Hundreds of Nepalis working in Portugal are facing serious legal problems after fake authentication stamps were found on their police clearance certificates. While the police reports were genuine, forged stamps and signatures of the Portuguese Embassy and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi had been used. As a result, the processing of their Temporary Residence Cards (TRC) has been halted, and many now risk deportation.
Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) flagged the use of fake stamps during TRC evaluations and sent emails to hundreds of Nepalis instructing them to leave the country or face legal action, including up to one year in prison.
The Nepali Embassy in Lisbon confirmed that around 1,250 genuine police reports had fake Portuguese Embassy stamps. Ambassador Prakash Mani Paudel said complaints are rising, with 850 individuals filing written complaints and about 400 more contacting the embassy by email. He added that the total number of affected Nepalis could reach 2,000.
The problem emerged during a nearly 10-month gap when consular services were unavailable in Portugal. Middlemen and online operators allegedly charged 150 to 200 euros to provide forged stamps and signatures. Many workers said they trusted the process, believing it was legitimate.
Victims say they are fraud victims, not criminals, as the police reports were genuine. They have urged the Nepal government to help them submit fresh applications and prevent deportation.
Currently, around 40,000 Nepalis live legally in Portugal, with over 10,000 more awaiting TRC approval.