The Portugal security police (PSP) screened over 4.3 million travellers at the country's air borders during the first three months of 2026, while denying entry to more than 700 foreign nationals—reflecting stricter enforcement at Portuguese airports.
Key Q1 2026 Figures
According to the PSP's National Foreigners and Borders Unit (UNEF), which took over air border control in late 2023:
• Entry denials reached 704, a 57.5% increase compared to Q1 2025
• Border ban orders climbed to 73, up 217% year-on-year
• Precautionary measures totalled 5,484, a 153% increase
• Document fraud cases: 188 detected during the quarter
• Arrests: 157, up 36.5% from the previous year
Between January and March 2026, border agents processed 4,313,811 passengers—2,202,520 arrivals and 2,111,291 departures. The PSP intercepted 9,302 passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Area for secondary inspection, a 45.3% increase compared to Q1 2025.
What the Data Shows
The enforcement increases suggest the UNEF is intensifying scrutiny of travellers lacking valid visas, presenting unconvincing travel justifications, or triggering alerts in shared European databases. Document fraud remains a persistent challenge, with officers intercepting passengers using counterfeit passports, false identities, or altered biographical pages.
The PSP works with Frontex, the EU's border agency, and Interpol to cross-reference travel documents against international databases. Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport handles roughly half of all passenger traffic and is a primary focus for fraud detection.
Operational Context
The unit now operates at 11 airports and aerodromes across mainland Portugal, the Azores, and Madeira. The figures were released following the government's dissolution of the controversial Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) in late 2023.
