Portugal airport warning: up to 2-hour queues expected for non-EU travellers this Easter

If you’re flying through Portugal over the Easter holidays, especially on a non-EU passport, you may want to allow extra time. Airports are warning of queues of up to two hours at border control, just as one of the busiest travel periods of the year gets underway.

The reason isn’t a strike or staff shortage this time. Instead, it comes down to the rollout of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) – a digital border system being introduced right as passenger numbers surge for Easter.

Why border queues could get longer at Portugal airports

The warning has come from two major industry bodies: ACI Europe, which represents airports, and Airlines for Europe (A4E), speaking for airlines across the EU.

In a joint statement, they flagged ‘operational issues’ linked to the implementation of the new system, which is now entering its final phase.

The timing is what’s causing concern. The system is being rolled out right in the middle of Easter travel, when airports in Portugal and across southern Europe are already under pressure from high passenger volumes.

Under current requirements, all EU countries must register 100 per cent of non-EU travellers by March 31, ahead of the system’s full implementation on April 9. That means border control officers are now carrying out more checks than before – and those checks take time.

What the new EES system means for travellers

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is designed to replace passport stamping with a digital process across the Schengen Area.

For travellers from outside the EU, this changes what happens at border control.

Instead of a quick stamp, you may be asked to go through a more detailed registration process, which can include:

• Scanning your passport
• Recording your entry digitally
• Providing biometric data, such as fingerprints or a facial image

For first-time users, this step can take longer, as the system needs to create a full record.

In theory, the system should make border crossings smoother over time. But during this transition phase, it’s expected to slow things down – particularly at busy airports.

Who is affected – and who isn’t

The delays mainly concern non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area. That includes visitors and residents travelling on passports from countries such as the UK, the US and others outside the EU.

EU citizens and those with EU residency documents are not subject to the same checks, so they are less likely to face long waits at passport control.

That said, during peak travel periods like Easter, overall congestion at airports can still affect everyone, even if the checks themselves are quicker.

Why Easter timing is making things worse

Easter is always a busy period for travel between Spain, Portugal and the rest of Europe. Airports typically see a sharp rise in both short breaks and long-haul arrivals.

This year, that surge is coinciding with the final stretch of the EES rollout.

According to ACI Europe and A4E, introducing a new system at this exact moment is creating additional pressure on border control operations, leading to longer queues than passengers might be used to.

What travellers should do before flying

If you’re travelling in the coming days, especially through Portuguese airports, it’s worth planning ahead.

Arriving earlier than usual is the simplest step. If you’re connecting through another airport, allow extra time between flights where possible.

Have your documents ready and expect the process to take longer than normal – particularly if it’s your first time entering the Schengen Area under the new system.

Airlines and airports are also advising passengers to check for updates before travelling, as procedures may vary depending on how far each airport has progressed with the rollout.

A new system, but not without teething problems

The goal of the EES is to modernise border control across Europe, making it more secure and efficient in the long term.

But for now, as the system beds in, travellers may feel the impact in the form of longer waits – especially during busy periods like Easter.

For anyone flying into Portugal this week, the message is clear: give yourself more time than usual, particularly if you’re arriving from outside the EU.