Lisbon, March 20, 2026 (Lusa) – The European border control system for non-EU citizens, which was suspended in December at Lisbon airport due to constraints in the arrivals area, is operational once again, having been gradually resumed, the government revealed on Friday.
In a response sent to the Lusa agency, the interior ministry (MAI) stated that the European border control system for non-EU citizens, known as the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), "was gradually resumed since the beginning of the year and is now fully active."
This new system came into operation on 12 October in Portugal and other Schengen Area countries; since then, waiting times have worsened, particularly at Lisbon airport, with passengers sometimes having to wait several hours at passport control. The introduction of the second phase of the EES on 10 December in Portuguese airports, which consists of collecting biometric data (obtaining the passenger's photograph and fingerprints), caused even further constraints, especially in Lisbon.
At the end of December, the government announced contingency measures at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon to reduce waiting times in the arrivals zone, namely a three-month suspension of the EES, which has now returned to full functionality.
The EES is being implemented in phases across the European Union, with 100% operation across all the EU scheduled for April. In its response, the MAI admits that "some operational constraints have been observed in the airport border control process and, with the implementation of the EES, even in phases, these constraints have worsened."
"To streamline the phased execution of the EES – which will only be fully implemented as of 10 April – and to minimise the impact on border control waiting times, self-service kiosks have been installed at airports. These allow third-country nationals visiting for temporary stays to provide biometric data and complete the travel questionnaire," adds the ministry led by Luís Neves.
Since Monday, Portugal has joined the European mobile application "Travel to Europe," developed by the border control agency Frontex. This app allows passengers covered by the EES to complete the questionnaire prior to arrival, speeding up processing time at the border.
The ministry guarantees that the MAI, Public Security Police (PSP), and other entities directly involved in this process "have been working in a coordinated manner to implement measures that ensure the regular operation of border controls at the main national airports, both during the Easter period and as the peak season approaches." According to the MAI, this work includes continuous monitoring of passenger flows and adapting the operation setup whenever necessary.
In addition to the temporary suspension of the European entry/exit control system, the government also reinforced Lisbon airport in December with 24 Republican Guard (GNR) military personnel. According to the MAI, they have been "working in the arrivals area since then to perform documentation control." Passenger control at airport borders is the responsibility of the PSP, a competence it inherited in 2023 from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).
The EES system, which replaces traditional passport stamps, applies to all non-European Union citizens entering the country for short-term stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period), regardless of whether they require a visa.
CMP/RYOL // AYLS
Lusa
