Prime Minister: Airport investment already delivering “positive progress” in border controls without compromising security

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro visited Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon on Thursday to assess on the ground the Government's response to the difficulties experienced several months ago by many passengers from outside the European Union during the collection of biometric data for border crossings.

"Over recent months, we have seen very positive progress as a result of investment in technology, increased human resources and improved coordination between all the services involved in the various areas," said Luís Montenegro.

The Prime Minister, who was accompanied during the visit by Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz and Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion Manuel Castro Almeida, also noted that "from 6 September, we will need to collect 100% of the biometric data of citizens from outside the European Union, and this will create additional pressure. It is a challenge that lies ahead of us".

According to the Prime Minister, some impact on the operation of the system is to be expected. "We cannot say that all the difficulties have been resolved, but we have improved the performance of our airports enormously, particularly those under the greatest pressure, such as Lisbon, Faro and Porto."

The European Entry/Exit System is an automated European Union system that replaces passport stamping with the digital registration of biometric data - photographs and fingerprints - for non-EU citizens. It has been gradually introduced across EU countries since October 2025.

During the visit, the Prime Minister also publicly acknowledged the efforts of everyone involved: "airport staff, members of the Security Forces, particularly the Public Security Police (PSP), all those working across the various State departments and, indeed, members of the Government as well".

"The Minister of Internal Administration has done an absolutely exceptional job of coordination with the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion and the Minister of the Presidency to ensure that the entire system works effectively," he added.

Asked whether additional resources are planned from 6 September, the Prime Minister said there would be "continuous monitoring, which will naturally lead to further investment in IT and technology", while some of the measures already in place would be further improved.

"Building on what the system already has, it is possible to make it more efficient, faster and more streamlined through certain procedural changes. We may also need to change one or two rules within the existing legal framework," he said.

While acknowledging that "long queues are not good for Portugal's image", the Prime Minister stressed that security must always be safeguarded. "We will remain attentive, vigilant and ready to act."

"We want people to feel welcome and to see a modern Portugal, an agile Portugal, a Portugal that gets things done, a Portugal with streamlined procedures. But we also want a safe Portugal, one that is not part of organised crime routes, and we want anyone who breaks the law to know that they will be caught here," he added.