On the first day after PSP, PJ, and GNR took over new responsibilities following the end of SEF, more than 82,000 checks were conducted at air borders, with an additional 11,400 at sea borders. According to José Luís Carneiro, Minister of Internal Administration, maritime border controls by the GNR went smoothly. However, at the air borders, 11 individuals were temporarily placed in designated areas because they did not meet the requirements to enter the Schengen area. This demonstrates the effectiveness of security measures.
The Minister of Internal Administration made these remarks during a visit to Gago Coutinho Airport in Faro, where he commended the efforts of professionals from the now-disbanded Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and the PSP during the transition of responsibilities between the two agencies.
Waiting Time Reduced after SEF ends
According to the official, there has been a significant improvement in waiting times for passengers undergoing controls at Lisbon and Faro airports. At Lisbon airport, the average waiting time on Sunday was reduced by one-third to just 30 minutes. Meanwhile, at Faro airport, an average waiting time of 10 minutes was recorded, which is the shortest ever observed at this location.
When asked about the reasons behind these reduced waiting times, the Minister of Internal Administration mentioned the increase in human resources. Approximately 90 additional personnel are now working at both air and sea borders. To address concerns about potential resource allocation issues, the minister explained that in 2022, 2,500 new officers were recruited to the PSP and GNR. Furthermore, an additional 1,500 new members are expected to be admitted in the current year, with 580 new police officers recently completing their training and 500 more scheduled for training in November. This reinforcement of human resources is part of the broader effort to strengthen resources at air, sea, and land borders.
The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) ceased to exist, with its responsibilities transitioning to the Agency for Integration, Migrations, and Asylum (AIMA). AIMA will now handle administrative matters related to issuing documents to foreigners. SEF’s powers have been distributed to seven different entities, with police functions assigned to the PSP, GNR, and PJ, and administrative matters concerning foreign citizens managed by the new agency and the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN).
