Gibraltar border checks end after three centuries, restoring free flow with Spain

Spain and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar removed routine land border checks at midnight on 15 July, ending a physical barrier that had stood for more than 300 years. The change follows a treaty between the European Union and the United Kingdom that was signed in Brussels on 14 July and provisionally applied from 15 July. Workers dismantled the fence and police checkpoints separating the Spanish town of La Línea de la Concepción from Gibraltar, allowing around 15 000 daily cross‑border commuters to pass freely.

Under the new arrangement, passport‑style entry controls will be limited to Gibraltar’s airport and seaport, where UK and Spanish officials will conduct joint checks. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the move as historic, while a UK foreign‑office minister said it safeguards Gibraltar’s long‑term economic interests. The underlying sovereignty dispute between Spain and Britain remains unresolved.

Local business groups expect the smoother border to improve recruitment and retention of staff living in Spain, and residents report that long waiting times of up to seven hours at the former fence are now a thing of the past.