He was born in Portugal, has no nationality or valid residence permit and therefore cannot obtain a driving licence. He was caught driving and was detained by dozens of police officers during the premiere of a film about him.
Film premiere halted by the PSP over a fine and the arrest of Ghoya, a 'foreigner' in his own country
Sunday, 1 February 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Statelessness (apatridia) means a person is not considered a national by any country under its laws, leaving them without a passport or an automatic right to reside. That status often prevents access to education, healthcare, employment and social services, so parliamentary discussion can lead to laws or procedures to identify stateless people and give them legal protection or a pathway to residency.
