With the discontinuation of SEF, border controls in Portugal are set to triple

With the termination of the current Immigration and Border Service (SEF) and the transfer of responsibilities to the Republican National Guard (GNR), Portugal's Minister of Internal Administration, Jose Luis Carneiro, has assured that the number of personnel overseeing the country's borders will triple. The unit will be rebranded as the GNR Coastal and Border Control Unit, tasked with monitoring, controlling, and inspecting maritime and land borders, including cruise terminals.

From October 29th, we will have three times as many people controlling sea and land borders. We will increase by three times the number of personnel we will have in the regulation of maritime borders and also in the field of cross-border cooperation, particularly in road safety controls.

Jose Luis Carneiro

The Minister said that to monitor and control the borders, a total of 233 GNR officers have been trained from SEF, in addition to being temporarily assigned to this security force, the 80 SEF inspectors who already perform such functions, according to Portugal News.

Previously, the Minister also stressed that the reforms leading to the end of SEF would allow for the strengthening of security levels at border control and inspection.

Carneiro said that there are clear efficiency gains. He stressed that the reconstruction of SEF and the transition of powers to the GNR and the PSP related to border control and the activity of foreigners in Portugal bring challenges to integrated border management.

But these are challenges that, on a structural and organisational level, aim, in particular, to guarantee effectiveness and increase border control. 

José Luís Carneiro

According to him, once the structuring political decisions phase has been overcome, it is important to ensure the success of the transition process.

The Minister emphasized that for many months, the PSP and GNR have been with SEF at the borders in a process of cooperation that increases the capacity to control people entering and leaving the country and also allows for a continuous and healthy exchange of experiences, which will be reflected in a positive way in the future.

He ensured that all issues were properly structured related to border control and supervision related to the country’s security.

In April this year, the Portuguese Council of Ministers approved the green light for the creation of a new agency that will replace the SEF and will include the High Commission for Migration (ACM).