MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – On Aug. 8, Spain resumed temporary border controls at airports and ports for passengers arriving from Italy by air and sea, with the measures set to remain until Sept. 7. During the first day, authorities verified the passports, nationality, and visa status where applicable, focusing on Italian travelers and others entering Spain from Italy. This step follows Italy’s earlier decision to implement temporary checks on certain arrivals from Spain.
According to Spain’s Interior Ministry, officers inspected 199 passengers on 12 flights from Italy on the initial enforcement day. The inspections took place at Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia airports. Those traveling on affected routes may undergo document verification before completing their entry procedures. It’s important to note that these controls do not constitute a border closure. Air and sea connections between Spain and Italy continue as the temporary measures stay in effect.
Italy reinstated checks on Aug. 1 following a large influx of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco in late July. The Italian authorities applied their restrictions to non-EU nationals arriving from Spain by air and sea. Citizens of Spain, Italy, and other EU countries were not included among those targeted by these controls. Italy informed European authorities that its measures would extend through Sept. 1. Spain responded by introducing its own checks after calling for the Italian restrictions to be withdrawn.
Ceuta Migration Wave Preceded Italy’s Bilateral Controls
Approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta amid the significant movement from Morocco that started in late July. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reported on Aug. 4 that around 70,000 of those individuals had already departed from the territory. Ceuta, located on the North African coast, remains outside the Schengen Area. This migration episode occurred before Italy’s reinstatement of controls on specific travelers from Spain. Following that, Spain announced its own border checks for travelers arriving from Italy via airports and seaports.
Spain revealed its border control measures on Aug. 7 after expressing objections to Italy’s restrictions. The Spanish government criticized Italy’s measures, asserting they lacked justification and were discriminatory. Italy maintained its restrictions, and Spain responded by launching its own inspections the next day. Both nations set different expiry dates for their respective controls, with Italy’s measures scheduled to conclude on Sept. 1, and Spain’s checks slated to last until Sept. 7.
Temporary Controls Allowed within the Schengen System
While the Schengen Area typically permits free movement across participating countries’ internal borders without routine passport checks, its rules do authorize temporary controls if a serious threat to public policy or internal security arises. The European Commission states that governments should employ internal border checks only when necessary and for limited periods. Both Spain and Italy are members of the Schengen Area, and their current measures involve temporary screening without suspending regular travel between them.
Travelers from Italy to Spain can expect potential identity and immigration checks at Spanish airports and seaports during the enforcement period. Spain’s first day of inspections covered nearly 200 travelers across six major airports. Italy continues its separate checks on targeted non-EU arrivals from Spain, in accordance with its notified schedule. These measures remain temporary within the Schengen framework, with Spain’s current timetable extending through Sept. 7.