We arrived in LIS on October 22 from Chicago via TAP. After waiting an hour on the tarmac for a parking spot to open up...then getting that incredibly long and detailed tour of the underside of LIS Terminal 1 on the bus, processing through passport control was a breeze. A young woman in a bright blue jacket who spoke impeccable English was directing everyone who held up their passports to the correct line. From the time we entered the queue until our passports were stamped was maybe 3 minutes, if that! Thanks so much for this video because even with the guide sending us to the proper line, I knew exactly what to expect at the machine.
LOL I guess we had "all the way left!!!" on the brain when we departed on October 31 and could not figure out why we were repeatedly rejected. Same for several other Americans, until someone behind us said the lanes all the way left for departures are EU electronic passports only, and the lane just to the right of that is for other electronic passports...as long as your entry to the EU was via Portugal. If you entered via another EU country, you must use the manual lanes.
I’m traveling to Portugal in Oct. & this video is very helpful! I’ve gone thru a similar system at Heathrow but it’s good to know that the option is available in Lisbon. Thanks so much!
You are welcome. I will say, if you are coming in early or late (before 8am or after 8pm), sometimes the E-Passport line is closed. We have run into that a couple of times.
Thanks, I'll have to look into this on my upcoming trip to Lisbon. I had read some people saying that you can get through immigration and customs in 10-15 minutes, while others said it took them up to 2 hours, but my guess is those who it took longer, maybe didn't know about this. I do expect it could take a bit of time as I will be arriving at 8am, which seems to be common for direct flights from the US at least (many are overnight).
Sounds promising Joric. 🙏🏻 FYI-we flew into Faro about a week ago from SFO via Zurich as a result of the entry nightmare we experienced flying directly into Lisbon in Oct 2021 and to reduce any potential inconvenience due to strikes, work slow downs or flight cancellations. The border patrol at the Zurich airport did ask us a few annoying questions but overall the lines were short and the process in ZRH was fairly short + sweet. In Faro, there were no passport controls whatsoever; just like arriving at a local bus station-assuming controls at ZRH are valid for anywhere in the EU. Thanks, as always, for your work. Cheers.
Appreciate the information. Now I know I can use the electronic side. I need to book train to Porto and have been trying to figure out how much time to allocate
We have flown United, Delta, American, and TAP into Lisbon, all arriving early (before 8 a.m.) from 2018-present. It seems like sometime between 6:30-7:00, they open the electronic passport line. We arrived as early as 5:30 and it was not opened, and anytime after 8 a.m. from 2022 forward, the electronic line has been open. I hope this helps.
Hello. When I flew out of Lisbon direct to the US on 29/8 some of the electronic readers were malfunctioning, and I was redirected to the “manual” line. Short wait in each line. When I returned to Lisbon direct from the US at 8:30 am on 22/9 the E-passport system worked great with a short line.
Thanks Joric for this video. I have one question: Do you know if the Manual Passport Control lines for DEPARTING flights (to the US) are also about 40 minutes long? I am hoping they have the automated Electronic Passport Control system up and running for my 11am flight to Philadelphia but I am a little worried based on all of the comments below!
Don’t suppose you know if these gates can be used for connecting flight booked separately through connection channel not entering Portugal and exiting again
Hi Joric, Thank you for all that you do. If you check your bags do you go through customs before getting your checked bags? If not, will the bags be waiting at baggage claim even if it takes an hour our more to get through customs?
Great question. When we have flown back to Lisbon, but not staying, so connecting on to Munich, Rome, Paris, etc. 1 of 2 things have happened. We go through customs first, then, either the carrier tags the bag to the destination, so no bag to claim until we get to our final leg. OR, we have had to get our bags from baggage, go through security, then get to our gate. The second scenario has only happened once, as most of the carriers we have used check the bag all the way to final destination. If you have to get a bag from baggage claim and e passport line is not working, so you have to wait and hour or two or more, you may have to contact the airline to see where your bag is. First things first, check with your airline to see what their baggage policy is and if they check the bag all the way to the destination or if you have to pick up our bag and recheck it once you get into Europe. Sorry for the long response.
