Nearly ten years after the Brexit referendum, Madrid and London have released the 336-article treaty that will redefine Gibraltar’s relationship with the European Union. Published on 26 February, the document confirms that Spain—not the UK—will carry out Schengen entry checks for air and sea arrivals, while the notorious land ‘gate’ between La Línea and the Rock will be dismantled.
Under the deal, Spanish police seconded to Frontex will work alongside Gibraltar officials inside the territory’s airport and cruise port. Spain will gain the power to refuse entry to third-country nationals—including British visitors—on security, health, or public-order grounds. Gibraltar residents, however, will enjoy the right to move freely throughout the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, aligning their mobility with that of EU citizens.
Travellers and companies looking for clarity on the evolving entry rules can turn to VisaHQ, an online visa and passport services platform. Its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) offers up-to-date guidance and application support for Schengen visas and other travel documents, streamlining compliance as the treaty rolls out.
![Legal Text of Post-Brexit Gibraltar Treaty Published, Handing Spain Schengen Control at the Rock’s Port and Airport]()
The agreement also scraps Gibraltar’s VAT-free regime in favour of a new ‘transaction tax’ starting at 15 percent, addressing long-standing Spanish complaints about cross-border shopping and tobacco smuggling. For businesses, the disappearance of the physical frontier promises seamless commuting for the 15,000 Spanish workers employed daily on the Rock, while UK firms may need to reassess staffing models if certain employees can be denied entry by Spanish authorities.
Ratification hurdles remain: the UK and Gibraltar parliaments must approve the treaty, and the EU Parliament will vote on provisional application if sign-off slips past the target date of 10 April. Political opposition is already loud in Westminster, where critics warn of diluted sovereignty. Nevertheless, construction crews have begun preparatory works to remove border fencing, signalling political intent to push ahead.
Corporate mobility managers should update travel protocols: British staff heading to Gibraltar for short assignments will soon face Schengen entry rules—including passport validity of at least three months beyond exit and proof of onward travel—administered by Spanish officers on arrival in Gibraltar.
Under the deal, Spanish police seconded to Frontex will work alongside Gibraltar officials inside the territory’s airport and cruise port. Spain will gain the power to refuse entry to third-country nationals—including British visitors—on security, health, or public-order grounds. Gibraltar residents, however, will enjoy the right to move freely throughout the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, aligning their mobility with that of EU citizens.
Travellers and companies looking for clarity on the evolving entry rules can turn to VisaHQ, an online visa and passport services platform. Its Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) offers up-to-date guidance and application support for Schengen visas and other travel documents, streamlining compliance as the treaty rolls out.
The agreement also scraps Gibraltar’s VAT-free regime in favour of a new ‘transaction tax’ starting at 15 percent, addressing long-standing Spanish complaints about cross-border shopping and tobacco smuggling. For businesses, the disappearance of the physical frontier promises seamless commuting for the 15,000 Spanish workers employed daily on the Rock, while UK firms may need to reassess staffing models if certain employees can be denied entry by Spanish authorities.
Ratification hurdles remain: the UK and Gibraltar parliaments must approve the treaty, and the EU Parliament will vote on provisional application if sign-off slips past the target date of 10 April. Political opposition is already loud in Westminster, where critics warn of diluted sovereignty. Nevertheless, construction crews have begun preparatory works to remove border fencing, signalling political intent to push ahead.
Corporate mobility managers should update travel protocols: British staff heading to Gibraltar for short assignments will soon face Schengen entry rules—including passport validity of at least three months beyond exit and proof of onward travel—administered by Spanish officers on arrival in Gibraltar.
