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 7 October, the last day in its notification to the European Commission. Both sets of measures have now been renewed twice since Italy’s checks took effect on 1 August, and neither government has signalled any intention to drop them before those new deadlines.

What triggered the latest extension?

The Ceuta migrant crisis in late July set this in motion. Tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory, The Local reported. Italy’s notification cites the risk of secondary movements of third-country nationals within the Schengen area. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced temporary air and sea checks on 31 July, and they took effect on 1 August.

Spain responded on 8 August with reciprocal controls, and its foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, accused Italy of undermining free movement, Spain in English reported. 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 as a last resort against a serious threat to public policy or internal security. Since the 2024 reform of the code, renewals are capped. Controls brought in immediately for an unforeseeable threat can last a month and be prolonged to a maximum of three months. Controls notified in advance for a foreseeable threat can run for up to two years, with only limited exceptional extensions beyond that. Each prolongation has to be notified to the Commission, which can give an opinion on whether the controls are necessary and proportionate.

Who gets checked, and where?

Both notifications cover all internal air and sea borders between the two countries. Italy’s controls, as first announced, targeted non-EU nationals travelling from Spain by air or sea, according to Spain in English. Spain’s reciprocal controls apply to passengers arriving from Italy. Neither government’s notification to the Commission spells out which nationalities are checked, so carry your passport or national ID card on any direct flight or ferry between the two.

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, travellers arriving in Italy directly from Spain return to standard Schengen movement from that date. Spain’s controls run six days longer, until 7 October.

Neither country has announced a further extension. The situation in Ceuta will determine whether either side renews again. The measures were billed as temporary when announced in July. They have now lasted more than seven weeks.

If you are flying or taking a ferry between Italy and Spain while the controls are in place, keep your passport or ID card to hand. For the latest on ETIAS, the ETIAS status page carries updates as they are confirmed.