Latest news and stories about airport security in Lisbon, Lisboa, 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.
A 3.9 million euro contract has been awarded to provide technical assistance, training, and maintenance for biometric control systems at airports under the European Entry/Exit System.
Lisbon's Red Line metro service faced significant disruptions after a pipe burst caused water accumulation in the tunnels, leading passengers to evacuate onto the tracks and forcing a temporary suspension of operations between Chelas and the airport.
This man, about whom one of the few certainties is that he was not the Minister of Internal Administration, managed, for a few moments, to be news. That is no small feat.
In an unusual incident, a man jumped the fence and walked along part of the Lisbon airport runway. The incident, which is already being investigated by the authorities, took place on Sunday morning. The 36-year-old Portuguese man was intercepted, offered no resistance, and was transported to the hospital.
The Public Security Police (PSP) announced this Monday the arrest of a 61-year-old foreign national at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon on suspicion of drug trafficking. The suspect arrived in Lisbon on a flight from Rio de Janeiro and was selected for questioning after inconsistencies were detected in his statements regarding his stay in the Schengen Area. The arrest took place on Sunday, August 30. PSP border guards identified several items in his luggage, including pots, lids, platters, and wooden spoons, whose composition raised suspicions. X-ray screening revealed organic material inside, confirming that the items were concealing narcotics. A rapid test identified the substance as synthetic drugs, with a total gross weight of 20.55 kilograms.
A 36-year-old man was intercepted by airport workers. He was handed over to the PSP, subsequently assisted by INEM, and taken to a hospital for medical evaluation.
After being intercepted, the man was assisted by INEM and transported to a hospital unit for medical evaluation.
The Prime Minister defended the Minister of Internal Administration and says that Luís Neves is doing work of “extremely high quality and competence.”
The collection of biometric data from foreign passengers will be carried out at a 100% rate starting September 6, the Prime Minister announced during a visit to Lisbon Airport. “On September 6, we will need to collect 100% of the biometric data from citizens outside the European Union...”
The 57-year-old man is suspected of committing crimes of aggravated forgery, use of a forged document, and fraud.
The Lisbon airport border was temporarily closed today after passengers from a flight arriving from Brazil disembarked in the wrong area, causing a mix of passengers, the PSP confirmed.
The woman was travelling on a flight from São Paulo with a final destination of Paris and was flagged due to a request for medical assistance.
Among those arrested are three women aged 18, 40, and 41
The detainees are three women aged 18, 40, and 41, and a 28-year-old man. Evidence of the use of fake documents by the suspects was detected and confirmed.
Among those detained are three women aged 18, 40, and 41, as well as a 28-year-old man.
Sérgio Pererê was on his way to Berlin, Germany, as a guest of a festival. He claims to have been a victim of racism. The singer Badi Assad, who was with him, was released by immigration.
Brazilian musician Sérgio Pererê, 50, was detained early Friday morning at Lisbon airport while traveling to Germany for the premiere of his 'Bentu' tour. After being questioned by immigration authorities regarding his travel documentation and financial resources, the artist was later released. Pererê is a prominent figure in contemporary Afro-Brazilian music, and his tour includes performances in Berlin, Chemnitz, and Rudolstadt.
Three had already been arrested in May for the same crimes.
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.
There were no entry refusals up to that time.
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.
360 new agents will join the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF) and 210 will join the Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the PSP.
The PSP intercepted seven foreign nationals, including a minor, at Lisbon airport on Sunday after they presented apparently fake passports from China and Hong Kong while attempting to leave Portugal, the police force announced this Monday. The police intervention took place at Terminal 1 of the [Humberto Delgado] Airport in Lisbon as the citizens were attempting to depart.
