Travel: Schengen news in Portugal

Latest news and stories about schengen in travel in Portugal for expats and residents.

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Italy links Schengen travel to Ceuta migration crisis

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 Schengen Area is a zone comprising 29 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and border control at their mutual borders. It allows for the free and unrestricted movement of people, goods, and services, functioning as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes (Espaço Schengen).

5 sources →17 Aug

Old ID cards no longer valid for international travel

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As of August 3, 2026, the old Portuguese Identity Card (Bilhete de Identidade) is no longer accepted for travel within the European Union and the Schengen Area due to the lack of a machine-readable zone. Travelers must now use a valid Citizen Card (Cartão de Cidadão) or a passport for international trips, though the old ID remains valid for domestic use within Portugal.

The Cartão de Cidadão (Citizen Card) is Portugal’s national identity card, introduced in 2007, used for in‑person ID and many online public services; it contains your civil identity data and supports digital authentication and signatures. It is issued to Portuguese citizens—foreign residents use a residence permit for ID—so non‑citizen expats should keep their passport and residence card for official matters.

1 source →16 Aug

Old ID cards no longer valid for international travel

Spain reinstates border controls for travelers from Italy

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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.

The Schengen Agreement is a treaty that created an area without internal border controls among most European countries, allowing for the free movement of people. While it facilitates travel, member states (países membros) retain the right to temporarily reintroduce border checks during specific events or security threats, as seen in recent temporary measures at ports and airports.

9 sources →7 Aug

Spain reinstates border controls for travelers from Italy

PSP to deploy 360 new officers at airports in July

📍 Lisbon 🚇 Infrastructure 🧭 Travel#public-safety+3 more

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) will deploy 360 new officers to Portuguese airports this July to help reduce waiting times for passengers arriving from outside the Schengen area. PSP spokesperson Sérgio Soares stated that these officers are part of a larger group of 560 new recruits currently completing their border guard training.

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.

2 sources →19 May

PSP to deploy 360 new officers at airports in July

Recent articles

Italy conditions resumption of Schengen on "very worrying" situation in Ceuta

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The Italian government is maintaining border controls for travelers from Spain, citing the ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta as a primary concern for the resumption of Schengen area travel.

cmjornal.pt17 Aug

Italy conditions resumption of Schengen on "very worrying" situation in Ceuta

Spain Joins Poland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Bulgaria, Denmark, And All Other Twenty Two Countries In Europe In Schengen Border Queues, Fingerprints, And EES Travel Delays That Threaten To Cripple Summer Tourism And Cost Billions In Visitor Revenu

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Spain has joined twenty-six other European nations in implementing the Entry/Exit System (EES), raising significant concerns regarding border congestion, biometric processing delays, and the potential economic impact on the continent's summer tourism sector.

Travel And Tour World11 Jun

Spain Joins Poland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Bulgaria, Denmark, And All Other Twenty Two Countries In Europe In Schengen Border Queues, Fingerprints, And EES Travel Delays That Threaten To Cripple Summer Tourism And Cost Billions In Visitor Revenu

Waiting times at arrivals between half an hour and one hour

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The PSP processed over 51,000 passengers at national airports by mid-afternoon, with passport control wait times reaching up to one hour in Porto and Lisbon, prompting a reinforcement of staff to manage Schengen area compliance.

observador.pt31 May

Waiting times at arrivals between half an hour and one hour

Portugal Suspends Passport Checks for British Travellers Amid Airport Chaos and Growing European Border Delays: Latest Update

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Portugal has temporarily suspended passport checks for British travellers to alleviate significant airport congestion and border delays, reflecting broader systemic challenges within the Schengen Area.

