Statelessness of Remaining Bhutanese Refugees

Overview

After the closure of the UNHCR refugee camps in Nepal^[3], an estimated 6,000-8,000 Bhutanese refugees chose not to participate in the Third-Country Resettlement Program, hoping instead for repatriation to Bhutan or naturalization in Nepal. They now live in a state of effective statelessness.^[1]

Legal Status

These remaining^[4] refugees:

• Are not recognized as citizens by Bhutan under the 1985 Citizenship Act
• Are not eligible for Nepali citizenship
• Lost access to UNHCR services when the camps closed
• Cannot legally work, own property, or access government services in Nepal

Current Situation

Many former camp residents now live in informal settlements or rented rooms in eastern Nepal, surviving through informal labor. Some continue to advocate through organizations like GCRPPB for the right to return to Bhutan.

International Response

The remaining refugees receive limited international attention. The UNHCR considers its mandate largely fulfilled through the resettlement program, while bilateral talks between Bhutan and Nepal have remained stalled for years.

References

1. "Transitions without Justice: Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal." International Journal of Transitional Justice, Oxford Academic, 2024.
2. "Deported Bhutanese Refugees from the U.S. Allowed to Return to Original Camps in Nepal." NepYork, April 2025.
3. "Nepal Moves to Expel Bhutanese Refugees Deported by the US." Visa Verge.
4. "Forced from Bhutan, deported by the US." CNN, July 2025.
5. "Nepal: Bhutanese Refugees Rendered Stateless." Human Rights Watch, June 2003.