According to the Public Security Police (PSP), the personnel from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) will begin supporting the National Foreigners and Borders Unit (UNEF) at airports from January 2026, but the reinforcement will reach its full complement of 48 officers in March.

The reinforcement is part of a plan signed between the PSP and Frontex that includes a set of initiatives which, in addition to the availability of human and material resources, also include a training component, the Portuguese police told Lusa.

The Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) indicates that this reinforcement will last for one year and may be renewed if necessary.

According to the PSP, Lisbon airport will be reinforced with 26 Frontex officers, 23 of whom will serve as border guards; Porto airport will have 12, eight of whom will be border guards; and Faro will receive 10 Frontex officers (six border guards).

The police add that, between January and March, Frontex will have 18 officers at Lisbon airport and eight at Porto airport.

Long delays

In recent months, passengers have faced long queues at passport control in Portuguese airports, mainly in Lisbon, but the situation worsened in October with the implementation of the new European border control system for non-EU citizens, which recently led the Government to create a 'task force' with representatives from various ministries and entities.

The Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) further states that, within the framework of the ongoing plan with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBA), four Frontex personnel are currently in Portugal working in Lisbon and Porto to provide advice and counselling in the area of ​​voluntary returns, and four other police officers support the Portuguese police in the technical and operational management of voluntary and forced returns.

Within the same plan and in the area of ​​Frontex training, approximately 100 Portuguese police officers have already been certified for air escorts.

With the dissolution of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) two years ago, some of the responsibilities of that security service, namely the control of air borders, were transferred to the PSP, which, since August 21st, has expanded its responsibilities with the creation of the UNEF (National Border Enforcement Unit), becoming responsible for operations involving the removal, readmission, and return of people in irregular situations.

Currently, UNEF has approximately 1,200 police officers operating in all airports and in surveillance throughout the national territory.