Latest news and stories about border control in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Ministry of Internal Administration has admitted to IT constraints affecting border control operations at Lisbon airport. While officials acknowledge that some passenger data is not being collected, they maintain that these technical issues do not pose a security risk to the country.
Capital transfers for cultural projects linked to the golden visa (autorização de residência para atividade de investimento) program reached 46.8 million euros in 2025, a 298% increase over the previous year. Data from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports shows that US citizens are the most frequent users of this investment route, followed by Chinese and Indian nationals.
The Golden Visa (Autorização de Residência para Investimento, ARI) is Portugal's residence-by-investment program, created in 2012, granting non-EU nationals a residency permit in exchange for qualifying investments.
Since October 2023, direct residential real estate purchases no longer qualify — a reform aimed at easing housing market pressure. Eligible investment routes now include capital transfers (€500,000+), investment fund subscriptions, job creation, and contributions to scientific research or cultural heritage. Minimum amounts and conditions vary by category.
A Golden Visa provides Schengen travel rights, requires minimal physical presence in Portugal (7 days per year), and offers a pathway to permanent residency after five years and citizenship after six. The program has been politically controversial, with ongoing debate about its impact on housing prices and its value as an economic stimulus.
Applicants must deal with AIMA for residency processing, which has experienced significant backlogs.
Ryanair has formally requested that the Portuguese government suspend the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) during the peak summer season to prevent significant airport delays and border control bottlenecks.
The Socialist Party is demanding explanations from the government regarding severe delays and operational failures at Portuguese airports linked to the implementation of the European Entry/Exit System.
António José Seguro concludes his first five-day Open Presidency, focusing on the Leiria district to address the aftermath of severe February weather and hear local grievances.
PS leader José Luís Carneiro condemned Government claims that Portugal has 'open borders' as a 'lie told a thousand times', arguing the country never had open borders, rejecting any link between immigration and insecurity, and challenging the Government to a serious debate on immigration policy.
Reports indicate 24 National Republican Guard (GNR) personnel were assigned to reinforce border checks at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport to help reduce queues and bolster security. The GNR later clarified the 24 officers will be deployed as reinforcements from next Tuesday; the airport had previously been reinforced by 25 GNR personnel at 19:00 and around 80 PSP officers over the Christmas period.
Ryanair has called on the Portuguese Government to delay the implementation of the new European entry/exit system until September, warning of long queues at airports during the peak summer season. The airline argues that authorities have failed to provide sufficient staff and infrastructure, noting that wait times at Faro, Funchal, and Porto airports are already excessive. Ryanair has written to governments across Europe, including Portuguese Interior Minister Luís Neves, urging them to follow Greece's example and postpone the rollout to avoid travel disruptions for families.
According to Ryanair, waiting times at passport control are already exceeding one to two hours at Faro, Funchal, and Porto airports due to staff shortages and system failures.
Hundreds of yachts and about a thousand crew members visit the port annually. A Liberal deputy questions the Government of the Azores and requests an urgent solution.
The Council demanded that Portugal present a plan to correct the identified flaws. It states that measures must be adopted as quickly as possible because they could have an impact on other states.
Chega MP Ana Martins questioned the Government regarding the “worrying lack of resources” for border control at João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada, in the Azores.
MP Ana Martins wants to know if there are any plans for an immediate increase in human resources to “ensure the normal operation of border control.”
After more than two years, the transition of professionals from the former Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) has concluded. Of the 128 inspectors stationed at Portuguese airports since October 2023, 117 will join the Judiciary Police (PJ). According to Rui Paiva, president of the SPIC-PJ union, the transition went smoothly and concluded last week, with staff starting at the PJ on April 20. The Ministry of Internal Administration stated that 11 professionals will remain at airports on secondment to provide documentation and legal support, as their technical expertise is still required while PSP officers undergo training. This transition was delayed from last October due to a shortage of trained PSP personnel.
Home News 4. 3 million people checked at Portugal air borders 4. 3 million people checked at Portugal air borders The Portuguese PSP checked over 4.
The Government has scheduled a new meeting for the beginning of next week with the Employers' Confederations and the UGT regarding changes to the labour code. New border control system at airports
The union structure maintains that the situation “was foreseeable at least six months ago.”
The Guinean government is monitoring the case with representatives in Portugal
Lisbon Airport faces a critical test this Easter weekend as authorities implement a contingency plan to manage border control, following recent reports of long queues and chaos for passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Area. The Ministry of Internal Administration has reinforced staff and introduced self-service kiosks to support the gradual rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES), though unions argue that the airport's infrastructure remains structurally inadequate to handle the current volume of non-EU travellers.
The deadline for former Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) inspectors to work at Portuguese airports ends next Thursday, April 9. However, according to the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI), not all professionals will leave. The ministry stated that inspectors with specific technical expertise, such as document analysis, will remain until PSP officers are fully trained. The PJ criminal investigation union expressed uncertainty regarding these extensions, noting that previous deadlines were changed at the last minute. Meanwhile, the union has criticised the transfer of 100 PSP officers to the Lisbon Municipal Police, arguing that these resources should be prioritised for border control.
The rise in notifications occurred before the law that grants the Government more powers to expel foreigners. Brazilians led the number of entry refusals at the country's airports.
The Public Security Police have started approaching passengers arriving from abroad directly at the aircraft exits, justifying the strategy as part of their commitments to the European Union.
The 35-year-old suspect had already passed through border control when he was detained by authorities. The man is suspected of being part of an “organised group” that bypassed legal currency control mechanisms.
More than 4 million people are already displaced in Iran and Lebanon. A migration crisis like the one in 2015 may never reach Europe, but experts warn that better prevention would involve aid on the ground.
The Ministry of Internal Administration states that the European border control system for non-EU citizens, known as the Entry/Exit System, has been resumed and is now active.
At the end of December, the Government announced contingency measures at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon to reduce waiting times in the arrivals area, namely the three-month suspension of the EES, which has now returned to full operation.
Ursula von der Leyen states that the European Union (EU) is “better prepared” for potential migratory flows.
The National Unit for Foreigners and Borders has been operating since August. Despite constraints during Christmas and New Year, the Government makes a positive assessment. PSP officers disagree and are requesting more resources.
