Spain will obtain control of the external border of the Schengen area in Gibraltar.
The European Commission has approved the draft agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom on Gibraltar’s status after Brexit. The document foresees the complete removal of physical controls at the land border between Spain and Gibraltar.
Instead of the usual border, controls will be moved to Gibraltar’s airport and seaport. There, Spanish border services will carry out Schengen checks in accordance with the rules of the Schengen Border Code.
In practice, this means that the final decision on admission into the Schengen area of people arriving in Gibraltar (including third‑country nationals) will be taken by Spain.
The operating scheme is as follows:
- Initial checks are carried out by Gibraltar authorities (Gibraltar Borders and Coastguard Agency).
- Next, a second check, the Schengen check, is carried out by Spanish officials.
- In many cases, automated systems will be applied to EU citizens and Gibraltar residents.
- Passengers arriving from Schengen airports/ports do not pass through any immigration control.
Gibraltar does not formally become part of the Schengen area, but in practice it is integrated into it under the rules for the external border.
The agreement also removes the queues of thousands of cars and pedestrians at the border, which are crossed daily by around 15,000 people.
Provisional application is expected to begin on 10 April 2026.
In other words, Gibraltar becomes de facto the external border of the Schengen area. If you are a Eurozone citizen or hold a Schengen visa, you can combine a holiday in Spain with a trip to Gibraltar.