Travel And Tour World24 May

Portugal Suspends Passport Checks for British Travellers Amid Airport Chaos and Growing European Border Delays: Latest Update

More than 360 police officers to reinforce airport borders

🏛️ Government 🧭 Travel 🚇 Infrastructure#schengen+3 more

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.

rtp.pt18 May

More than 360 police officers to reinforce airport borders

Greece Joins Croatia, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Malta, and More in a Pioneering Move to End Biometric Entry for UK Travelers, Improving Border Efficiency

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Greece has joined a growing coalition of European nations, including Germany, Spain, and France, in implementing measures to streamline border processes for UK travelers by reducing reliance on biometric entry systems, aiming to enhance overall travel efficiency within the Schengen Area.

Travel And Tour World26 Apr

Biometric collection suspended again at major airports

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Biometric data collection at major Portuguese airports has been suspended again due to excessive passenger wait times, with authorities implementing an automatic suspension protocol when queues exceed reference limits.

ECO12 Apr

Biometric collection suspended again at major airports

Spain and Italy end passenger checks following Ceuta controversy

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Italy had suspended the Schengen Agreement following the invasion of Spanish territory

cnnportugal.iol.pt22 Oct

Spain and Italy end passenger checks following Ceuta controversy

Spain and Italy end border controls

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Spain and Italy have ended the passenger controls at ports and airports that they had been imposing reciprocally since August, during a diplomatic crisis sparked by the entry of thousands of people into Ceuta at the end of July, both countries announced today.

rtp.pt22 Oct

Spain and Italy end border controls imposed due to migration crisis in Ceuta

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Italy suspended the European Schengen free movement treaty in relation to Spain, which adopted the same measure in retaliation.

cmjornal.pt22 Oct

Spain and Italy end border controls imposed due to migration crisis in Ceuta

Spain extends passenger controls for arrivals from Italy

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On August 1st, the Italian government suspended the agreement on the free movement of people with Spain. This is the fourth time Madrid has extended these controls in response to Rome.

observador.pt6 Oct

Spain extends passenger controls for arrivals from Italy

Spain extends passenger controls from Italy until 22 October

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Spain today extended until 22 October the controls at ports and airports for passengers arriving from Italy, a country that adopted the same measure following the entry of more than 70,000 people into Ceuta at the end of July.

rtp.pt6 Oct

Spain extends passenger controls from Italy until 22 October

EU shelves entry-exit system in France and Portugal

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The Telegraph13 Sept

Italy extends partial suspension of Schengen agreement with Spain

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The initial decision was made on July 31st following the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta.

cmjornal.pt31 Aug

Italy extends partial suspension of Schengen agreement with Spain

Italy extends Schengen suspension with Spain

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Controls at air and sea borders remain in place for another two weeks, despite Rome acknowledging Madrid's initiatives with the EU to normalise the migrant crisis in Ceuta.

observador.pt31 Aug

Italy extends Schengen suspension with Spain

Tension between Spain and Italy opens another wound in Europe

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Italy began screening passengers arriving from Spain following the events in Ceuta, and now Spain has retaliated. Is this just a passing political spat or a serious crisis for the Schengen Area?

observador.pt10 Aug

Tension between Spain and Italy opens another wound in Europe

Spain imposes border controls on travellers arriving from Italy

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The Spanish government announced this Friday the imposition of border controls on passengers from flights and ships arriving from Italy. Passport and nationality checks for Italian passengers will begin this Saturday and will remain in force until 7 September.

rtp.pt7 Aug

Spain imposes border controls on travellers arriving from Italy

Ceuta: Spain promises reciprocity if Italy does not lift restrictions on the Schengen agreement

🇪🇺 Europe 🧭 Travel#schengen+2 more

If Meloni does not back down by Sunday on the restrictions to the Schengen agreement imposed following the migration crisis in Ceuta, targeting travellers from Spain, Sánchez's executive promises reciprocal measures.

publico.pt7 Aug

Madrid threatens retaliation if Italy keeps border controls on travelers from Spain

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The Spanish government has given Rome until Sunday to restore passport-free travel and put an end to the crackdown instituted amid the Ceuta crisis.

politico.eu7 Aug

Madrid threatens retaliation if Italy keeps border controls on travelers from Spain

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