Movement of People

The Treaty creates a new immigration relationship between Gibraltar and the Schengen area. This means that anyone who is legally in the Schengen Zone is legally in Gibraltar, and vice versa.

Gibraltarians and Gibraltar residents (red and blue ID card holders) will be able to move freely into Spain and Schengen without needing to show passports or obtain stamps.

Gibraltarians and residents of Gibraltar will not require Schengen visas or be limited to the 90 days in 180 rule.

Similarly, Schengen residents and visitors holding Schengen visas will be able to move freely into Gibraltar.

Gibraltarians and Gibraltar residents CANNOT be refused entry into Gibraltar by Spanish or Schengen authorities under any circumstances.

Any Schengen check on a Gibraltarian or Gibraltar resident is only to confirm their residence status.

The Treaty creates a new immigration relationship between Gibraltar and the Schengen area. This means that anyone who is legally in the Schengen Zone is legally in Gibraltar, and vice versa.

A system of cumulative controls will be established at Gibraltar Airport to verify that arriving passengers should be legally in Gibraltar and then for the Schengen authorities to confirm that those persons can legally enter Schengen.

The Borders and Coastguard Agency will staff the Gibraltar Airport’s new Schengen Exit facilities 24-hours, 7 days a week. Flights arriving from outside the Schengen Area (eg the United Kingdom).

Step 1 – Passengers will be divided into two queues: Queue 1 will be for Gibraltar and EU residents Queue 2 will be for third country nationals resident outside of the European Union.

Step 2 –The Borders and Coastguard Agency will conduct passport checks to ensure that all arriving passengers are able to enter Gibraltar.

Those who pass the BCA checks will be able to continue to the Schengen checks.
Those who do not pass the BCA checks will be escorted by a Royal Gibraltar Police officer. If they pass the Schengen check they will be able to exit the airport only to Spain, but not to Gibraltar.

Gibraltar and EU residents (Queue 1) will pass a machine or security booth check and will then be able to enter Gibraltar and the whole of Schengen.
Schengen authorities will NOT be able to stop Gibraltar residents from entering Gibraltar. The only purpose of their check is to confirm Gibraltar residency status, and therefore the right to enter the rest of Schengen.
Third country nationals (Queue 2) will need to pass EES if they haven’t already. They will then be checked at the Schengen booth to confirm their eligibility to enter Schengen. Third country nationals will be subject to the Schengen rule of 90 days in 180 for visa-free travel. Time spent in Gibraltar will count as if it was spent in Schengen.

Step 5 –Customs checks will be different depending on whether a passenger will exit into Gibraltar or Schengen (Spain)

Step 6 – Exit the airport either into Gibraltar or Spain Flights arriving from inside the Schengen Area will not be subject to any immigration checks.

The Borders and Coastguard Agency have the right to do any security checks that they consider operationally necessary

Any Cruise ship arriving at Gibraltar will need to already have been to another Schengen Port before coming to Gibraltar. This means that cruise passengers will not need to undergo immigration controls to disembark in Gibraltar.

Anyone arriving at the Gibraltar Port or a Gibraltar marina who requires an immigration check, for example during crew changes, will be escorted to the joint Gibraltar-Schengen immigration facilities at the Airport.

Gibraltar authorities will continue to be able to conduct spot-checks at the Gibraltar Port and marinas, as they do today.

Movement of People​