On October 29, 2023, the new border control regime came into force in Portugal, resulting from the extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF). At airports, it was expected that the PSP would assume all police powers. But two years later, reality contradicts the plan: the PSP is still unable to guarantee the mission 100%, depending on the presence of inspectors from the Judiciary Police (formerly SEF) to guarantee the functioning of the system, which has been subject, since October 12th, to a new European system of automated control of external borders, the Entry/Exit System (EES). This gap between the text of the law and operational practice is a reflection of a government failure in planning and execution.
The regime approved by decree-laws no. 40/2023 and 41/2023 provided for the transition to be completed within a period of one year, extendable for the same period, guaranteeing the full transfer of border control functions to the PSP and GNR. If last year the goals were met, with the PSP securing 50% of the checkpoints previously under the responsibility of the SEF and the GNR now guaranteeing all checkpoints at land and sea borders, the same success will not happen on October 29th.
This is because the State did not provide the PSP with the necessary human, technical and organizational resources to fulfill its mandate. There is a lack of resources, training and a stable organic model in this security force that would allow the release of the necessary means for border control. Lisbon is a notable example: the reconfiguration of the police system has been discussed at least since 2014, but remains to be implemented.
This structural deficiency is compounded by an almost obsolete management of internal resources. Many PSP agents remain stuck in bureaucratic or administrative tasks that could be performed by civilians – as is the case in almost all European countries. Portugal is, in fact, one of the EU states with the lowest percentage of civilian personnel in the security forces. The consequence is obvious: fewer agents available for operational functions, greater internal wear and tear and reduced efficiency in the field.
But the problem goes even deeper: the PSP is currently facing an unprecedented recruitment crisis. Recent competitions have revealed a lack of candidates to fill available vacancies, which reflects the growing lack of interest in a career marked by low wages, slow progression and demanding working conditions. The Government has changed admission rules and promised reinforcements, but without solving the root of the problem: the loss of attractiveness of the police profession.
It is in this context that the PSP is required to take control of airport borders, a highly technical and sensitive mission, which requires specialized personnel, constant training and modern equipment. It is estimated that the task could absorb 1,500 agents in 2026, removing personnel from other already fragile areas. Without a serious recruitment and retention policy, this expansion risks worsening the shortage of resources and compromising the quality of the service.
Border control is not an ancillary function. It is a line of sovereignty, a space where the State shows itself and where its effectiveness is measured. Delegating this responsibility to a force without guaranteeing it sufficient human resources or adequate structure is putting national security and credibility at risk. The extinction of the SEF could have been an opportunity to reorganize, professionalize and modernize the system; It ended up becoming an exemplary case of reform done in reverse – starting from the end.
Portugal needs to protect its borders with specialized personnel, decent conditions and strategic planning. Otherwise, you will continue to live between well-intentioned laws and realities that contradict them. And a country that does not effectively control its borders does not strengthen its sovereignty: it weakens it.