LISBON, Aug 3: A joint team of the Kathmandu-based Department of Passports and the Nepali Embassy in France arrived in Portugal to collect applications for e-passport.

The three-member team comprising two officials from the Department of Passports and one from the Nepali Embassy in France arrived in the Portuguese capital city, Lisbon, last Thursday.

The team is led by the director of the department, Moti Bahadur Shreesh. They started providing service since Friday by setting up a mobile camp at a hall owned by the Non-Resident Association (NRN) in Portugal, shared Director Shreesh.

The number of service-seekers has been increasing with the establishment of the mobile camp. Biometric details of altogether 183 Nepalis in Portugal were collected as of last Friday, informed Director Shreesh.

The service-seekers consisted of those whose passports' validity date had expired; whose passport expiry date was due in less than a month and those losing passport and those whose kids were born in Portugal among others, he said.

Since around 6,000 people had applied online for new passports, the mobile camp is expected to collect a similar number of applications this time.

The team is delivering services in a manner that all works are carried out on time.  Director Shreesh urged the Nepalis in Portugal to visit the camp on the specified date and time. The camp will run through August 11.

The team has prioritized those applying online for passports, according to him. Depending on the need and workload, the team will also try to provide emergency and urgent consular services during the ten-day mobile camp, he added.

The camp is facilitated by the Honorary Consul of Nepal in Lisbon, NRN Portugal, and some active Nepali organizations in Portugal.

(RSS)