MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – Spain has established temporary border inspections for individuals arriving via air and sea from Italy. These checks commenced at midnight on Aug. 8 and are set to last until Sept. 7. Authorities now verify travel documents and immigration papers along routes that usually operate without standard internal border controls. This step follows Italy’s prior decision to reintroduce checks on certain passengers arriving from Spain.
According to Spain’s Interior Ministry, on the first day, 199 passengers traveling on 12 flights from Italy were subject to inspections. The authorities carried out these controls at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. The process includes verifying passports, nationality, and visa status where applicable. Despite these temporary measures, flights and maritime services between Spain and Italy continue to operate normally.
Following Italy’s implementation of its own temporary controls on Aug. 1, which was prompted by a significant influx of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco, Rome applied checks to non-EU nationals arriving from Spain by air or sea. Citizens of Italy, Spain, and other EU nations were not included among those affected by these restrictions. Italy informed European authorities that its controls would remain in effect until Sept. 1, according to the current schedule.
Ceuta arrivals as a precursor to border policies
Approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta amid the large migration wave from Morocco that started in late July. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that, as of Aug. 4, around 70,000 had left the territory. Ceuta, situated on the North African coast, is outside the Schengen Area. This episode preceded Italy’s adoption of temporary checks and Spain’s subsequent decision to impose restrictions on arrivals from Italy.
Spain had urged Rome to eliminate its restrictions before Spain announced its own border controls on Aug. 7. The Spanish government argued that Italy’s measures lacked justification and treated Spain unfairly. Italy maintained its controls while Spain introduced its temporary border checks the following day. Both countries have set different end dates for their respective measures, though regular air and sea connections between them remain operational.
Legal basis for temporary border controls under Schengen
While the Schengen Area generally allows for borderless travel among participating European nations, its rules permit governments to reimpose internal controls when facing serious threats to public policy or internal security. The European Commission emphasizes that such measures should only be employed when necessary and for a limited duration. Spain and Italy continue to be part of the Schengen Zone during the period their temporary border controls are in place.
Travelers arriving in Spain from Italy should anticipate potential checks of identity and immigration documents at airports and seaports. On the first day of implementation, Spain initiated these inspections at six major airports. Meanwhile, Italy persists with its specific controls on targeted arrivals from Spain as per its announced timetable. Spain intends to keep its border checks active through Sept. 7, without suspending passenger movement between the two nations entirely.