Latest news and stories about airport security in infrastructure in Portugal for expats and residents.
Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz stated that there is no longer chaos at Portuguese airports, citing a reinforcement of security forces for border control. The government expects a calmer summer season for travelers following these operational adjustments.
The government will deploy 340 additional Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) officers to international airports starting July 4 to reduce wait times. Interior Minister Luís Neves confirmed that 140 officers will be assigned to Lisbon, 100 to Porto, and the remainder to Faro, Funchal, and Ponta Delgada. The minister acknowledged that while this reinforcement aims to streamline border procedures, ongoing digital issues continue to impact operational speed.
The PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) is Portugal's national civilian police force, founded in 1867. Responsible for defending Republican democracy and safeguarding internal security and citizens' rights, the PSP polices major cities—Lisbon, Porto, Faro—and large urban areas, covering only 4% of Portugal's territory but roughly half the population. Led by a National Director under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, its approximately 21,500 officers handle preventive policing, crime investigation, public order, airport security, diplomatic protection, private security regulation, firearms licensing, and border control (since 2023).
PSP vs. GNR: The PSP is civilian with police-focused training and urban jurisdiction, while the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) is military (gendarmerie) with military training, covering 96% of Portugal's rural and suburban territory. Both share core public safety missions but differ fundamentally in nature, training, and geographic responsibility.
Luís Neves will take office on Monday as Minister of Internal Administration. He graduated in law and has worked at the Judicial Police since 1995, where he served as coordinator of a national unit and developed a long career in criminal investigation.
A December audit by the European Commission identified serious deficiencies in border control procedures at Lisbon and Porto airports. Brussels warned that these failures could negatively impact other European Union member states and compromise security. Separately, local authorities in Horta have expressed concern over operational restrictions imposed by the National Civil Aviation Authority (Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil or ANAC) that are forcing flight diversions.
ANAC (Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil) is Portugal's national civil aviation regulator, responsible for safety oversight, licensing and economic regulation of airlines, airports and ground-handling services. It oversees tenders and issues licences such as the recent ground-handling awards for Lisbon, Porto and Faro, so its decisions directly affect airport operations, service providers and related jobs.
The European Commission has granted Portugal the authority to temporarily suspend biometric border control systems at airports, with the Ministry of Internal Administration clarifying that the PSP holds the operational decision-making power for these short-term measures.
The Portuguese government is deploying over 360 additional police officers to airports, including new manual control booths at Lisbon Airport, to address significant passenger wait times and improve border operational efficiency.
About 100 new PSP agents, out of the 360 who will reinforce airports in July, expressed doubts about transfers and their future in the corporation during an ASPP/PSP session.
Minister of internal administration, Luis Neves, has announced an increase of 340 PSP agents for airport border controls, starting from July 4. The news follows the recent ‘boost’ given by The post Another 340 PSP agents to beef airport border controls from July 4 appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The Minister of Internal Administration, Luis Neves, announced this Friday that Portuguese international airports will have a reinforcement of 340 security personnel, who are currently in training, starting from July 4. “On July 4, we will deploy 340 more people, PSP officers who are currently receiving specific training for border control.”
Home News Minister announces more security personnel at airports in Portugal Minister announces more security personnel at airports in Portugal The Minister of Home Affairs, Luis Neves, announced that Portuguese international airports will have an additional 340 security personnel, who are curren
Passengers who disembarked at the Portuguese capital's terminal were taken to an unauthorized area. Border services were interrupted for 65 minutes, according to the PSP.
The European Commission announced this Thursday that it has mobilised 25 Frontex agents and around eight million euros in infrastructure to support Portugal in border management, following issues verified with the new EU Entry/Exit System. The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, says he is now optimistic regarding the security operation and...
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs announced aid to Portugal of 25 agents and 8 million euros, amidst praise for the Government. Additionally, news arrives from Gaza of the death of 9 people.
There were no entry refusals up to that time.
The Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) clarified today that the decision regarding the temporary suspension of biometric data collection from passengers at airports is the responsibility of the PSP, which communicates it to the European Commission.
Starting this Friday, May 29, Lisbon Airport will receive 48 additional PSP officers and more booths and e-gates, according to the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI). To streamline border control, the airport will now have 34 booths for arrivals (14 more than currently) and 18 for departures (four more). Regarding automated border control, the airport will have 31 e-gates for arrivals (14 more) and 18 for departures (four more). The MAI added that following these expansions in Lisbon, similar reinforcements are planned for Porto and Faro airports during June and July. Portugal began implementing the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) on October 12, 2025, but biometric collection was suspended on April 11 and 12 of this year due to excessive passenger wait times. Tourism and aviation sectors have demanded the suspension of the European border system, with reports of chaos at Lisbon Airport.
Nationwide, 360 new police officers assigned to the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders will be distributed across various airports in July.
According to the PSP, 150 officers will be deployed to Lisbon airport, 90 to Porto, 70 to Faro, 30 to the Azores, and 20 to Madeira.
Over half of the 570 new PSP police officers graduating this Thursday, May 28, will be stationed at Portuguese airports, with the remaining 210 assigned to the Lisbon Metropolitan Command. The 360 officers heading to the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF) will undergo a four-week border guard training course, aiming to reduce passenger queues for non-Schengen arrivals by early July. This deployment is part of the PSP's summer contingency plan. Additionally, the force continues to face recruitment challenges, with a new course starting in June falling short of the 800-vacancy target.
A PSP source specified that 360 officers will be assigned to the foreign and border unit.
Portugal’s airports will receive 360 additional border police officers from July as authorities try to reduce long waiting times for passengers arriving from outside the Schengen area. The reinforcement was The post Portuguese airports to get 360 more border police officers from July appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The measure is accompanied by an increase in the number of manual border control booths to improve operational response
It is the first time in democracy that a former head of government in Spain has been indicted by the justice system. Additionally, the PSP explains to Rádio Observador that it will reinforce airports with 370 officers.
