Nepali Embassy in Lisbon Achieves Remarkable Progress in Diplomacy and Services Within a Year
April 18, Lisbon – The Nepali Embassy located in Lisbon, Portugal, has completed one year since its establishment and commencement of services. The embassy has publicly reported significant progress in diplomatic activities and services provided to Nepali citizens during this period. According to Ambassador Prakash Mani Paudel, over 35,000 Nepali nationals have directly received consular services in the past year. He stated, “More than 35,789 Nepalis have benefited from services such as issuance and renewal of passports, authentication of police clearance certificates, educational and family documents, power of attorney, and travel permits.” Ambassador Paudel further emphasized, “Our consular services have become state-of-the-art within this year. We also operate mobile camps across various regions in Portugal, offering services beyond regular office hours and holidays.”
Diplomatic relations between Nepal and Portugal were established on September 1, 1976. The Government of Nepal set up its embassy in Lisbon on March 31, 2025, and began services on April 16, 2025. Although the embassy was formally inaugurated on February 20, 2025, prior to this, all matters concerning Portugal were handled through the Nepali Embassy in Paris, France. While there was an honorary Portuguese Consulate General in Kathmandu, the Portuguese government managed affairs related to Nepal primarily through its embassy in New Delhi, India. However, just two weeks ago, Portugal announced the establishment of its own diplomatic mission in Nepal.
The most frequently requested document authentication service at the embassy is police clearance certificate verification. According to Deputy Chief of Mission and Spokesperson Shatrudhwan Pokharel, 23,789 police reports were authenticated in the last year. Additionally, 5,796 Nepalis, including residents of Portugal, Malta, and Spain, received passports. The embassy also issued 109 travel permits and authenticated 5,655 educational and family-related documents. Moreover, 414 powers of attorney were processed, Pokharel added.
Regarding financial matters, Anil Rana stated that the embassy collected approximately NPR 523 million (EUR 2.99 million) in revenue, largely from police certificate authentication services. Over the past year, the embassy facilitated the repatriation of the remains of 26 Nepalis who had died in Portugal. First Secretary Rambabu Nepal noted that assistance was provided to families facing economic hardships in managing mortuary affairs. Furthermore, seven Nepalis found in destitute conditions on the streets were rescued, and arrangements were made to return them to their families in Nepal.
One of the notable diplomatic achievements after establishing the embassy in Portugal is the rapid advancement in Nepal’s promotion, economic diplomacy, and bilateral relations with the Portuguese government and relevant authorities. The official visit of Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai to Portugal on February 20, 2025, marked the first formal bilateral visit in eight years since former Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali’s visit in 2018. This visit successfully convened the inaugural meeting of the “Nepal–Portugal Bilateral Consultation Mechanism,” which had been established eight years earlier but had not held any sessions until now.
Ambassador Paudel remarked, “The meeting two months ago and the embassy’s persistent efforts led to Portugal’s decision to establish its diplomatic mission in Nepal. This is a highly significant achievement for Nepalese diplomacy and bilateral relations between the two countries.” On April 1, 2025, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the establishment of its mission in Nepal, and within two weeks, the visit of government officials was confirmed. According to Deputy Chief of Mission Pokharel, Dr. Ana Isabel Xavier, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, is scheduled to visit Nepal on April 29, 2025. Following this visit, Portugal is expected to accelerate the establishment of its embassy in Nepal.
According to Portuguese government statistics, about 58,000 Nepalis currently reside in Portugal. Unofficial estimates suggest that over 75,000 Nepalis live there permanently or temporarily. The Nepali embassy has also reduced procedural complications, eliminating the need for citizens to visit the Portuguese embassy in India for certain services. Furthermore, the embassy has requested the Portuguese government to recognize Nepali driving permits, and the transportation and immigration authorities have already begun studying this proposal.
Chairperson of the Nepal Journalists Federation Europe Chapter, KJ Rai, expressed that the diplomatic initiatives and services established since the embassy’s opening are in Nepal’s best interests. He said, “Within its first year, the embassy has made invaluable contributions to diplomacy and citizen services. Staff members work tirelessly day and night, actively representing the government and addressing the concerns of Nepali citizens.”
