While news of a massive legalization drive for undocumented migrants in Spain has brought relief to thousands of Nepalis, their compatriots in Greece remain trapped in a "stateless" limbo. Faced with expired passports, predatory human traffickers, and a lack of diplomatic presence, the Nepali community in Greece is calling for urgent government intervention as they endure squalid living conditions and labor exploitation.
The crisis has reached a breaking point in the agricultural belts of western Greece. In Manolada, supervisor Tikaraj Pandhak oversees 136 Nepali workers, dozens of whom are undocumented. Without valid passports, these workers—including individuals like Pabitra Giri and Shyam Bhujel whose documents expired years ago—are unable to open bank accounts, access healthcare, or send remittances home via legal channels. Instead, they are forced to rely on risky hundi networks, further distancing them from the formal economy.
The plight is exacerbated by the "Donkey Route," a dangerous human smuggling path through Dubai, Iran, and Turkey. Many Nepalis arrive in Greece only to have their passports withheld by traffickers. Exploitative employers take advantage of this vulnerability, often paying half the promised wages to those who cannot leave their worksites for fear of deportation. "I don’t care about voting or the government; I just need my passport to live like a human," lamented Dhaneshwar Yadav, a factory worker who has not stepped outside his workplace in three years.
Living conditions for these "invisible" workers are often dire. Many reside in makeshift shelters in rural areas that lack basic sanitation, clean water, or proper kitchens. Kumari Magar (name changed), a farmworker in Manolada, described her living situation as "worse than a cattle shed," stating that she only makes video calls to her family when she is in the city to hide the reality of her squalor.
In the absence of a resident embassy in Athens, the Nepali Embassy in Vienna—located over 1,700 kilometers away—is the only point of contact. While the embassy conducted a mobile passport camp in April 2024, the two-year gap has left thousands stranded. Community leaders like Krishna Pokharel, founder of the Greece-Friendship and Cultural Association, argue that without a permanent diplomatic mechanism or an Honorary Consul in Greece, the cycle of illegality will continue.
Responding to the outcry, Lekhnath Gautam, Deputy Chief of Mission in Vienna, stated that preparations are underway to conduct a mobile passport camp by March 2026. However, for those living in fear of the next police raid, the wait feels eternal.
As the Nepali government touts the importance of migrant remittances, the "forgotten" Nepali migrants of Greece are demanding that the state fulfill its basic duty: providing the identity documents necessary for their survival.
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