that there is no explicit legal provision allowing transgender women to directly obtain citizenship under the female gender category.
