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2026-07-14 12:08:12
[New Gibraltar Border Rules Take Effect: UK Citizens Must Undergo EU Electronic System Checks] 1. Under the post-Brexit Gibraltar agreement between the UK and the EU, starting July 15, UK citizens (excluding Gibraltar residents) flying from the UK to Gibraltar will face double border checks: first, entry checks by Gibraltar police, followed by biometric checks by the Spanish Civil Guard on behalf of the Schengen Area using the EU's Entry and Exit System (EES), including fingerprint and photograph collection. Non-Schengen Area travelers entering through Gibraltar Airport can freely travel to Spain and the wider Schengen Area. 2. The core of the new rules is the EU EES system, which officially went into full operation on April 10. This system replaces traditional passport stamps with electronic registration, requiring all non-EU citizens (including UK citizens) to provide biometric information upon entering the Schengen Area. The UK Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory, reminding travelers that EES may extend processing times. 3. According to the agreement, Gibraltar residents are not subject to EES restrictions or the 90-day Schengen Area stay limit. However, the stay of other British citizens in the Schengen Area will count towards the 90/180-day limit. Airlines are obligated to pre-screen passengers through the EES database before boarding; if a passenger has exceeded their limit, they will receive a "not allowed to board" message. 4. The new regulations mark the formal end of 118 years of physical border controls between Gibraltar and Spain. The agreement integrates Gibraltar into the EU Customs Union and the Schengen Free Travel Area, while dismantling the border fence built in 1909. Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Piccardo, described it as a "huge change" that will allow for the complete free movement of people and goods.
