Passport Control in Lisbon Finally Eases, Yet Buffer Time Remains Wise
Visitors walking off long-haul flights at Humberto Delgado this week noticed something new: the passport queue that once snaked past duty-free is shrinking again, though it still moves more slowly than in the pre-EES era. For Portuguese residents who routinely welcome relatives from Brazil, Angola or the United States—and for those whose own holiday plans begin in Lisbon—the state of border control matters far beyond social-media grumbling. After a rocky start that produced lines of four hours, the authorities say the worst has passed, yet warn that occasional bottlenecks may persist until the spring of 2026.
Why travellers were caught off-guard
Implementation of the European Entry/Exit System on 12 October instantly changed the rhythm of arrivals. Non-EU nationals now surrender fingerprints, a facial image and personal data on first entry, replacing the old passport stamp. At Lisbon, the sheer volume of passengers—more than 50 % of long-haul traffic to Portugal flows through the capital—met the inevitable learning curve of new hardware. The automatic gates branded RAPID stalled, software patches failed, and backup procedures forced officers to process documents by hand. One PSP supervisor described 14 October as “o dia mais crítico”, with “queues longer than 90 minutes in both directions”.
What the EES means for Portugal
For Portugal, a country that depends on tourism for roughly 15 % of GDP, the stakes go well beyond a few disgruntled passengers. Brussels insists the database will tighten Schengen borders, flag overstays and speed up future crossings. At the same time, ANA—manager of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira and the Azores—must balance security mandates with the service levels airlines expect. The agency has reminded politicians that border control is the exclusive responsibility of the state, urging them to hold the Internal Security System (SSI) accountable for meeting a maximum wait time that keeps pace with airports such as Amsterdam Schiphol or Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Latest numbers: from four-hour waits to a slow-moving but shorter queue
Data shared with ECO and confirmed by PSP suggest a marked improvement since the first chaotic weekend. Peak delays of 240 minutes on 13 October fell to just under 70 minutes for most non-EU arrivals on 18 October. ANA credits the re-calibrated RAPID gates, a bolstered police roster and staff who now guide passengers into biometric kiosks before they reach the glass booths. Social‐media posts still show sporadic congestion, particularly on Tuesday mornings when transatlantic flights converge, yet the trend line points down. Even so, travel agents continue to advise third-country nationals to arrive at departures three to four hours ahead until the phase-in ends on 10 April 2026.
How the rest of the country is coping
Lisbon remains the flashpoint, but Faro’s terminal—buoyed by winter sun traffic from the UK—also reports lengthy first-time registrations. Porto saw a milder impact thanks to a smaller share of non-EU flights, while the Madeira and Azores gateways draw praise for rollout “sem incidentes significativos”. Across Europe, only Prague and Tenerife Sur reported snags on the scale measured in Lisbon’s opening days. Airport insiders warn that February, when student holidays fill charter schedules, could be the next real test.
Advice if you’re expecting overseas guests
Friends and family acting as airport chauffeurs should monitor live wait-time dashboards the PSP now publishes and build a cushion into parking plans. Encourage visitors to pre-enrol fingerprints where available, carry printed documentation of onward connections, and photograph any luggage tag that might be orphaned in an extended queue. Above all, remind them that the first EES registration is the slowest; subsequent trips within the three-year validity window will see them breeze through a green “R” lane designed for repeat travellers.
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond
National authorities have promised a full technical audit of RAPID by December, plus a fortnightly stress test through Easter. Longer term, the EES data backbone will dovetail with the ETIAS travel authorisation expected late next year, meaning the next iteration of border control may feel fully digital. For Portugal, the challenge lies in aligning world-class tourism growth with the obligations of a common European frontier. The past week shows progress—but also a reminder that modernisation, however necessary, rarely happens without a queue.