Hi Joric. I will be arriving in LIS from JFK on Tap and connecting onwards to Spain. I only have a 1.5 hour connection, do you think thats enough time? I hold dual citizenship so not sure if EU passport speeds up queue
Hello, I will have layover time about 1 hr and 55 mins in Lisbon airport to Marrakesh in Moricco when i fly from united states. I want to know if i need to re- claim my baggages to go through customs custom again. I worry that i dont have enough time.
@@hownwen Lisbon's electronic line is also not always open. Whenever we get off an international flight, we walk to the area hoping it is open. Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not.
Yes, there are two ways you may get funneled into the main passport control hall. If you imagine looking left to right, left is the electronic passport (signage), next to it is Flight Crew and disabled line for expedited checks, then EU passports, and finally to the right, about 16 booths for all other passports. We have a friend from Toronto who just flew back last week and she was able to use the e-passport line without issue. The ONLY issue, is there are times when it is closed. If you have a very early or late arrival, it may be closed, but usually from 8am-9pm, it is open.
If you have kids you can't use the electronic lines. You would think with kids they would make it a priority. We used the electronic passport flying to the UK even with kids. Still a pain.
When I leave Portugal and continue on to Italy do I use the digital passport scanner again when I leave out from Lisbon? Thanks for the help it’s much appreciated
Please check out my Portugal Expat Consulting Services - www.traplanz.com/expat-assistance/
We arrived in LIS on October 22 from Chicago via TAP. After waiting an hour on the tarmac for a parking spot to open up...then getting that incredibly long and detailed tour of the underside of LIS Terminal 1 on the bus, processing through passport control was a breeze. A young woman in a bright blue jacket who spoke impeccable English was directing everyone who held up their passports to the correct line. From the time we entered the queue until our passports were stamped was maybe 3 minutes, if that! Thanks so much for this video because even with the guide sending us to the proper line, I knew exactly what to expect at the machine.
LOL I guess we had "all the way left!!!" on the brain when we departed on October 31 and could not figure out why we were repeatedly rejected. Same for several other Americans, until someone behind us said the lanes all the way left for departures are EU electronic passports only, and the lane just to the right of that is for other electronic passports...as long as your entry to the EU was via Portugal. If you entered via another EU country, you must use the manual lanes.
I’m traveling to Portugal in Oct. & this video is very helpful! I’ve gone thru a similar system at Heathrow but it’s good to know that the option is available in Lisbon. Thanks so much!
You are welcome. I will say, if you are coming in early or late (before 8am or after 8pm), sometimes the E-Passport line is closed. We have run into that a couple of times.
Thanks, I'll have to look into this on my upcoming trip to Lisbon. I had read some people saying that you can get through immigration and customs in 10-15 minutes, while others said it took them up to 2 hours, but my guess is those who it took longer, maybe didn't know about this. I do expect it could take a bit of time as I will be arriving at 8am, which seems to be common for direct flights from the US at least (many are overnight).
Very cool! We arrive in Lisbon at 8am so that's going to be a good time saver. Thank you!
Responding too late here, but I hope the electronic line was open for you this morning, and you were able to get in without issue.
Sounds promising Joric. 🙏🏻
FYI-we flew into Faro about a week ago from SFO via Zurich as a result of the entry nightmare we experienced flying directly into Lisbon in Oct 2021 and to reduce any potential inconvenience due to strikes, work slow downs or flight cancellations. The border patrol at the Zurich airport did ask us a few annoying questions but overall the lines were short and the process in ZRH was fairly short + sweet. In Faro, there were no passport controls whatsoever; just like arriving at a local bus station-assuming controls at ZRH are valid for anywhere in the EU.
Thanks, as always, for your work. Cheers.
Great info and glad the process was easy peasy.
Appreciate the information. Now I know I can use the electronic side. I need to book train to Porto and have been trying to figure out how much time to allocate
You are welcome!
Excellent tip!
Glad it was helpful!
We are flying to lisbon April 2024. Wondering if the electronic passport has extended its hours for early morning flights coming in from the USA?
