Europe's last border fence comes down as Gibraltar joins Schengen

For the first time in more than three centuries, people can walk or drive across the Gibraltar–Spain frontier without routine passport checks. The change follows the EU–UK treaty on Gibraltar, agreed in February 2026 and signed in Brussels on 14 July 2026, which links Gibraltar to the EU's Schengen free-travel area and customs union.

From 15 July 2026, immigration controls moved from the land border to Gibraltar's port and airport, where entry and exit are now checked by both British and Spanish officers. Gibraltar residents can cross into Spain using residence cards, and Spanish citizens can enter Gibraltar with a national ID card.

For businesses on both sides of the Strait, removing this long-standing friction reshapes the daily movement of people and goods — and reinforces Gibraltar's role as a gateway between Europe and North Africa.