MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – Temporary border inspections have been put in place by Spain for travelers arriving by air and sea from Italy. These controls, which commenced at midnight on Aug. 8, are expected to stay in effect until Sept. 7. Officials now verify travel and immigration documents at routes that typically operate without routine internal border checks. This move comes after Italy’s earlier decision to reinstate checks on certain passengers arriving from Spain.
The Spanish Interior Ministry reported that on the first day, 199 passengers traveling on 12 flights from Italy were subject to checks. These controls were carried out at airports including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. The inspection process involves verifying passports, nationality, and visa status where applicable. Despite the introduction of these temporary measures, flights and maritime connections between Spain and Italy continue to operate normally.
Italy responded to a significant migrant influx into Ceuta from Morocco by introducing its own temporary border controls starting Aug. 1. Non-EU nationals arriving from Spain by air or sea are subject to the Italian checks. Citizens of Spain, Italy, and other EU member states were not included in these restrictions. Italy informed European authorities that the controls would last until Sept. 1 according to its current schedule.
Ceuta migrant surge preceded border control measures
Approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta amid the large-scale influx from Morocco that began in late July. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that, as of Aug. 4, roughly 70,000 of these migrants had left the territory. Ceuta, situated on the North African coast, is outside the Schengen Area. This incident occurred before Italy’s implementation of temporary border checks and Spain’s decision to impose controls on arrivals from Italy.
Spain had urged Italy to lift its restrictions before announcing its own border checks on Aug. 7. The Spanish government criticized Italy’s measures, claiming they lacked justification and unfairly targeted Spain. Italy maintained its controls while Spain introduced its temporary measures the following day. Both countries have set different expiry dates for their respective controls, but regular air and sea routes between them remain operational.
Temporary border controls are permitted under Schengen regulations
Although the Schengen Area generally allows free movement across internal borders without passport checks, it permits temporary controls if a serious threat to public policy or internal security is identified. The European Commission advises that such measures should be used only when necessary and for a limited period. Spain and Italy continue to be within the Schengen Area during the enforcement of their temporary border checks.
Travelers arriving in Spain from Italy should anticipate possible identity and immigration document verifications at airports and seaports. On the first day of the controls, inspections were conducted at six major airports. Italy persists with its own checks on specific arrivals from Spain according to its notified schedule. Spain aims to uphold its border measures until Sept. 7, with no overall suspension of passenger exchanges between the two nations.