We have flown United, Delta, American, and TAP into Lisbon, all arriving early (before 8 a.m.) from 2018-present. It seems like sometime between 6:30-7:00, they open the electronic passport line. We arrived as early as 5:30 and it was not opened, and anytime after 8 a.m. from 2022 forward, the electronic line has been open. I hope this helps.
So hoping they are open earlier now! Flying April 2024 into Lisbon. Thank you for the tip.
Hello. When I flew out of Lisbon direct to the US on 29/8 some of the electronic readers were malfunctioning, and I was redirected to the “manual” line. Short wait in each line. When I returned to Lisbon direct from the US at 8:30 am on 22/9 the E-passport system worked great with a short line.
Great info. When we went through it, about 50% of the readers were not working, but the line still went pretty fast.
Thanks Joric for this video. I have one question: Do you know if the Manual Passport Control lines for DEPARTING flights (to the US) are also about 40 minutes long? I am hoping they have the automated Electronic Passport Control system up and running for my 11am flight to Philadelphia but I am a little worried based on all of the comments below!
We have not waited more than 15 minutes on any departing flight from the EU, whether pandemic, post-pandemic, etc.
Don’t suppose you know if these gates can be used for connecting flight booked separately through connection channel not entering Portugal and exiting again
Great question that I have no answer to. Sorry!
Hi Joric, Thank you for all that you do. If you check your bags do you go through customs before getting your checked bags? If not, will the bags be waiting at baggage claim even if it takes an hour our more to get through customs?
Great question. When we have flown back to Lisbon, but not staying, so connecting on to Munich, Rome, Paris, etc. 1 of 2 things have happened. We go through customs first, then, either the carrier tags the bag to the destination, so no bag to claim until we get to our final leg. OR, we have had to get our bags from baggage, go through security, then get to our gate. The second scenario has only happened once, as most of the carriers we have used check the bag all the way to final destination. If you have to get a bag from baggage claim and e passport line is not working, so you have to wait and hour or two or more, you may have to contact the airline to see where your bag is. First things first, check with your airline to see what their baggage policy is and if they check the bag all the way to the destination or if you have to pick up our bag and recheck it once you get into Europe. Sorry for the long response.
Super helpful and thank you so much
Hi Joric. I will be arriving in LIS from JFK on Tap and connecting onwards to Spain. I only have a 1.5 hour connection, do you think thats enough time? I hold dual citizenship so not sure if EU passport speeds up queue
It does. Use the EU line and it is usually much faster.
Hello, I will have layover time about 1 hr and 55 mins in Lisbon airport to Marrakesh in Moricco when i fly from united states. I want to know if i need to re- claim my baggages to go through customs custom again. I worry that i dont have enough time.
Ola😊 does the Porto airport have this?. Obrigada!
They do have an electronic passport line, but it is not open every day. I can't explain the reasoning for when it is open or closed.
@@traveltidbitsrus ugh .. obrigada!
@@hownwen Lisbon's electronic line is also not always open. Whenever we get off an international flight, we walk to the area hoping it is open. Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not.
I do have the chip on my Canadian passport .. can we use the e gates ?? Going on Monday
Yes, there are two ways you may get funneled into the main passport control hall. If you imagine looking left to right, left is the electronic passport (signage), next to it is Flight Crew and disabled line for expedited checks, then EU passports, and finally to the right, about 16 booths for all other passports. We have a friend from Toronto who just flew back last week and she was able to use the e-passport line without issue. The ONLY issue, is there are times when it is closed. If you have a very early or late arrival, it may be closed, but usually from 8am-9pm, it is open.
@@traveltidbitsrus thanks for the wonderful info . I appreciate it 🙏
If you have kids you can't use the electronic lines. You would think with kids they would make it a priority. We used the electronic passport flying to the UK even with kids. Still a pain.
Ah, I did not know that. I agree, kids should make it a priority for sure.
When I leave Portugal and continue on to Italy do I use the digital passport scanner again when I leave out from Lisbon?
Thanks for the help it’s much appreciated
Since you are already in the EU, you will not have to use the electronic passport scanner for that flight out.