Passengers off US, Canada flights can use e-gates at Lisbon airport

  • Lusa
  • 15 June 2022

Measures are announced after long queues and hours of waiting have been recorded by passengers arriving in Lisbon off flights from outside the European Union.

Passengers from the United States and Canada can use from Wednesday, on arrival in Portugal, the technological border control gates (e-gates) and the airports of Lisbon and Porto have received a reinforcement of 25 SEF inspectors.

These two new measures came into force today and are part of the IATA summer 2022 contingency plan, implemented by the immigration and borders service, SEF, with operational support from the public security police, PSP, the interior ministry announced in a statement.

These measures are announced after long queues and hours of waiting have been recorded by passengers arriving in Lisbon off flights from outside the European Union.

According to the interior ministry, MAI, passengers coming from the United States and Canada may use, upon arrival in Portugal, the technological border control gates (e-gates) under the automatic recognition system for documented passengers (RAPID4ALL).

The ministry under José Luís Carneiro specifies that this measure is since today in force at the international airports of Lisbon and Ponta Delgada (island of São Miguel, Azores), being extended later to Porto and Faro.

The MAI also states that 25 more SEF inspectors assigned to border control functions began working today at Lisbon (10) and Porto (15) airports, as provided in the IATA 2022 summer contingency plan.