The Nepali Embassy in France team has started distributing electronic passports (e-passports) in Portugal from Thursday. The embassy team, led by Nepali Ambassador to France Sudhir Bhattarai, has started distributing electronic passports (e-passports) from the capital Lisbon. Photo: Bharat Pradhan/RSS
Lisbon (Portugal), 13 December: A team from the Nepali Embassy in France has started distributing electronic passports (e-passports) in Portugal from yesterday, Thursday. The team, led by Nepali Ambassador to France Sudhir Bhattarai, has started distributing e-passports from the capital Lisbon. The team has been operating a mobile camp in Olaias, Lisbon.
The embassy stated that the camp was conducted to distribute passports prepared for applicants who applied for passports from the mobile service camp held in Lisbon last August. The camp is crowded with Nepalis seeking passports. The team has stated that 147 e-passports were distributed on the first day, Thursday. Ambassador Bhattarai said that the distribution of passports has started in Lisbon for the convenience of Nepalis in Portugal. Preparations are underway to distribute 2,554 e-passports from the mobile camp, which will be conducted for six days.
“We were preparing to send a team for passport distribution in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Minister, who is on a tour of Europe, asked us to immediately make arrangements for passport distribution in Portugal,” he said. “As per the minister’s instructions, we have started distributing passports in Lisbon from yesterday.” He informed that the team will provide services for passport distribution and authentication in official documents for two days today and tomorrow.
Ambassador Bhattarai has also urged service recipients who have received an email from the Passport Department, Kathmandu, stating that their passports are ready, to come to the camp as per the schedule and collect their passports. A joint team of the Passport Department, Kathmandu and the Nepali Embassy in France collected biometric data for e-passports of 3,829 Nepalis from the ‘Ghumti Seva Camp’ conducted in the capital Lisbon last August. The embassy has stated that around 940 passports have been distributed from Paris.
लिस्बन (पोर्चुगल), २८ मङ्सिरः नेपाली दूतावास फ्रान्सको टोलीले बिहीबारदेखि पोर्चुगलमा विद्युतीय राहदानी (ई–पासपोर्ट) वितरण सुरु । फ्रान्सका लागि नेपाली राजदूत सुधीर भट्टराईको नेतृत्वमा पोर्चुगल आएको दूतावासको टोलीले राजधानी लिस्बनबाट विद्युतीय राहदानी (ई–पासपोर्ट) वितरण गर्न सुरु गरेको हो। तस्बिरः भरत प्रधान ÷रासस The Nepali Embassy in France team has started distributing electronic passports (e-passports) in Portugal from Thursday. The embassy team, led by Nepali Ambassador to France Sudhir Bhattarai, has started distributing electronic passports (e-passports) from the capital Lisbon. Photo: Bharat Pradhan/RSS
Before
Before the availability of services like e-passport distribution in countries like Portugal, Nepali people living abroad often faced several challenges related to obtaining or renewing their passports. These challenges included:
1. Travel Burden
- Nepali citizens in Portugal previously had to travel to the Nepali Embassy in Paris, France, for passport-related services.
- This involved significant costs for travel, accommodation, and time off work, which was a major inconvenience for many.
2. Financial Strain
- Expenses related to transportation, visa arrangements (for travel to another country), and stay in France added to the financial difficulties.
- Many Nepali workers abroad, especially those in low-income jobs, found these costs unaffordable.
3. Time-Consuming Process
- The entire process of applying for or renewing a passport, including travel and waiting times, was lengthy.
- The limited access to embassy services meant longer waiting periods and delays in receiving passports.
4. Language and Bureaucratic Barriers
- Navigating the formalities and procedures in a foreign country like France posed challenges, especially for those unfamiliar with the local language or embassy protocols.
- Miscommunication often resulted in errors or delays in processing applications.
5. Legal and Work Challenges
- Without a valid passport, Nepali citizens risked legal issues, including problems renewing work permits or visas.
- Many individuals faced difficulties accessing basic services like banking or health insurance due to expired passports.
6. Limited Awareness
- A lack of information about the procedures and timelines for passport renewal added to the confusion.
- Some Nepali nationals were unaware of the need to update to e-passports, leading to last-minute complications.
7. Community Dependence
- Many Nepali workers relied heavily on informal networks or community members for guidance, which sometimes led to misinformation or exploitation by unscrupulous agents.
By bringing passport distribution services closer to communities in countries like Portugal, the Nepali Embassy has significantly reduced these barriers, making it easier and more efficient for Nepalis to maintain valid travel documents.
