Spain has formally prolonged the temporary re-introduction of Schengen border controls for passengers arriving by air or sea from Italy. Order INT/977/2026, published in the 19 September edition of the official gazette (BOE), extends the measure from 00:00 on 23 September until 24:00 on 7 October. It is the third consecutive extension since Madrid first reacted to Rome’s own controls on Spanish travellers on 8 August, a tit-for-tat move that followed the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta at the end of July. According to the Interior Ministry, the continued “grave threat to public order and internal security” created by secondary movements of migrants justifies keeping passport checks in place at Spanish ports and airports handling traffic from Italy. Officials say the measure will be reviewed continuously and could be lifted early if the risk subsides, but any further prolongation would require a new, fully-reasoned decision under Articles 25 and 26 of the Schengen Borders Code. For business travellers, the extension means additional time at boarding gates and on arrival as Guardia Civil officers carry out random document inspections. Airlines and ferry companies must continue to inform passengers in advance and allow extra check-in time. Employers moving staff between the two countries should warn travellers to carry valid passports (or ID cards for EU nationals) and proof of the purpose of their trip to avoid delays. The Spanish-Italian stand-off underscores how quickly intra-Schengen travel can be disrupted when migration or security pressures mount. Mobility managers are advised to keep contingency plans ready and monitor BOE notices, as the current order cannot be rolled over automatically and a fresh extension may be published as early as the first week of October.
Source: Boletín Oficial del Estado
