Overview
- The EU–UK Gibraltar Agreement entered into force on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, removing routine land‑border checks and applying Schengen entry rules at the Spain–Gibraltar crossing.
- Passport controls will still be required for arrivals at Gibraltar's airport and harbour from countries outside the Schengen area.
- Under the deal Gibraltar will follow EU customs and product regulations and replace the old import system with a transaction tax tied to cross‑border trade.
- The change immediately benefits roughly 15,000–15,500 daily Spanish commuters by cutting long wait times and easing movement of people and goods across the frontier.
- Sovereignty over Gibraltar remains unchanged and contested by Spain, even as removal of the symbolic 1908 metal fence and checkpoint dismantling has begun.