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.
Our experience flying into Funchal (Madeira) last Friday 30th… the rows of shiny new Biometric machines they installed last year are still wrapped in plastic.
So apparently the new procedure isn’t Portugal-wide yet. Anybody get to experience it in Lisbon or Porto recently?
I hope I’m wrong