MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – Starting from midnight on Aug. 8 and scheduled to last until Sept. 7, Spain has put in place temporary border controls for passengers arriving from Italy by air and sea. These checks are being conducted on routes that normally operate without routine internal border restrictions. Authorities are examining travel and immigration documents at airports and ports, despite ongoing flights and maritime services between the two countries. The move follows Italy’s earlier decision to re-establish controls on certain travelers arriving from Spain.
On the first day, Spain’s Interior Ministry reported that 199 passengers traveling on 12 flights from Italy underwent checks. The authorities carried out inspections at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. The process involved verifying passports, nationality, and visa status where applicable. Both flights and maritime routes between Spain and Italy continue operating as the temporary controls are enforced.
Italy introduced its own temporary controls on Aug. 1, following a significant influx of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco. These checks targeted non-EU nationals arriving from Spain by air or sea, excluding Italian citizens, Spanish citizens, and other EU nationals. Italy informed European authorities that its measures would be in effect until Sept. 1 under the current schedule.
Ceuta arrivals came before border restrictions
Approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta during the large surge from Morocco that started in late July. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that by Aug. 4, around 70,000 of these migrants had left the territory. Ceuta, located on the North African coast, is outside the Schengen Area. This influx preceded 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 before Spain announced its new border measures on Aug. 7. Spain criticized Italy’s controls as lacking justification and unfairly targeting the country. While Italy maintained its controls, Spain introduced its own temporary border checks the following day. Each nation has set different expiry dates for their respective measures, but regular air and sea connections between them remain open.
Temporary checks are permitted under Schengen rules
Under normal circumstances, the Schengen Area allows for free movement across internal borders without routine passport controls among member countries. However, its regulations permit governments to reintroduce internal border checks if they face a serious threat to public policy or internal security. The European Commission emphasizes that such measures should only be used when necessary and for a limited duration. Spain and Italy remain within the Schengen Area during the enforcement of their temporary border controls.
Travelers arriving in Spain from Italy should anticipate potential checks of identity and immigration documents at airports and ports. On the first day of the measure, inspections occurred at six major airports. Meanwhile, Italy continues its targeted controls on certain arrivals from Spain according to its notified timetable. Spain intends to keep its controls in place until Sept. 7, with no plans to suspend passenger travel between the two nations entirely.