Italy confirmed on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, that the temporary border controls it reinstated on passengers arriving from Spain will remain in force for a further 15 days. Rome first re-introduced checks at its ports and airports on 1 August, invoking an “extraordinary threat to public order and internal security” after more than 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a 48-hour period at the end of July. Madrid immediately replied with mirror-image measures, requiring travellers from Italy to show passports and be ready for random police screening on arrival at Spanish airports and ferry terminals. The Spanish foreign ministry said on Tuesday that these reciprocal checks will also be extended until at least 30 September while “technical talks” with the European Commission continue. Although flights and ferries are operating normally, travellers should expect longer queues at passport control and should carry documentary proof of onward travel and accommodation. Carriers report that average processing times at Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat have risen by 10-15 minutes, while Milan-Malpensa and Rome-Fiumicino are seeing similar delays. Airlines have responded by opening dedicated Schengen-fast-track lanes for premium passengers, but economy travellers are advised to arrive at the airport earlier than usual. For multinational employers the spat is a reminder that intra-EU mobility can be disrupted at short notice despite the Schengen framework. Companies moving staff between Spanish and Italian sites are reviewing duty-of-care protocols and urging travellers to allow extra transit time, especially if they have tight connections onward to non-Schengen destinations. Immigration advisers also note that posted-worker notifications should still indicate “Schengen” as the destination, but HR teams must brief employees about the temporary ID checks. Diplomats in Brussels say both countries are under pressure to roll back the controls before the 1 October EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, where the Commission will present its annual report on the functioning of Schengen. Until then, the political stand-off is likely to continue, making Spain-Italy routes a potential flash-point for further mobility disruption.
Source: Associated Press / El País
