Spain’s Audiencia de Madrid triggered an unusual mobility restriction on 20 June 2026 when Judge Juan Carlos Peinado ordered Begoña Gómez—spouse of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez—to surrender her passport and refrain from leaving national territory while she awaits trial on influence-peddling charges.
Exit bans of this nature are rare in Spain, where the right to free movement within the Schengen Area is constitutionally protected.
The measure draws attention to Article 505 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows judges to restrict travel when there is flight-risk or risk of evidence destruction.
For global-mobility managers, the case is a high-profile reminder that Spanish courts can and do impose passport seizures on individuals under investigation—even those with extensive public duties.
Multinationals should review compliance protocols for executives who may be summoned as witnesses or suspects in domestic proceedings, ensuring contingency plans for cancelled travel, residence-permit renewals and family-member mobility are in place.
Companies looking for on-the-ground support with Spanish travel formalities can leverage VisaHQ’s expertise. The firm offers step-by-step assistance with Schengen visa applications, real-time passport status tracking and detailed guidance on local entry and exit rules—services that become invaluable when unexpected legal measures disrupt mobility plans. To learn more, visit https://www.visahq.com/spain/
Diplomatic observers also note potential friction with EU freedom-of-movement principles; although Spain can restrict exit, Schengen rules oblige it to lift such bans if they prove disproportionate.
Whether the court’s decision survives appeal could set a modern benchmark for balancing judicial caution against mobility rights within the bloc.
Exit bans of this nature are rare in Spain, where the right to free movement within the Schengen Area is constitutionally protected.
The measure draws attention to Article 505 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows judges to restrict travel when there is flight-risk or risk of evidence destruction.
For global-mobility managers, the case is a high-profile reminder that Spanish courts can and do impose passport seizures on individuals under investigation—even those with extensive public duties.
Multinationals should review compliance protocols for executives who may be summoned as witnesses or suspects in domestic proceedings, ensuring contingency plans for cancelled travel, residence-permit renewals and family-member mobility are in place.
Companies looking for on-the-ground support with Spanish travel formalities can leverage VisaHQ’s expertise. The firm offers step-by-step assistance with Schengen visa applications, real-time passport status tracking and detailed guidance on local entry and exit rules—services that become invaluable when unexpected legal measures disrupt mobility plans. To learn more, visit https://www.visahq.com/spain/
Diplomatic observers also note potential friction with EU freedom-of-movement principles; although Spain can restrict exit, Schengen rules oblige it to lift such bans if they prove disproportionate.
Whether the court’s decision survives appeal could set a modern benchmark for balancing judicial caution against mobility rights within the bloc.
