Border control news in Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced that Portuguese airports will return to collecting biometric data from 100% of non-European Union passengers starting September 6. The government expects this measure to increase the workload on airport staff, following reports of long queues during the system's implementation phase.

A year-long cooperation between the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and the Irish National Police (An Garda Síochána) has resulted in the detection of 206 irregular passenger journeys at Lisbon Airport. Most cases involved the use of falsified or counterfeit travel documents, according to police reports.

Border control at Lisbon Airport was temporarily closed on Tuesday after passengers from a flight arriving from Brazil disembarked in the wrong area. The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) confirmed that the error led to a mix of screened and unscreened passengers, necessitating a temporary halt to operations.

Update: Lisbon Metro Red Line suspended after pipe burst

Service on the Lisbon Metro Red Line was suspended between Chelas and the Airport following a pipe burst that flooded technical rooms. The incident caused a train to stall, leading some passengers to force doors open and walk along the tracks, forcing a complete shutdown of the line.

The National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) concluded its border control mission at Lisbon Airport this Sunday. On Monday, 367 new Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) officers will begin a two-week operational internship to take over these duties at Lisbon, Porto, Faro, and island airports.

The government is deploying 367 new Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) officers to airports starting Monday to help manage passenger control. Minister of Internal Administration (Ministro da Administração Interna) confirmed the deployment aims to reduce wait times, though he cautioned that some operational delays may persist during the busy summer period.

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has established a new regional command unit in Lisbon to coordinate border control operations across Portugal and Spain. The initiative, known as Contingent 5, deploys over 300 agents and specialists to strengthen security at international airports and ports. Minister of Internal Administration Margarida Blasco stated that the government is implementing changes to manage increased summer travel pressure.

Easyjet's country manager, José Lopes, has expressed concern regarding potential travel disruptions at Humberto Delgado Airport this summer. The airline anticipates difficulties linked to the passenger control system and has called for common sense in the day-to-day management by the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP).

Lisbon Airport is facing increased operational challenges due to a record rise in non-Schengen passenger traffic. The facility, already operating near capacity, is managing new requirements from the European border control system. These pressures have led to calls for improved infrastructure to handle the growing volume of international travelers.

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 Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) screened approximately 52,000 passengers at national airports this Sunday to ensure compliance with Schengen area regulations. Authorities applied 16 precautionary measures during the process. To manage wait times, which reached up to 60 minutes in Porto and 47 minutes in Lisbon, the government has reinforced human resources at border control points.

Two French children, aged three and five, who were abandoned by their parents in Alcácer do Sal last week, have returned to France. The Setúbal Judicial Court confirmed that the repatriation was organized through cooperation between Portuguese and French authorities to ensure the children's well-being. The case remains under investigation following the initial discovery of the minors alone on a road.

The government has approved the creation of a Single Social Benefit (Prestação Social Única or PSU) to consolidate 13 existing support schemes, including the Social Insertion Income (Rendimento Social de Inserção or RSI). The new policy requires working-age recipients to perform up to 15 hours of community work per week, with non-compliance resulting in the loss of benefits. Former Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho noted that the measure originated from a proposal by the previous socialist administration, while several left-wing parties have criticized the mandatory social work requirement.

Portugal's public accounts shifted from a surplus in March to a deficit of 1.548 billion euros by the end of April. According to data from the Budgetary Entity, this negative balance represents a significant decline compared to the same period last year, driven by reduced revenue in central and regional administrations. While tax revenue saw a modest 1.2% increase, overall public expenditure grew by 6.9%.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) reported 980 entry refusals at Portuguese air borders during the first four months of 2026, a 41.6% increase compared to the same period last year. The police force stated that border control remains a permanent operational priority to ensure national security and combat illegal immigration.

The Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Hugo Espírito Santo, stated that border control delays at Portuguese airports are part of a broader European problem rather than a national failure. This contradicts the European Commission, which maintains that processing times for the new Entry/Exit System (Sistema de Entrada/Saída or EES) should be minimal.

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz confirmed the government may suspend the new Entry/Exit System (Entry/Exit System or EES) at airports this summer to protect Portugal's international image. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas also advocated for the suspension, citing recent border control delays that have caused significant passenger queues and created a negative impression of the country.

Travelers at Lisbon and Faro airports faced significant wait times for border control this Sunday morning. The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) attributed the delays to technical IT issues and high passenger volume, noting that operations have since returned to normal reference parameters.

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.

The government of Guinea-Bissau has criticized Portuguese authorities for the detention of Guinean students at Lisbon airport, alleging failures in the visa issuance process. Justice Minister Carlos Pinto Pereira stated that students holding valid visas should be permitted entry, while Portuguese officials maintain that the detentions are due to missing documentation. At least 18 students have been affected since the beginning of April, with many returning to Bissau.

Biometric data collection for departures at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports was suspended on Saturday morning, April 11, to prevent passengers from missing flights due to long queues, according to the PSP. The process resumed in the early afternoon. PSP spokesperson Sérgio Soares confirmed that biometric collection is now operating at 100% for both departures and arrivals. The suspension was a contingency measure to manage high passenger volumes and avoid excessive wait times. The Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated EU system replacing passport stamps with digital biometric registration for non-EU citizens, has been fully operational since Friday, following a phased rollout that began in October 2025.

Update: Biometric collection suspended again at major airports

Biometric data collection for departures at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports was suspended again this Sunday, April 12, due to excessive waiting times. The PSP stated the measure aims to prevent passengers from missing flights while maintaining border security as high numbers of travelers exit the Schengen Area.

A new European border control system for non-EU citizens has officially come into force across the European Union. The system, which utilizes biometric data, follows a phased implementation period that previously caused processing constraints at Lisbon airport.

Wait times at Lisbon's Aeroporto Humberto Delgado reached two hours on Sunday morning during a peak in arrivals. The Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) reported that all border control posts were staffed as part of an Easter contingency plan, which includes 30 extra agents in Lisbon. Airport manager ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal confirmed that while waits hit 120 minutes at 08:30, they have since dropped to under an hour.