The process will no longer use manual stamps and will be registered entirely electronically.

According to Expresso, this change is a result of the country's integration into the Entry/Exit System (EES), the new European platform for monitoring entries and exits in the Schengen area.

Biometric Data

All third-country citizens will be required to provide biometric information the first time they enter. The process includes four fingerprints and a facial photograph, which will be registered in the system.

The newspaper writes that collecting these data will allow for the creation of a detailed history of crossings, eliminating the margins of error associated with manual stamps.

The publication adds that the EES will automatically calculate travellers’ length of stay, issuing alerts if the legal limit of 90 days is exceeded out of 180. This functionality will help reduce irregular stays and improve oversight in all Member States.

European databases

The new system will operate in conjunction with platforms such as SIS II, VIS, and ETIAS. This link will facilitate the identification of false documents, the management of security risks, and the tracking of individuals already flagged. Interoperability between databases is considered essential for a faster and more coordinated response.

Gradual implementation in Portugal

Expresso also reports that national implementation will begin at international airports and, over the course of six months, will also reach seaports and land crossing points.

The Internal Security System, through the Border and Foreigners Coordination Unit, ensures that the infrastructure is ready to collect and verify biometric data, as well as share information in real time with other countries.

The European project was initially approved in 2017 but suffered several delays. It was scheduled to begin in 2020 but was repeatedly postponed until the date now set. With the schedule confirmed, Portugal is preparing to implement a border control model that definitively replaces manual stamps with digital records.