The new European border control system for non-EU citizens comes into operation this Sunday, October 12th, in Portugal and other countries in the Schengen area, replacing the traditional stamps in passports.
According to the Internal Security System (SSI), the new European automated external border control system, the Entry/Exit System (EES), “applies to all non-European Union citizens who enter the territory for short stays (up to 90 days in a period of 180 days), regardless of whether they require a visa”.
Among the changes in border control are “the entries and exits of travelers from third countries are now registered electronically, indicating the date, time and border post”, there is no longer a manual stamp on passports.
The system, which will operate at airports and ports, also allows for “automatic detection of exceeding the legal period of stay in the Schengen area”, as well as interoperability with “other European databases”.
According to the SSI, information is shared in real time with the authorities of Schengen countries, through a centralized system that is interoperable with other European security databases (such as the Schengen Information System (SIS II) and the Visa Information System (VIS).
“With the EES, Portugal and the European Union now have a digital, secure and interoperable system, which makes it possible to more quickly detect false documents, irregular entries and other security threats, which puts the country at the forefront of intelligent border management, reinforcing the protection of external borders as well as cooperation and automatic sharing of data between Member States”, maintains Homeland Security.
In Portugal, the implementation of the system is ensured by the SSI, in conjunction with the PSP, the GNR, ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, the port administrations and the National Civil Aviation Authority.