The border fence between the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar and Spain was removed beginning Wednesday, ushering in a new era of free movement for thousands who travel daily between the two points. This development follows the official opening at midnight on Tuesday, after years of post-Brexit negotiations culminated in a historic treaty between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
The removal of the physical barrier signifies a significant shift for Gibraltar, a territory of 38,000 people located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. Crowds crossed freely between Spain’s La Línea de Concepción and Gibraltar shortly after midnight, celebrating the newfound ease of passage.
This agreement addresses the unresolved relationship between Gibraltar and the EU after the United Kingdom's departure in 2020. Prior to this treaty, the prospect of a hard land border with full passport checks posed significant economic risks, particularly given that nearly half of Gibraltar's workforce, approximately 15,000 individuals, are Spanish nationals who commute daily.
The new treaty, announced in 2025 and signed on Tuesday by the EU, the U.K., and Gibraltar's government, facilitates border crossings and brings the territory into the EU’s Schengen free travel area. Entry and exit checks will be conducted by both U.K. and Spanish border officials at Gibraltar's airport and port, a system described as similar to passport checks at Eurostar train stations.
Gibraltar, which was ceded to Britain in 1713, maintains a contested status with Spain, which has continued to claim sovereignty. The treaty, however, does not resolve this long-standing dispute. In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 96% of Gibraltar's voters opted to remain in the EU.
Travelers entering Gibraltar from non-Schengen countries, including the U.K., will be subject to the EU Entry-Exit System (EES), which replaced passport stamps with biometric data collection. In response to the border changes, Gibraltar officials have installed live facial recognition cameras at entry points and throughout the territory, increased police presence, and bolstered resources for customs and Coast Guard agencies, transforming the territory into what Chief Minister Fabian Picardo described as a "digital fortress."