Hundreds of Nepalis working in Portugal have fallen into serious legal trouble after fake authentication stamps were found on their police clearance certificates.

Authorities confirmed that while Nepal Police genuinely issued the police reports, forged stamps and signatures of the Portuguese Embassy and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi had been used. As a result, their Temporary Residence Card (TRC) process has been halted, and many now face the risk of deportation.

Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) concluded during TRC evaluations that fake authentication stamps had been used, terming it a misuse of the immigration rules. The agency has emailed hundreds of Nepalis, instructing them to leave the country within a specified deadline. Some emails warned of up to one year in prison and deportation, according to affected individuals.

After receiving the emails, the victims approached the Nepali Embassy in Lisbon. The embassy said fake stamps of the Portuguese Embassy in New Delhi were found on around 1,250 genuine police reports.

Ambassador Prakash Mani Paudel said the number of complaints is rising daily. “We received written complaints from 850 individuals. Around 400 more contacted us by email,” he said. “We have submitted the names of 1,250 individuals to AIMA for necessary facilitation.” He added that the number could reach 2,000.

Portugal had introduced a fast-track policy to clear pending TRC files and tighten scrutiny of new applications. Those who obtained a tax identification number (NIF) and social security number (NISS) by June 3, 2024, were eligible to apply, provided they submitted a police report.

The Nepali Embassy in Lisbon began providing consular services only from the first week of February 2025. Before that, the Nepali Embassy in France handled consular affairs for Portugal. An honorary consulate in Lisbon had operated under the embassy since March 2014, but stopped document authentication on April 30, 2024.

Victims say the problem arose during the nearly 10-month gap when consular services were unavailable. During that period, middlemen and cyber operators allegedly charged 150 to 200 euros to place forged stamps and signatures of the Portuguese and Nepali embassies in New Delhi.

“We had tax and social security numbers but no police report at the time,” one victim said. “We were told the stamps could be arranged online. We trusted them and later realised we had been cheated.”

Many received emails from AIMA declaring their documents invalid and asking them to submit new police reports within 10 days or leave the country. Some were warned of possible imprisonment and deportation.

Victims insist they are fraud victims and have urged the Nepal government to facilitate a fresh application opportunity. “The police report is genuine. Only the stamp and signature were fake,” one said. “We are not criminals. We were deceived.”

Ambassador Paudel said investigations are underway into the cyber operators involved, including some Nepalis. He said he had met AIMA’s president and requested that the matter be viewed on humanitarian grounds.

“There may have been legal lapses, but we have asked for one opportunity considering the circumstances,” he said. “We are awaiting their decision.”

Around 40,000 Nepalis are living legally in Portugal. More than 10,000 others who entered on visas from Romania, Greece, Croatia and Malta are either awaiting TRC approval or are in the process.

“We spent millions of rupees to come here. I alone spent Rs 2 million,” another victim said. “We appeal to the Nepal government to protect us from deportation and jail. If timely diplomatic efforts are made, the future of thousands can be saved.”