Foreign Ministry Aware of Passport Issues Faced by Nepalis in Spain

Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it is aware of the problems Nepali citizens are facing while applying for passports in Spain and that necessary coordination and preparatory work are being carried out on a priority basis to resolve the issue.

Speaking to media, Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said, “The ministry is aware of this matter. Necessary coordination and groundwork are being carried out with priority among the available options to find an appropriate solution.”

According to him, the ministry has already initiated the process to address the problem. “Issues raised regarding passport issuance in Spain have been received by us, and work on them has already begun,” he added.

The ministry’s response comes at a time when the Spanish government has moved forward with a process to grant legal status to undocumented immigrants. However, concerns have been raised that a large number of Nepalis living in Spain may be excluded from the legalization process due to the lack of valid passports.

Earlier, the Nepali community in Spain, NRNA Spain, and various social activists had drawn the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expand passport services, make the appointment system more accessible, and, if necessary, operate mobile consular services.

They have complained that the Nepali Embassy in Madrid currently opens limited passport appointment slots only one day a week, leaving many Nepalis unable to obtain passports.

As the Spanish government has indicated that the legalization process will begin from April, community members have expressed concern that many Nepalis could miss the opportunity to regularize their status if passports are not issued in time.