MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – Spain has initiated temporary border inspections for passengers arriving from Italy by air and sea. These measures commenced at midnight on Aug. 8 and are expected to stay in effect until Sept. 7. The move comes as a response to Italy’s own temporary controls on arrivals from Spain. The new procedures add document verification to routes that typically operate within the European Union’s Schengen internal travel zone.
On the first day of these measures, Spain’s Interior Ministry examined 199 travelers on 12 flights from Italy. Checks took place at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. The inspection process involved verifying passports, nationality, and visa status for Italian passengers and other individuals arriving from Italy. While these temporary controls are active, air and sea travel between the two countries continues uninterrupted.
Italy implemented its controls starting Aug. 1 following the large influx of migrants into Ceuta, Spain’s North African enclave. Italian authorities indicated their measures would remain in place at least until Aug. 15. According to Rome, the controls target non-EU nationals arriving from Spain via air or sea, whereas Italian and other EU citizens are exempt from these restrictions based on the government’s announced terms.
Migration surge in Ceuta triggers new border checks
Approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta during the mass migration wave from Morocco that started in late July. By Aug. 4, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reported that roughly 70,000 of these migrants had left the enclave. Ceuta, situated on the North African coast outside the Schengen Area, experienced this migration event just before Italy’s decision to reinstate border checks on certain travelers arriving from Spain, which in turn led to Spain’s reciprocal controls.
Spain had urged Italy to revoke its restrictions prior to announcing its own border checks last Friday. Madrid characterized the Italian measures as unjustified and discriminatory against Spain, while Rome affirmed its intention to maintain the controls. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated Sunday that Rome hopes to lift the restrictions once the risk level diminishes. Spain has scheduled Sept. 7 as the planned conclusion date for its temporary controls on arrivals from Italy.
Temporary border controls align with Schengen regulations
Under normal circumstances, the Schengen Area allows travelers to cross internal borders without routine passport checks across 29 European countries. Nonetheless, EU regulations still permit member states to reintroduce internal border controls if a significant threat to public policy or internal security is identified. The European Commission describes such measures as last-resort actions that must remain limited to what authorities deem essential. Spain and Italy continue to be members of the Schengen Area during the period these temporary measures are in effect.
For travelers, this means that arrivals from Italy may now encounter identity and immigration document checks at Spanish airports and seaports. Spain’s Interior Ministry recorded the initial checks at six major airports, involving nearly 200 passengers on the first day. Italy maintains its own targeted controls on specific arrivals from Spain until at least Aug. 15, according to its schedule. Spain’s border checks are set to last through Sept. 7, with no broad suspension of air or sea travel between the two nations.