Italy-Spain Schengen checks extended to October 2026

Italy has extended its border checks on passengers arriving from Spain until 1 October 2026. Spain, in turn, extended its own controls on Italy arrivals until 8 October. Both sets of measures have now been renewed three times since Italy first introduced them on 31 July, and neither government has signalled any intention to drop them before those new deadlines.

What triggered this third extension?

The Ceuta migrant crisis in late July set this in motion. Tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory in a matter of days. Italy cited fears that a significant number would pass through Spain and arrive at Italian ports. It introduced temporary air and sea checks on 31 July.

Spain responded on 8 August with reciprocal controls, framing Italy’s unilateral action as a breach of Schengen obligations. Neither side stood down. Both governments have now extended the measures twice more, most recently in mid-September.

Under Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code, member states may reintroduce internal border controls when they can point to a genuine threat to public policy or internal security. There is no cap on renewals, provided each one is notified to the European Commission with fresh justification. The Commission cannot block the measures and has called on both countries to wind them down. Neither has.

Who gets checked, and where?

The rules remain asymmetric. Italy checks only non-EU nationals arriving directly by air or sea from Spain. If you hold a British, American, Canadian, Australian or other non-EU passport, you may face a document check on arrival at an Italian airport or port on a direct route from Spain. EU and EEA passport holders are not subject to the Italian controls.

Spain applies checks to all passengers arriving directly from Italy, regardless of nationality. Italian citizens face a document check on arrival in Spain. The check takes place at arrivals, not at boarding. Your flight departs as normal.

Italy and Spain share no land border. The affected crossings are flights and ferry services only, including routes between Madrid, Barcelona, Palma, Valencia and Italian airports, and any direct sea crossings.

Does this affect EES or your 90-day count?

No to both. These are internal Schengen border controls. The Entry/Exit System applies only at the external Schengen border, the point where you first arrive in or depart from the area. A flight from Barcelona to Rome is an internal movement. EES records nothing, and no biometrics are taken.

Your 90-day Schengen allowance is unaffected too. Days inside the area count the same regardless of how many internal borders you cross. ETIAS, when it opens for applications, will cover pre-travel authorisation for entering Schengen from outside. It has no role in movement between member states.

What happens after 1 and 8 October?

Italy’s current notification expires on 1 October. If there is no further extension, non-EU travellers arriving in Italy directly from Spain return to standard Schengen movement from that date. Spain’s controls run a week longer, until 8 October.

Neither country has announced a fourth round. The situation in Ceuta will determine whether either side renews again. The measures were billed as temporary when introduced in July. They have now lasted nearly ten weeks.

If you are flying or taking a ferry between Italy and Spain before 8 October, keep your passport accessible after you land. The check, if it occurs, happens at arrivals. No routes have been suspended. For the latest on ETIAS, the ETIAS status page carries updates as they are confirmed.