LISBON: The government of Portugal has announced plans to open a consular office in Kathmandu.
Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal shared the update through its official social media platforms, including Facebook and X, stating that the move is expected to strengthen bilateral relations, promote shared interests, and enhance cooperation between the two countries.
Nepal has long been requesting the Portuguese government to establish a diplomatic mission in Kathmandu. The planned consular office is expected to ease access to services for Nepali citizens.
Once operational, Nepalis seeking consular services such as visa processing, document authentication, and other official matters will no longer need to travel to New Delhi, India.
Portugal’s diplomatic presence in Nepal is also expected to support greater collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, tourism, energy, agriculture, and technology.
Earlier, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal held a telephone conversation with Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel on Wednesday.
During the conversation, Khanal informed his Portuguese counterpart about legal and procedural challenges faced by more than 2,000 Nepali nationals in Portugal. The issues reportedly stem from cases involving forged official stamps on original police reports, which have complicated their documentation processes.
In response, Rangel acknowledged the contributions of the Nepali community to Portugal’s economy and assured that he would take positive steps with relevant authorities to review the cases from a humanitarian perspective.
Comment