With the removal of borders between Spain and Gibraltar on July 15, the British Overseas Territory is launching a public awareness campaign to help travelers understand new dual border control procedures. It represents a major change for British visitors arriving by air from the UK.
The changes follow the implementation of the long-awaited UK-EU agreement covering Gibraltar’s post-Brexit border arrangements. The new framework is designed to maintain Gibraltar’s close relationship with the UK while integrating border procedures with the Schengen Area. The signed agreement provides the legal certainty needed for the territory’s visitor economy to grow.
Under the new arrangements, British citizens who are not Gibraltar residents will undergo two separate passport checks on arrival at Gibraltar International Airport. Travelers will first be processed by Gibraltarian border officials before completing a Schengen entry check conducted by Spanish authorities on behalf of the Schengen Area.
Where applicable, visitors will also be registered under the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), the new automated border management system that records the entry and exit of non-EU nationals traveling into the Schengen zone.
British-Irish dual nationals traveling on an Irish passport will continue to be treated as EU citizens when entering Gibraltar and the Schengen Area, avoiding the additional third-country entry procedures.
Once both checks have been completed, travelers will be able to cross Gibraltar’s land border into Spain without any further routine immigration formalities, allowing seamless onward travel throughout the Schengen Area.
Reshaping Gibraltar tourism positioning
The Gibraltar Tourist Board (GTB) is producing a series of videos to explain the new arrival process. Its social media team will be filming at Gibraltar Airport during the first days of the new system, with the videos expected to be published online later this week to help reassure visitors and reduce confusion.
For Gibraltar tourism players, the EU/Gibraltar agreement opens the door to new regional tourism itineraries with neighboring destinations. The Gibraltar Tourist Board is consequently capitalizing on the destination’s potential with the territory turning into a fully integrated gateway towards Southern Europe.
Last November, the GTB launched its new tourism campaign, “Beyond Your Expectations.” The refreshed brand message encapsulates Gibraltar’s unique appeal as a destination that consistently offers visitors more than they imagine, from its rich cultural heritage and dramatic landscapes to its vibrant lifestyle.
The new campaign forms part of the GTB’s ongoing strategy to strengthen the Visit Gibraltar brand internationally, highlighting Gibraltar as a destination that blends British charm with Mediterranean warmth.
The Treaty’s chapter on aviation also opens Gibraltar’s airport to EU carriers for the first time in decades. That could translate in the medium term into regular services from Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia or from Ireland, though no specific route has yet been confirmed.
Looking ahead, visitors should be aware that the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will also become a requirement for visa-exempt travelers, including UK nationals, once the EU officially launches the scheme. In 2025, total visitors crossing by land topped 9.26 million compared to 217,000 air arrivals.
