MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – Spain has put in place temporary border controls for individuals arriving via air and sea from Italy. These checks commenced at midnight on Aug. 8 and are planned to last until Sept. 7. Authorities now verify travel and immigration documents on routes that typically operate without internal border checks. This action comes after Italy’s prior decision to reintroduce checks on certain passengers arriving from Spain.
On the first day, Spain’s Interior Ministry reported inspecting 199 passengers traveling on 12 flights from Italy. The controls were carried out at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. The process includes passport, nationality, and visa status checks where applicable. Flights and maritime services linking Spain and Italy remain operational during these temporary controls.
Italy introduced its own temporary border controls on Aug. 1 amid a significant influx of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco. The Italian authorities applied these checks to non-EU nationals arriving from Spain by air or sea, excluding Italian, Spanish, and other EU citizens from the targeted restrictions. Italy informed European authorities that its controls would continue until Sept. 1 under the current schedule.
Ceuta migrant influx preceded border restrictions
Approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta during the large migration from Morocco that started in late July. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that by Aug. 4, around 70,000 individuals had left the territory. Ceuta, located on the North African coast, is outside the Schengen Area. This incident occurred prior to Italy’s implementation of temporary controls and Spain’s subsequent decision to enforce border checks on arrivals from Italy.
Madrid had called on Rome to lift its restrictions before Spain announced its new controls on Aug. 7. Spain argued that Italy’s measures lacked justification and unfairly targeted the country. Italy persisted with its controls while Spain introduced its own temporary measures the following day. Both countries have set distinct expiration dates for their respective controls, and regular air and sea links between them continue to operate.
Temporary border controls are permissible under Schengen regulations
While the Schengen Area generally permits free movement across internal borders without routine passport checks among participating nations, its rules allow governments to re-establish internal border controls if a serious threat to public policy or internal security is identified. The European Commission states that such measures should be used only when necessary and for a limited duration. Spain and Italy remain within the Schengen Area during the period their temporary border controls are active.
Travelers arriving in Spain from Italy should anticipate potential checks on their identity and immigration documents at airports and ports. On the first day of enforcement, Spain conducted inspections at six major airports. Italy maintains its separate controls on specific arrivals from Spain as scheduled. Spain intends to uphold its border checks through Sept. 7, with no overall suspension of passenger travel between the two nations.