The infrastructure will be reinforced “immediately” with military personnel from the GNR (National Republican Guard).
European border control system suspended for three months at Lisbon Airport
Tuesday, 30 December 2025RSS
RSS source
Other news coverage of this topic
- Three-month suspension of border controls — Brussels wants explanations3:20am, 31 Dec 2025 • Observador
- 2h — SNOP criticises suspension of the European border control system2:17am, 31 Dec 2025 • RTP Notícias
- PSP criticises suspension of the European Border Control System at Lisbon airport12:28am, 31 Dec 2025 • RTP Notícias
- 23:00 — PSP officers' union criticises suspension of border checks at Lisbon Airport11:22pm, 30 Dec 2025 • RTP Notícias
- Airport: Union criticises suspension of border control10:32pm, 30 Dec 2025 • Observador
- 10pm — Brussels wants explanations from Portugal over suspension of the border control system10:28pm, 30 Dec 2025 • RTP Notícias
- PSP officers' union criticises suspension of border checks at Lisbon Airport9:52pm, 30 Dec 2025 • RTP Notícias
- PSP union criticises suspension of border controls at Lisbon airport9:26pm, 30 Dec 2025 • ECO
- Carneiro accuses Government of 'unpreparedness and incompetence' after suspension of checks at Lisbon airport5:38pm, 30 Dec 2025 • Correio da Manhã
- Carneiro accuses Government of 'lack of preparedness and incompetence' after suspension of checks at Lisbon airport4:53pm, 30 Dec 2025 • RTP Notícias
- Carneiro accuses Government of 'unpreparedness and incompetence' after suspension of checks at Lisbon Airport4:51pm, 30 Dec 2025 • Dinheiro Vivo
- José Luís Carneiro accuses government of 'lack of preparedness and incompetence'4:45pm, 30 Dec 2025 • RTP Notícias
- Enough! EU border controls suspended for three months at Lisbon airport3:56pm, 30 Dec 2025 • Portugal Resident
- 14:00 — PSP confirms GNR reinforces airport2:47pm, 30 Dec 2025 • RTP Notícias
- European border control system suspended in Lisbon2:42pm, 30 Dec 2025 • Observador
Context & Explainers
The border-control system is the set of checks and databases used to process non-EU travellers at entry points — passport and visa checks, biometric data capture and automated database searches such as the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the Entry/Exit System (EES). A temporary suspension of automated checks at Lisbon Airport means those arrivals may be processed differently (more manual checks or national procedures), which can change wait times, administrative workload and how security checks are carried out for non‑EU citizens.
The GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) is Portugal's national gendarmerie—a military police force founded in 1911, with origins dating to 1801. With over 22,600 personnel, GNR patrols 94-96% of Portuguese territory, covering rural areas, medium towns, and highways. Members are military personnel subject to military law, responsible for public order, customs, coastal control, environmental protection (SEPNA), firefighting/rescue (GIPS), border control, and ceremonial guards. GNR vs. PSP: The PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) is Portugal's civilian police force, covering major cities (Lisbon, Porto, Faro) and large urban areas—only 4% of territory but roughly half the population. PSP handles airport security, diplomatic protection, and private security regulation. Both share core missions (public order, crime prevention), but differ in nature: GNR is military with military training; PSP is civilian with police-focused training.
