Non‑EU travellers arriving in Portugal are now facing a different border experience. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully active again at Portuguese airports after a winter suspension at Lisbon, and long queues have already returned during busy periods.
A brief reminder of what EES means for Portugal
EES is the EU’s digital system for recording the entry and exit of non‑EU nationals on short stays (up to 90 days in any 180 days). It replaces manual passport stamping with electronic records and biometric data, including a facial image and fingerprints.
EES in Portugal: from launch to full operation in 2026
Portugal has been rolling out the system in stages:
- 12 October – EES begins operating in Portugal and other Schengen countries
- 10 December – Biometric checks (fingerprints and facial image) are added at Portuguese airports
- Late December – around three months – the government suspends EES at Lisbon Airport after long queues and congestion in the arrivals area
- Early 2026 – EES is gradually reintroduced at Lisbon and other main airports.
- 10 April – The EU’s deadline for full implementation. By this date, all Schengen countries must have EES operational at every external border.
Lisbon Airport queues: how EES is affecting immigration wait times
When EES first went live in Portugal and then expanded to biometrics, Lisbon’s already stretched airport infrastructure struggled to cope. Border queues of several hours were reported during the worst spells.
The temporary suspension at Lisbon calmed the situation, but the restart of the system has brought longer waits back:
- Travellers now report lines of more than two hours at immigration during busy periods, particularly at Lisbon.
- Authorities describe the current months as a transition period, with operations being adjusted as passenger flows change around Easter and into the summer época alta (high season).
How EES could affect your trip to Portugal in 2026
Longer and more complex arrivals for non‑EU passengers
For many non‑EU travellers, the first minutes on Portuguese soil now look different. Common effects include:
- Extra time on the first EES journey
The first entry after EES goes live usually involves fingerprint collection, a live facial image and confirmation of key travel details. - Knock‑on effects of busy flights and family travel
When several long‑haul flights land close together, or when large families and tour groups arrive at once, queues can grow quickly. - Pressure on connections and onward travel
At Lisbon, longer queues at the external Schengen border can affect tight connections to domestic flights within Portugal, timed departures on trains and pre‑booked transfers.
Measures Portugal is using to reduce EES queues
Self‑service kiosks at Portuguese airports - these allow eligible third‑country nationals visiting for short stays to:
- Provide biometric data
- Complete the required EES travel questionnaire
- Generate an electronic record that border officers can validate more quickly
“Travel to Europe” app - Portugal has joined the initiative developed by Frontex, becoming the second EU country to use it at scale.
Through the app, eligible non‑EU travellers will be able to:
- Pre‑register their personal and passport details
- Enter information about their trip, such as intended length of stay
- Receive a QR code once pre‑registration is complete
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