MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – Starting from midnight on Aug. 8 and scheduled to continue until Sept. 7, Spain has reintroduced temporary border controls for individuals arriving from Italy via air and sea routes. Officials are conducting passport, nationality, and visa status checks where necessary. These inspections pertain to Italian travelers and other passengers entering Spain from Italy. The decision follows Italy’s earlier implementation of temporary checks on certain arrivals from Spain.
During the initial day of enforcement, Spain’s Interior Ministry reported that authorities verified the documents of 199 passengers arriving on 12 flights from Italy. The checks were carried out at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. Travelers on the affected routes could face document verification before completing their arrival procedures. It is important to note that these measures do not constitute a border closure; air and sea connections between Spain and Italy remain active while the temporary controls are in place.
Italy reinstated checks on Aug. 1 following a significant influx of migrants entering Ceuta from Morocco in late July. Italian authorities extended these measures to non-EU nationals arriving from Spain via air and sea. Citizens of Spain, Italy, and other EU nations were not targeted by these controls. Italy informed European authorities that the restrictions would stay in effect until Sept. 1. Spain later announced its own border checks after calling for the Italian restrictions to be lifted.
Ceuta migration surge preceded bilateral border controls
Approximately 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta during the large movement from Morocco that began in late July. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated on Aug. 4 that around 70,000 individuals had already left the territory. Ceuta, located on the North African coast, remains outside the Schengen Area. This migration event occurred before Italy reinstated controls on certain travelers from Spain. Subsequently, Spain announced checks for passengers arriving from Italy through its airports and seaports.
Madrid declared the Spanish border controls on Aug. 7, following objections to the restrictions introduced by Rome. Spain argued that Italy’s measures lacked justification and unfairly discriminated against the country. Italy maintained its controls, prompting Spain to begin its own inspections the next day. The two nations have set different end dates for their respective measures: Italy’s controls extend through Sept. 1, while Spain’s will remain in effect until Sept. 7.
Temporary border controls are allowed under Schengen regulations
While the Schengen Area generally permits free movement across internal borders without routine passport checks, it also allows governments to reintroduce temporary controls if a significant threat to public policy or internal security arises. The European Commission emphasizes that border checks should be used only when necessary and for limited durations. Both Spain and Italy are members of the Schengen Agreement, and their current measures involve temporary screening without suspending regular travel between the two countries.
Travelers from Italy to Spain should expect potential identity and immigration checks at Spanish airports and seaports during the control period. Spain’s first day of inspections involved nearly 200 travelers at six major airports. Meanwhile, Italy continues its separate checks on specific non-EU arrivals from Spain according to its notified schedule. These measures are temporary within the Schengen framework. Spain’s current timetable maintains these checks through Sept. 7.