In a note sent to the media, the ministry, led by Eduardo Cabreta, indicated that the system designed by the Service for Foreigners and Borders (SEF) already represented an investment of close to five million euros. Since it was implemented at Lisbon Airport in 2016, it has made it possible to control about 420,000 passengers.
“This extension of RAPID4ALL to other airport infrastructures of SEF will allow to speed up the border control process without compromising security, since the experience and competence of the technical team of information systems and inspectors are relevant factors for speed and reliability that are verified at the same time,” the statement from MAI notes.
Expansion of the system to simplify border control is also available to UK nationals upon entry into national territory, similar to what has already happened with nationals of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, as well as upon departure from the country, for those from Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Korea, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and Venezuela.
The set of countries whose citizens benefit from RAPID4ALL can be reset by fulfilling the requirements to use the control system. The object of this measure is the modernization, acceleration and improvement of the management of the external borders of the Schengen states, in a simultaneous strengthening of the fight against illegal immigration.
In 2015, Portugal joined the 12-nation group referred to for the EES (Entry and Exit System) test, which requires biographical and biometric registration of all third-country nationals who cross the external borders of the European Union for a period of short visits.
“Writer. Analyst. Avid travel maven. Devoted twitter guru. Unapologetic pop culture expert. General zombie enthusiast.”
