New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu on Thursday said he has written to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urging it to expedite passport renewal and related documentation services for Indian nationals residing in Spain, particularly those living in Madrid and Barcelona.
Sandhu, who is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, said he raised the issue with senior MEA officials after receiving several representations from the Indian community in Spain, Sikh gurdwara committees and other Indian organisations.
In a letter sent to the MEA, the MP highlighted the difficulties being faced by Indian citizens in obtaining passport renewals, Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs) and other essential documents. He said many Indians living in Spain are struggling due to expired or lost passports, delays in passport renewals and pending PCC applications.
Sandhu said the situation has caused considerable anxiety and uncertainty among affected individuals and their families, despite their willingness to comply with legal requirements.
The MP urged the MEA to immediately streamline passport renewal services, ensure timely assistance in emergency documentation cases and speed up the process of issuing PCCs. He also suggested that the Indian Embassy in Spain should organise additional consular outreach programmes and special documentation camps to assist members of the Indian community.
Sandhu further said the issue has become particularly urgent as Spain is currently undergoing an immigration regularisation process, offering individuals a limited opportunity to regularise their legal status. However, many Indians are reportedly unable to complete the process due to a lack of valid documentation.
