MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – Travelers arriving in Spain from Italy by air or sea are now subject to temporary border inspections. These checks began at midnight on Aug. 8 and are set to continue until Sept. 7. Spain implemented this measure in response to Italy’s own temporary controls on arrivals from Spain. The new procedures add document verification steps to routes that typically operate under the European Union’s Schengen agreement on free movement within Europe.
On the first day of these measures, Spain’s Interior Ministry conducted checks on 199 travelers across 12 flights originating from Italy. Checks took place at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. Authorities verified passports, nationality, and visa status for Italian passengers along with other travelers arriving from Italy. Despite the new controls, air and sea routes between Spain and Italy continue to operate normally while the measures are in force.
Italy’s own border checks commenced on Aug. 1 following a significant migration surge into Ceuta, Spain’s North African territory. Italian authorities stated that their restrictions would last until at least Aug. 15. The Italian measures are targeted at non-EU nationals arriving from Spain by air or sea, with EU citizens and Italians exempt from these restrictions, as clarified by the Italian government.
Migration spike in Ceuta triggers Italy’s border measures
Approximately 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta during the mass influx from Morocco that began in late July. By Aug. 4, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced that roughly 70,000 of those individuals had left the enclave. Located on the North African coast and outside the Schengen Area, Ceuta experienced this migration wave just prior to Italy’s decision to reintroduce checks on specific travelers coming from Spain, which then prompted Spain to implement its own reciprocal border controls.
Spain had urged Italy to rescind its restrictions before announcing its own border measures last Friday. Madrid characterized Italy’s actions as unjustified and discriminatory against Spain, while Italy maintained that its controls would remain until the perceived risk diminishes. On Sunday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed hope that Rome could lift the restrictions once the danger was deemed to have subsided. Spain scheduled the end of its temporary border checks for Sept. 7.
Temporary border controls are permitted under Schengen rules
The Schengen Zone generally allows for free movement across internal borders for travelers among 29 European countries. However, EU regulations permit member states to reestablish border controls temporarily if a serious threat to public order or internal security is identified. The European Commission describes such measures as a last resort that must be limited to what is strictly necessary. Both Spain and Italy remain part of the Schengen Area while these temporary controls are in effect.
For travelers, this means that those arriving from Italy to Spain can now be subject to identity and document checks at airports and seaports. Spain’s Interior Ministry reported conducting initial checks at six major airports, screening nearly 200 passengers on the first day. Italy continues its separate controls on selected arrivals from Spain until at least Aug. 15, according to its timetable. Spain plans to keep its border controls active until Sept. 7, with no suspension of general air or sea travel between the two countries during this period.