Travel: Border control news in Portugal

The Italian government is conditioning the resumption of normal travel within the Schengen Area with Spain on the evolution of the migration crisis in Ceuta. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the situation at the border as very worrying, citing national security and terrorism prevention as primary concerns for maintaining current border controls.

The Spanish government has temporarily reintroduced border checks at ports and airports for passengers arriving from Italy until September 7. This decision follows a diplomatic dispute after Italy suspended the Schengen Agreement for arrivals from Spain, citing security and migration concerns.

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 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.

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 European Union is rolling out a new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) at borders, which is expected to cause significant travel disruptions. Airports in Portugal, including Lisbon and Faro, may face long queues and flight delays as the new digital verification process is implemented during the busy summer season.

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 European Commission has confirmed that Portugal will temporarily suspend the collection of biometric data for the Entry/Exit System (EES) at national airports when necessary. The measure aims to prevent excessive queues during peak travel times, with the government notifying Brussels of the planned suspensions.

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%.

European airports are reporting wait times of up to 3.5 hours at border controls, with passengers facing missed flights and significant travel disruptions. Consumer protection group Deco is demanding a compensation mechanism for affected travelers, while the European Commission suggests that member states should increase police presence to manage the implementation of the new Entry/Exit System (EES).

Update: Journalist misses flight amid ongoing airport border chaos

CNN chief correspondent Clarissa Ward reported missing her flight at Lisbon Airport on May 26 after spending two hours in line for biometric data collection. The incident highlights the ongoing operational challenges and passenger frustration caused by the new European Union border control system.

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.

Ryanair has called on the Portuguese government to suspend the new Entry/Exit System (EES) at airports during the peak summer season. The airline warns that the new border control procedures could cause significant delays for families and holidaymakers traveling through Portugal until September.

The National Association of Travel Agencies (Associação Nacional de Agências de Viagens or ANAV) has raised concerns regarding the implementation of a new border control system at Portuguese airports. The association warns that the transition could lead to severe congestion and longer queues for travelers. ANAV is calling for urgent coordination among authorities to mitigate potential disruptions.

The European Commission stated that initial constraints in the new European Entry/Exit System are normal, but emphasized that resolving these issues at airports is the responsibility of individual member states. The system, which came into force last Friday, caused significant delays at Portuguese airports over the weekend.

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.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) suspended biometric data collection at departures in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports on Saturday morning to prevent passengers from missing flights due to excessive wait times. The system, part of the new European Entry/Exit System, resumed operations by the early afternoon. Officials confirmed that biometric collection remains active for all arrivals.

Update: Airport biometric data collection resumes after temporary suspension

PSP spokesperson Sérgio Soares confirmed that biometric data collection is now operating at full capacity for both departures and arrivals. The suspension was a contingency measure implemented after the new border control system caused significant queues, leading some passengers to miss their flights.

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.

Portugal has launched the “Travel to Europe” mobile application, developed by the European border agency Frontex, to streamline entry for non-EU citizens. The app allows travelers to submit data in advance, helping to avoid the long queues seen at border controls (controlo de fronteiras) last year. Non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area (Espaço Schengen) should download the app to speed up their arrival.