Gibraltar Border

 

After 118 years the Border between Spain and the British Territory of Gibraltar will finally be an Open Border starting July 15, 2026.

The Border is only 0.75 Miles (1.2 Kilometers) long, but have long been an issue between Spain and the UK.

Gibraltar became a British Territory in 1713 when it was ceded by Spain by the Treaty of Utrecht which ended the War of Spanish Succession (Spanish: Guerra de sucesión Española.)

In 1730 the Spanish built the Lines of Contravallation of Gibraltar (Spanish: Línea de Contravalación de Gibraltar) to isolate Gibraltar from the rest of Spain.

From 1779-1783 Spain laid Siege on Gibraltar to force the UK to return the Territory. The Spanish hoped that the UK was too focused on the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) to do much, but the British won and the Siege was lifted.

In 1908 a Border Fence was built between Spain and Gibraltar which has remained in place for 118 years.

During the Spanish Civil War (Spanish: La guerra civil Española) from 1936-1939 the British reenforced the Border to prevent any violence from spilling over.

When the UK entered World War 2 in 1939, Spain remained officially Neutral but in reality sided with Nazi Germany.

The British decided to evacuate the whole Civilian Population of Gibraltar (16,000 People) to other British Territories in order to turn Gibraltar into a Fortress in case Spain and Nazi Germany invaded.

The Civilians were not allowed back on Gibraltar until 1944.

In 1966 Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco closed the Border between Spain and Gibraltar to Vehicles.

In 1969 Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco completely closed the Border between Spain and Gibraltar.

The only way into and out of Gibraltar for 13 years was by ship or plane.

Despite Franco dying in 1975 the Border remained completely closed until 1982 when it was opened only to Pedestrians.

In 1985 Spain was forced to completely reopen the Border to all Traffic (Pedestrians and Vehicles) in order to get the UK’s Vote for Spain to join the European Community (today: the European Union) as the UK had joined the EC/EU in 1970.

From 1986 until 2020 both the UK and Spain were Member States of the European Union.

Gibraltar has one of the Highest per Capita Incomes in the World while the La Línea de la Concepción and the surrounding area is one of the poorest parts of Spain.

Since the UK opted out of the Schengen Travel Area (which Spain joined in 1995) there still needed to be limited Travel Checks on People and Goods coming and going from/to Spain and Gibraltar.

Customs and Identity Checks on the Spanish side of the Border are carried out by the Spanish Civil Guard and the Spanish National Police.

Customs and Identity Checks on the Gibraltar side of the Border are carried out by HM Customs Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Borders and Coastguard Agency.

In 2020, the UK officially left the European Union and Spain agreed to continue the same Customs and Identity Checks with Gibraltar (mainly because 96% of the People of Gibraltar voted to remain in the EU.)

Today, the Border is open 24 hours a day and starting on July 15, 2026 Spaniards, EU Member Citizens and the British will only have to show their Passport to enter and leave.