'Mini-SEF' comes into force Thursday with 1,200 PSP officers
Lisbon, 20 August 2025 — Today marks the official launch of the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF), known informally as the "mini‑SEF", which starts operations on this Thursday with a complement of 1,200 Public Security Police (PSP) officers tasked with managing border control at airports.
From SEF to UNEF: A Structural Evolution
The creation of UNEF follows the dissolution of Portugal’s Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) in 2023. After SEF was disbanded, some of its responsibilities were briefly transferred to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). These operations—particularly the removal, readmission, and return of individuals in an irregular immigration status—are now being consolidated under UNEF’s jurisdiction.
Responsibilities and Scope of Operations
UNEF’s remit extends beyond enforcement actions. Although surveillance, inspection, and control of air borders were already within PSP’s mandates, these functions will now be unified under UNEF’s command, which reports directly to the PSP’s national director.
Moreover, UNEF will undertake a new administrative role by initiating administrative infraction proceedings in cases involving the legal framework on entry, stay, departure, and removal of foreigners.
Growth Plans Tied to New Systems and EU Pact
According to the PSP, UNEF is set to grow to about 2,000 personnel in the medium term. This larger staff will include not only police officers but also specialized technicians, contracted service providers, and volunteers from civil society and NGOs.
The push to scale up is driven not only by UNEF’s expanded mandate, but also by upcoming structural changes. Portugal is implementing a new entry and exit system slated to begin operations on 12 October 2025, and will be adapting to the provisions of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, set to take effect in 2026.
Phased Integration Across Airports
One of UNEF’s key tasks will be absorbing the existing airport security and border control divisions that have been operating at major points of entry since SEF’s dissolution. These include units in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, the Azores, and Madeira. The PSP plans to integrate these divisions into UNEF gradually, via official dispatch, to ensure a resilient transition that does not disrupt existing operations.
Source: Notícias ao Minuto
