Gibraltar border controls lifted: Is it part of Schengen, the UK – or both?
Summary
The European Union and the United Kingdom signed a treaty to remove physical border controls between Spain and Gibraltar. This agreement allows freer travel for residents and workers, easing daily crossings and bringing Gibraltar into the EU’s Schengen area for travel purposes.Key Facts
- Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located at the southern tip of Spain with about 38,000 people.
- The treaty lets Gibraltar residents cross into Spain with residence cards without passport stamps.
- Spanish citizens can enter Gibraltar using a government ID card.
- Gibraltar will join the Schengen free-travel area, which includes 29 countries allowing visa-free travel.
- Border checks at Gibraltar’s airport and port will be done jointly by British and Spanish officials.
- People arriving from outside Schengen, including the UK, will use the EU Entry/Exit System with biometric data instead of passport stamps.
- The treaty was signed to prevent border delays and support jobs for the 15,000 people who cross daily for work.
- Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU during the UK’s Brexit referendum in 2016, and this treaty addresses its special situation after Brexit.
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