Portugal moves to full biometric collection for passengers from outside the EU

Portugal moved to full collection of biometric data from non-EU citizens at border controls on 6 September. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced the change during a visit to Lisbon Airport and acknowledged that it would increase pressure on the system.

The European Entry/Exit System, or EES, replaces passport stamps with digital registration of photographs and fingerprints for citizens of countries outside the EU. It has been introduced gradually across the European Union since October 2025. Portugal and seven other countries had asked the European Commission to allow the temporary suspension of data collection to continue for longer.

The prime minister said the system would be monitored continuously and that the next steps would include investment in information technology, procedural changes and, if necessary, adjustments to individual rules within the law. He also reported that investment was being prepared at Porto Airport, where greater pressure is expected.

Montenegro said airport waiting times were already much lower than a few months earlier thanks to technology, additional staff and coordination among services. At the same time, he acknowledged that pressure on the border-control system would not disappear.