MP Satnam Sandhu urges MEA to expedite passport renewals for Indians in Spain

Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu on Thursday said he has written to the Ministry of External Affairs MEA, urging it to expedite passport renewals and related documentation services for Indian nationals residing in Spain, particularly in Madrid and Barcelona.

Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu on Thursday said he has written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), urging it to expedite passport renewals and related documentation services for Indian nationals residing in Spain, particularly in Madrid and Barcelona. In a statement, Sandhu, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, said he raised the matter with senior officials of the MEA after receiving numerous representations from members of the Indian diaspora, including Sikh gurdwara committees and other Indian community organisations in Spain. In a memorandum sent to the MEA, Sandhu highlighted the difficulties faced by Indians in accessing essential consular services, including passport renewals, police clearance certificates (PCCs), and other critical documentation. He said many Indians in Spain were struggling with issues such as expired or lost passports, delayed renewals, and pending PCCs. ''A large number of Indian nationals living in Spain, particularly in cities like Madrid and Barcelona, are facing serious difficulties in passport renewals, expired or lost passports, and pending Police Clearance Certificates,'' Sandhu said in the letter. ''The situation has caused serious anxiety and uncertainty among affected individuals and their families who are otherwise willing to comply with legal requirements,'' he said. The MP urged the MEA to facilitate urgent passport renewal services, provide timely assistance in emergency documentation cases, and expedite the issuance of PCCs. ''I have also requested that the Embassy of India in Spain shall consider organising additional consular outreach and special documentation camps to ensure that members of the Indian community receive the support they urgently need,'' the MP said. ''The matter has assumed urgency in view of Spain's ongoing immigration regularisation process, which offers a limited window for individuals to formalise their legal status. However, many Indian diaspora members in Spain are unable to complete the process due to a lack of valid documentation,'' he added.