Phoenix 24
Spanish authorities are inspecting the documents of up to 15% of passengers arriving from Italy as Rome defends its border restrictions and denies that the measures represent a diplomatic rupture.
Madrid, August 2026.— Spanish authorities have introduced additional checks at airports and seaports for passengers arriving from Italy, responding to border controls previously imposed by the Italian government. The first inspections targeted flights from Rome before being extended to services departing from other Italian cities.
Initial figures indicate that identity documents were checked for a sample ranging from 5% to 15% of arriving passengers. Travelers were separated into two groups: European Union citizens and nationals of non-EU countries. Members of the second group were also required to present valid visas or residence permits.
Spain’s National Police inspected 199 third-country nationals arriving on 12 flights from Italy. The largest operation took place at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, where officers checked the documents of 83 passengers aboard a flight from Rome.
At Barcelona-El Prat Airport, authorities inspected 67 non-EU travelers, while another 33 passengers were checked in Valencia. Additional controls were conducted at airports in Seville, Bilbao and Alicante.
Officials and travelers reported no significant delays or operational problems. Italy’s Ministry of Tourism said the measures had not disrupted travel flows between the two countries, noting that the checks primarily concerned non-EU citizens and the verification of their immigration status.
Following Spain’s announcement, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strengthened consular assistance for Italian nationals living in or traveling to Spain. Authorities also reminded travelers to carry a valid passport or national identity card throughout their stay.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended Rome’s decision to temporarily restore border controls, linking the measure to the migration emergency in the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta. He argued that Italy must prevent possible secondary movements within Europe and rejected accusations that the decision was intended to harm Spain.
Tajani maintained that diplomatic relations between Rome and Madrid remain intact, although he described Spain’s response as unjustified. Spanish authorities have issued no further public comments on the dispute.
Online flight-booking platforms have begun warning passengers about the additional inspections and advising them to travel with all required identity and immigration documents. The disagreement between Madrid and Rome is placing renewed pressure on the Schengen Area and reopening the debate over how Europe should balance freedom of movement with the protection of its external borders.