More than 2,000 Nepalese immigrants may be at risk of expulsion in Portugal due to falsified documents

A concerning pattern has been identified

A concerning pattern has been identified in residence permit applications: seemingly valid documents are leading to rejections and orders to leave the country.

In recent months, there has been a significant increase in rejection decisions issued by AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum), particularly affecting Nepali citizens in Portugal.

In many of these cases, applicants submitted residence permit requests through the so-called expression of interest, believing they were complying with all legal requirements.

However, the outcome has been serious:

• rejection of the application

• order to leave the country within 20 days

• risk of forced removal

The reason is the alleged use of falsified documents, especially criminal record certificates.

What is happening in practice

According to several recent AIMA decisions, there is a clear pattern:

• applicants submitted criminal record certificates from Nepal

• these documents were considered falsified or tampered with

• in some cases, falsification of consular signatures was confirmed

More concerning:

• many of these documents were obtained through intermediary agencies

• payments ranged between 100 and 200 euros

In many cases, immigrants were not aware that the documents were false.

Why this is so serious

Portuguese law is clear.

The use of falsified documents is not considered a simple irregularity.

It is a serious defect that compromises the entire process.

In practice, this means that:

• AIMA may immediately reject the application

• the applicant’s credibility is questioned

• there may be additional legal consequences

• an order to leave the country is issued

The deadline is short and the risk is real

After the final rejection decision, the applicant is notified to leave the country within 20 days.

If they do not comply, they may be subject to:

• detention for illegal stay

• forced removal proceedings

Is there still a solution

Yes, but it depends on timing and how the case is handled.

In many cases, it is possible to:

• file an administrative complaint

• initiate precautionary legal action

• file an administrative lawsuit

Each case must be assessed individually.

The bigger problem: lack of information

This situation reveals a serious issue.

Many immigrants rely on third parties to handle documentation without knowing whether the documents are legitimate.

When the problem appears, it may already be too late.

If you are in this situation

If you:

• are a Nepali citizen in Portugal

• submitted an expression of interest

• used documents obtained through third parties

• or received a notification from AIMA

It is essential to act quickly.

Speak with a lawyer

Every day counts.

A timely legal assessment can make the difference between:

• trying to regularize your situation

• or facing removal from the country

Contact us to evaluate your case.