UNEF
Published 8 November 2026, 22:47
UNEF — Unidade Nacional de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (National Foreigners and Borders Unit)
A special unit of the PSP police. It was created by Lei n.º 55-C/2025 of 22 July 2025, which came into force thirty days after publication, so it has been operating since 21 August 2025. Under Article 3 of the law, it is responsible for air borders and airports: passport control, checking that foreigners are staying legally, issuing visas at the border, expulsion and return cases, and temporary accommodation centres.
Where you come across it. Passport control at Portuguese airports, document checks, expulsion and voluntary return cases.
Residence permits, renewals and family reunification are still handled by AIMA: UNEF deals with the border and removals. The same law transferred forced expulsion cases from AIMA to the police. Land and sea borders are not its concern: they are the GNR's area of responsibility.
Official website: psp.pt