MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – Starting from midnight on August 8, Spain has begun implementing temporary border controls on travelers arriving from Italy by air and sea. These measures are scheduled to remain in effect until September 7. Authorities are now verifying travel and immigration documents on routes that typically operate without routine internal border checks. This step follows Italy’s earlier move to reintroduce border controls for certain passengers arriving from Spain.
On the first day of the new procedures, Spain’s Interior Ministry reported inspecting 199 passengers traveling on 12 flights originating from Italy. The checks were carried out at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. The process involved inspecting passports, nationality, and visa status where applicable. Despite these temporary controls, flights and maritime services between Spain and Italy continue to operate normally.
Italy introduced its own temporary border checks on August 1, following a significant influx of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco. The Italian government applied these measures to non-EU nationals arriving by air or sea from Spain. Citizens of Italy, Spain, and other EU countries were excluded from these restrictions. Italy notified European authorities that its controls would run through September 1 under the current schedule.
Ceuta arrivals preceded border measures
In the late July surge from Morocco, approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that by August 4, about 70,000 had left the territory. Ceuta, located on the North African coast, is outside the Schengen Area. This influx occurred before Italy’s implementation of temporary checks and Spain’s subsequent decision to impose controls on arrivals from Italy.
Madrid had urged Rome to lift its restrictions prior to Spain’s announcement of new controls on August 7. Spain criticized Italy’s measures, stating they lacked justification and treated Spain unfairly. While Italy maintained its controls, Spain introduced its own temporary border checks the following day. Both countries have set different expiration dates for their measures, and regular air and sea links between them continue to operate.
Temporary border controls are permitted under Schengen rules
The Schengen Area generally allows for free movement across internal borders without routine passport checks among member states. However, its regulations enable governments to reintroduce internal border controls when facing serious threats to public policy or internal security. The European Commission advises that such measures should be used only when necessary and for limited durations. Spain and Italy remain within the Schengen Area while their temporary border controls are in place.
Travelers arriving in Spain from Italy should be prepared for potential identity and immigration document checks at airports and seaports. The first inspections occurred across six major airports on the first day of the controls. Italy continues its separate checks on specific arrivals from Spain according to its notified schedule. Spain plans to uphold its border checks through September 7, with no overall suspension of passenger travel between the two nations.