Forty-one Guinean students were prevented from entering Portugal over the weekend, prompting urgent calls for intervention from both Guinean and Portuguese authorities.
The students, travelling on flights from Bissau, were stopped by border officials at Lisbon International Airport for allegedly failing to meet entry requirements.
According to the Association of Guinea-Bissau Students in Lisbon (AEGBL), 31 students on an Air Atlantic flight were denied entry on Friday. The following night, a further 10 students arriving on a TAP flight faced the same fate, intensifying the situation.
The AEGBL president, along with other association leaders, was present at the airport to support the students and immediately engaged legal counsel to challenge the decision. Despite these efforts, the students remain in limbo, with their entry still unresolved.
“The situation is extremely concerning,” said AEGBL representatives. “We are calling on the Guinean authorities in Lisbon and Bissau to intervene with Portuguese officials to prevent the students from being subjected to repatriation procedures.”
The incident has sparked widespread attention within the Guinean community in Portugal, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by international students navigating complex immigration protocols. AEGBL emphasized that the affected students were fully prepared with documentation and travel purposes consistent with Portuguese regulations, raising questions about the criteria used by border authorities.
Legal experts note that while countries retain the right to enforce entry rules, mass denials of students can have broader diplomatic repercussions. The situation places both Portugal and Guinea in a delicate position, particularly given the strategic importance of student mobility and bilateral cooperation in education.
For the 41 students, the outcome remains uncertain as legal and diplomatic channels are pursued. AEGBL continues to coordinate with authorities, ensuring that the students’ rights are upheld while seeking a resolution that allows them to continue their academic pursuits in Portugal.
The unfolding case underscores broader concerns about international student mobility in Europe, particularly for West African students, and may prompt review of border procedures and diplomatic engagement to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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