In preparation for the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) due to commence this October, Portugal started using their biometric scanners at airports yesterday:
…including I assume more robust monitoring of the 90/180 day rule for non-Schengen visitors:
Border Portal
brings together on the same page all the information relevant to the work of the border guard, keeping the information always up to date and easy to access/consult… on a single page, all the relevant and updated information necessary for decision-making in the context of border control.
As with any new system, Day 1 had its teething pains:
“Rigorous new frontier controls” leave hundreds fuming in Lisbon, 20-May 2025, Portugal Resident
Today, hundreds of non-European passport holders had to wait for hours to pass through passport control.
Within hours of this [Portugal homeland security] statement, hideous queues started forming, in Lisbon and Faro, as the new system – requiring the “collection of people’s biometric data”, the taking of their facial images and fingerprints, is still “not fully operational”. This appears to be down to a shortage of staff available to operate this innovative approach to entering the country.
Anybody experienced this yet? I get to try it next week
Non-EU nationals who have a valid residence card in a European country are generally exempt from the EES requirement. This is because they already have the right to reside in the EU and are not considered short-term visitors.
That’s right, but has the airport implemented a separate queue for Residents? I doubt it…i suspect that will only be determined when you get in front of an officer I hope I’m wrong
As I understand it (could be wrong!), these biometric scanners are for the “non-EU” passport lanes.
GV card holders (i.e. those without PT passports) don’t get to use the EU lanes? Someday I hope to find out for myself!
Italy and Lisbon already allow some non-EU countries to use their e-gates… I don’t know how that factors into all this, but see below:
Under the new EES system, EU member states will require non-EU visitors, business or leisure, to provide biometric data including fingerprints and facial images when entering the Schengen area.
I meant to say the egates can be used. The EU lanes are a different animal and people have reported various success in using those without an EU passport.
I hope I’m wrong