Nepali workers in Malta are facing difficulties due to the lack of support from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in facilitating necessary services like passport renewal. Despite requests to send a mobile team to assist with services like passport renewal, the issue remains unresolved, according to Rems Khanal, President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) in Malta.
According to him, to obtain temporary residency in Malta, one must renew their documents every year. For this renewal, the passport must have at least eight months of validity. However, due to the inability to renew their passports, about 200 Nepalis are now living in an illegal status.
He further warned that if the government does not take timely action, many more Nepalis could face serious problems. Although the Director General of the Passport Department, Tirtha Raj Aryal, has shown a positive attitude towards resolving the issue, the decision needs to come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has caused the delay. Khanal said, “If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes an immediate decision and sends a team, the problem would be solved. We have already communicated with them, but there has been no response.”
The Embassy of Nepal in Spain oversees Maltese affairs, but due to staffing and other issues, Khanal emphasized that a team should be sent directly from the Department of Passports.
In Malta, after working for five years, Nepalis are eligible for temporary residency, but the card must be renewed every year. It is estimated that around 10,000 Nepalis are currently working in Malta.
NRNA Malta had already communicated with Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba in early September, requesting that a mobile team be sent to address the passport renewal issue.
NRNA emphasizes the urgent need for a mobile team to facilitate services like passport renewals, new passport applications, and other passport-related services.
