Long Immigration Lines Test Portugal’s New High-Tech Border Checks
Early this summer Portugal activated three interconnected platforms—VIS4, PASSE +, and the new Borders Portal—across every international airport. The change, part of a wider European push to tighten external frontiers through biometrics and real-time database queries, has doubled the number of electronic checks each traveller must clear. Police officers from the Public Security Police (PSP), the force now in charge of passport control since the former immigration agency was dissolved, insist staff numbers have not been cut. Instead, they say the software still needs fine-tuning, especially when several wide-body flights land within minutes of one another. Government technicians acknowledge that queues of two to three hours at Lisbon, Porto and Faro became common in the first weeks of operation while the hardware “learned” to talk to European and Interpol databases.
Why non-Schengen visitors feel the pinch
Passengers arriving from outside the visa-free Schengen zone—including Britons, Americans and most long-haul tourists—now have to present fingerprints and a facial image in addition to their passport. Officials report traffic has risen by up to fifteen per cent compared with last year, a surge linked to the post-pandemic travel rebound and new trans-Atlantic routes. The combination of heavier traffic and extra biometric capture means each inspection booth takes longer per passenger, creating visible bottlenecks at peak hours. Industry groups such as easyJet warn that unless throughput improves Portugal risks tarnishing its reputation for easy access just as the crucial July–August holiday season begins.
The fixes underway
The Internal Security System, which oversees the upgrade, says engineers are doubling network capacity, installing additional automatic e-gates known locally as “Rapids” and running refresher courses for border guards. Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal and the Azores hubs are first in line for the extra kiosks. Officials stress that the systems are fully operational and claim they are monitoring wait times “minute by minute”, yet they concede that the learning curve will last through the summer. The Algarve’s regional tourism office has already voiced concern that three-hour queues at Faro Airport risk undercutting hard-won gains in visitor satisfaction.
Practical advice for newcomers
For the moment airlines are urging passengers landing from non-Schengen countries to budget additional time for immigration formalities, particularly if they have onward rail or domestic flight connections. Carrying printed proof of accommodation and return travel, although not always requested, speeds up manual checks when automated gates switch to assisted mode. Families with children under twelve, who cannot use the e-gates, should expect to join the staffed lanes. Travellers with residency cards, meanwhile, can still use the shorter EU/EEA line but may be asked for fingerprints during the transition period.
Looking ahead to Europe’s next border milestone
The current upgrade is paving the way for the European Entry/Exit System, a bloc-wide project scheduled to go live in 2026 that will log every third-country national’s movements for three years. Portuguese officials argue that moving early was essential to avoid possible sanctions and to spread the cost—estimated at twenty-four million euros—over several budget cycles. Until the software stabilises, however, patience remains a necessary travel accessory. Authorities say that by autumn the extra e-gates and network tweaks should cut processing times significantly, restoring the swift arrivals experience Portugal prides itself on offering foreign residents, tourists and business travellers alike.