BARCELONA:- Thousands of Nepalis living in Spain have been excited after the Spanish government decided to provide temporary residence permits (TRCs) and employment opportunities to nearly half a million immigrants at once after nearly 22 years. But after a new passport was made mandatory as a required document for the occasion, Nepali immigrants have faced serious problems.
Santosh Shrestha, President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Spain, has issued a statement demanding that the Nepali government provide passports as soon as possible in a convenient manner. The statement said, “There is a provision to submit a police report from the country through which we came to Spain. However, since we were unable to obtain the report, we have become in need of a new passport.”
According to President Shrestha, other South Asian countries have already provided new passports to their citizens by conducting mobile camps in various cities in Spain. However, Nepali citizens are confused as they do not get such facilities.
Spain based Nepali Entrepreneur and community activist Dinesh Giri says, “This is a unique opportunity for the undocumented Nepali community in Spain to permanently settle in Spain, but they are confused because they do not have passports. Please, the concerned agencies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should distribute passports without any delay.”
According to Ripesh Gurung from Gorkha, who is seeking a bright future in Spain, hundreds of Nepalis in Barcelona are worried about being deprived of this opportunity provided by the Spanish government because they do not have passports. Hundreds of his friends are currently in line to get their passports, but there is no decision yet on whether they will be issued or not.
According to NRNA Spain President Shrestha, Nepalis risk being completely deprived of this opportunity if they do not receive a new passport by April 1, 2026. Previously, the Non-Resident Nepali Association, (NRNA) has drawn the attention of the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Passport Department, Nepali Embassy in Spain, Nepali Society, and various organizations on this issue.
NRNA Spain has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a team with additional staff to Embassy of Nepal Madrid, Spain to resolve the problem or to direct it to make arrangements to adequately validate Nepal’s police report through diplomatic initiatives.