Chapter III · Obligations of carriers

Article 43 Processing of data

Artigo 43.º · Tratamento de dados

Lei n.º 23/2007, de 4 de julho (Lei de Estrangeiros) · consolidated text, as amended by Law No. 62/2026, checked 26 October 2026

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1. The data referred to in the preceding article are collected by carriers and transmitted electronically or, in the event of a breakdown, by any other appropriate means, to the competent security force and to the Borders and Foreigners Coordination Unit (UCFE), in order to facilitate the performance of checks at the authorised border crossing point through which the passenger enters national territory.

1 - Os dados a que se refere o artigo anterior são recolhidos pelas transportadoras e transmitidos eletronicamente ou, em caso de avaria, por qualquer outro meio apropriado, à força de segurança competente e à UCFE, a fim de facilitar a execução de controlos no posto autorizado de passagem da fronteira de entrada do passageiro no território nacional.

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2. The security forces and the UCFE retain the data in a temporary file.

2 - As forças de segurança e a UCFE conservam os dados num ficheiro provisório.

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3. After the passengers have entered, the authority referred to in the preceding paragraph deletes the data within 24 hours of their transmission, unless they are needed for the performance of the statutory functions of the authorities responsible for passenger checks at the external borders, in accordance with the law and with the law on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.

3 - Após a entrada dos passageiros, a autoridade referida no número anterior apaga os dados no prazo de 24 horas a contar da sua transmissão, salvo se forem necessários para o exercício das funções legais das autoridades responsáveis pelo controlo de passageiros nas fronteiras externas, nos termos da lei e em conformidade com a lei relativa à proteção das pessoas singulares no que diz respeito ao tratamento de dados pessoais e à livre circulação desses dados.

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4. Within 24 hours of the arrival of the means of transport, carriers delete the personal data they collected and transmitted to the competent security force and to the UCFE.

4 - No prazo de 24 horas a contar da chegada do meio de transporte, as transportadoras eliminam os dados pessoais por elas recolhidos e transmitidos à força de segurança competente e à UCFE.

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5. Without prejudice to the law on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, the data referred to in the preceding article may be used for the purpose of enforcing legal provisions on public security and public policy.

5 - Sem prejuízo do disposto na lei relativa à proteção das pessoas singulares no que diz respeito ao tratamento de dados pessoais e à livre circulação desses dados, os dados a que se refere o artigo anterior podem ser utilizados para efeitos de aplicação de disposições legais em matéria de segurança e ordem públicas.

What we checked in this article

Check the recipients of the data, the 24-hour deletion periods for authorities and carriers and their different starting points (transmission and arrival), and the exception for statutory functions.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 43 may decide what you can apply for.

We map the visa and residence route that fits your activity, prepare the company side (contracts, payroll, registrations) and coordinate with immigration lawyers for the application itself. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

Applying the law

Visas and residence in Portugal, planned together with the company

The permit depends on what you will do here: employment, your own company, remote work for a foreign employer or investment. Tell us the plan, and we will set out which route the Act gives you and what the company needs to have in place.

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