The European Council stated that the main objective of the EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar is to secure the future prosperity of the whole region by removing all physical barriers on persons and goods circulating between Spain and Gibraltar, while fully safeguarding Schengen, the EU's Single Market, and its Customs Union. The agreement is expected to enter provisional application on July 15, 2026. Gibraltar will not be joining the Schengen area.
From the traveler's point of view, the formalities for entering Gibraltar will be identical to those for the Schengen area, with an additional border check by Gibraltar authorities. The existing border checkpoint between Spain and Gibraltar will be abolished. British visitors will face two sets of checks on arrival at Gibraltar airport: an examination by Gibraltar's Borders & Coastguard Agency followed by a tougher Spanish frontier check.
The main objective of the EU-UK agreement in respect of Gibraltar is to secure the future prosperity of the whole region. This objective will be reached by removing all physical barriers on persons and goods circulating between Spain and Gibraltar, while fully safeguarding Schengen, the EU’s Single Market, and its Customs Union.
UK travelers to Gibraltar will have to undergo full Entry-Exit System (EES) registration, requiring fingerprints and facial biometrics on the first crossing, and usually facial biometrics on subsequent crossings, with the process repeated upon departure. Currently, British visitors to Gibraltar only need a valid passport that does not expire during their planned visit. When the agreement takes effect, British passports for Gibraltar visits will need to meet stricter requirements, and visits will be limited to 90 days in any 180-day period across Gibraltar and the Schengen area, reducing from an unrestricted 90 days for Gibraltar alone.
A new border control system, the Entry-Exit System (EES), will come into force at all European airports, including those in Spain, Portugal, and Greece, from April 10, 2026. The EES requires British travelers to provide fingerprints and photos when entering the Schengen Area. British holidaymakers have been warned about potential queues due to the EES, with some airport organizations warning queues for non-EU passengers could extend to four hours during summer months.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said EES checks are being introduced in a phased way across external borders, with full operation expected from April 10, 2026. The Foreign Office indicated that EES might require each traveler a few minutes extra to process and recommended they be prepared to wait longer than usual at border control.