Non-Schengen nationals entering Portugal are required to provide biometric data

Citizens outside the Schengen area who wish to enter Portugal must undergo a control of biometric and personal data, announced today the Minister of the Presidency, stating that it is a “fundamental element” for surveillance.

At the press conference after the Council of Ministers, António Leitão Amaro told journalists that this measure is part of a bill on border control approved today by the Government and will be sent to the Assembly of the Republic.

“We regulate a new system of control of exits and entries into national territory through external borders,” said the minister, explaining that citizens coming from outside the Schengen area, to enter Portugal, must be subjected to the collection of biometric and personal data.

“It is a fundamental element to have the appropriate information for surveillance and to ensure the regularity of entry into Portugal,” said the minister.

Leitão Amaro added that this measure “is involving a strong technological investment in machines, equipment, people and also in the entry rules,” stressing that the control will be “more effective, stronger in the entries and exits” of citizens coming from outside the Schengen area.

“The Government has always said that Portugal needs immigration, we have to integrate the immigrants we receive in an effective and humanistic way, but we also need immigration with active and regulated surveillance and that is why today we approved a bill that will be submitted to parliament in the next few hours and the discussion is already scheduled for two weeks from now,” he added.