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Gibraltar is still British — but UK tourists now face EU stay limits. Credit: Playamanga via Canva.com.
Gibraltar used to be a British Outpost in the Sun. Now they have reversed the script. You can no longer enter a British territory if you are a British citizen. Due to a landmark agreement struck in June 20,25, British passport holders can be denied entry into Gibraltar by Spanish border officials, and not by British authorities. The time spent in Gibraltar counts towards your EU stay, whether you are visiting for a long weekend or if you have planned a winter getaway.
There’s no more hopping from Spain to Gibraltar for the 90 day limit. What has really changed, and why? It took years to achieve this geopolitical balance, which included tourism sovereignty and border controls. Here we explain the implications of the new rules for travellers and expats as well as the future of the historically contested region of Europe.
The Brexit loophole is closed
Gibraltar has been in a grey area of law for years. As a British oversea territory, it is outside the EU Schengen zone. However, Gibraltar maintained an open frontier, which kept both sides functioning. Many UK citizens had hoped this would continue after Brexit.
Gibraltar is integrated into Europe’s immigration orbit as of June 20, 2025. Under the new EU, UK, and Spain agreement, Gibraltar joins the Schengen border visa.
- This is a significant change. British tourists visiting Gibraltar now will be subject to a 90 and 180 day limit, similar in nature to the ones that are applicable today. France, Spain or Italy?
- This new system will grant Spanish officers the rights to check British passports Gibraltar’s airport and port can refuse entry to a traveller who has spent too many Schengen days.
Irony: it’s still British soil but the rules have changed to European. The Rock and southern Spain are no longer an option for British tourists who want to avoid EU state boundaries. Gibraltar’s time will now be used as a border. Officers will keep track.
Snowbirds, extended stays and second homes?
Gibraltar offered a peaceful refuge to Britons looking to escape the red tape. It was British and English-speaking with lots of sun. It did not ask you how long you planned to stay, unlike the rest of EU. That’s now over.
You may be one of many Brits who spend the winters in Andalucia, and then slip over to Gibraltar to enjoy a few weeks. Reset the clockThis strategy is no longer useful.
- Gibraltar is included in the 90-day Schengen period just as Marseille, Madrid or Milan are.
- It means there are no longer half of your hideaways without residency papers. For non-residents overstaying may have serious consequences.
- Spanish officers are now checking documents with local authorities.
You could walk straight from Spain to Gibraltar, but you will probably be flagged by the air on your way in.
No more queues
This new agreement has seen the removal of the physical border fence that has caused traffic jams and tensions between Gibraltar, Spain and other countries for many years. First time since Franco’s era, the Rock and La Linea will no longer require a passport to be crossed.
Locals from both sides will benefit, as around 15,000 workers are crossing the border each day, most of whom are Spanish. They endured years of random closures and long waiting times, as well as political games. They can now move around without having to line stamp, either by walking or driving.
While land travel is becoming easier, airports and seaports are getting more restrictive. Spanish police will be present at Gibraltar’s sea and air ports to conduct Schengen checks on passengers before they enter or leave the territory.
It is important to enforce Schengen at the borders.
The Schengen system
Gibraltar, on paper, has not changed its flag. It still remains British. It’s still governed locally and it takes pride in the fact that it is a UK territory. Functionally, however, Gibraltar is a completely different place, with Spanish border officers stationed in the airport, port, and Gibraltar itself.
- Control over who gets in has partially shifted —not to Madrid, but to the Schengen system. It is a system that Britain abandoned years ago.
It creates an odd dynamic. Now, a Spanish officer can refuse entry to a British citizen arriving from a British town. on British soil. The red stamp is not something that most UK travellers have seen before, and has caused confusion for tourists who had expected a warm reception and instead got a stamp.
- The agreement includes firm guarantees The British sovereignty over Gibraltar is unaffected.
- Spanish officers are not responsible for policing the area; they simply manage who is allowed to enter the EU. Consider it a shared entrance, not a home.
Who are the winners, losers and loopholes?
Gibraltar is the winner in many ways.
- With the removal of the land border, Spain will be more accessible.
- Better flow of workers and goods
- New flight connections possible from other Schengen Countries
These fewer barriers mean more opportunities for a small area that is heavily dependent on tourism and finance.
Spain also wins because it can tighten its grip on Gibraltar’s immigration and customs laws without affecting Gibraltar’s sovereignty. It is something no government before has done.
This also ensures that your daughter will start phasing-in at a minimum of 15% sales tax. While it sets precedents, it also protects the integrity and security of its borders.
The picture for the UK is more complicated due to the fact that you might need a calculator, a residency card, or even a second home if you are planning an extended stay, a seasonal getaway, or have a second home.
What is the official saying?
This is the first time that everyone has called this a victory.
- UK Foreign Minister David Lammy The deal has been called A breakthrough Not only Gibraltar but Brexit diplomacy.
- Fabian Picardo is Gibraltar’s chief minister, further said that the area was historical and best for a secure economy in a territory without compromising its sovereignty.
- Jose Manuel Albares is the Foreign Minister of SpainThe agreement, according to, is a means of removing the final wall from Europe.
- Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič Calling the result a MilestoneThe freedom to move and the border control are both guaranteed by this system. Rarely are these two terms in harmony.
Gibraltar’s New Horizon
Gibraltar may not have changed on the map but its function for British tourists has.
The land border is disappearing and queues are disappearing but somehow. Brits face greater limits now than ever before. You can cross freely on foot, but overstay the 90-day mark and you might get stopped — not in Spain, but on the Rock itself.
Whether this is a model for future cooperation or a reminder of what’s been lost depends on where you’re standing — and how long you’re allowed to stay.
