In an annual report on airport security and border control, the Public Security Police reported that it controlled 20,222,469 passengers at national airports last year, 935,110 (4.8%) more than in 2023.

The PSP highlights that in December 2024 alone, 1,215,669 people were checked at Portuguese airports.

In the balance, the PSP only makes a comparison with the passengers checked, not making a comparison with the other indicators since it took over control of air borders in October 2023, when the Foreigners and Borders Service was extinguished.

Last year, the PSP arrested 257 people, the majority for document fraud detected when leaving the country.

A source from that police force explained to Lusa that 716 cases of document fraud were also detected among passengers entering Portugal. In these cases, the person is identified and a police report is filed.

At the air borders, the PSP intercepted 25,714 people, refused entry to 1,889 foreigners, received 466 requests for international protection (asylum requests) and refused entry into the country to 110 foreigners.

As part of the operational activities carried out within the scope of airport security and border control, the PSP carried out 101 national escorts and 43 international escorts, in addition to having developed 100 judicial expulsion processes and 42 coercive removal processes for foreigners.

In total, the PSP controls air borders at nine border posts: Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, Terceira, Santa Maria, São Miguel, Porto Santo and Beja.

Although they are not considered air border posts, the PSP also carries out border control functions at Tires Aerodrome and Horta Airport.