Spain to Control Visas and Residence Permits in Gibraltar Under EU-UK Agreement
Spain to Oversee Visa and Residency Matters in Gibraltar Under New EU-UK Border Agreement
The EU and UK have reached a historic agreement granting Spain authority over visa issuance, residence permits, and asylum processing in Gibraltar, as part of a new framework to manage post-Brexit border controls.
An EU Commission spokesperson, speaking to Bloomberg, confirmed that Spain will play a special role in ensuring the preservation of Schengen rules once border controls are lifted between Gibraltar and southern Spain.
If ratified, the agreement will remove physical border checks for both people and goods, replacing them with dual control systems at Gibraltar’s port and airport. The move aims to ease travel for the approximately 15,000 Spanish workers who cross daily into Gibraltar and for Gibraltarians who regularly commute to Spain.
Shared Responsibility in Asylum and Residency
Despite Spain’s expanded role, Gibraltar’s government retains limited powers. Local authorities will be allowed to issue a small number of humanitarian visas with restricted validity. In asylum cases, both Gibraltar and Schengen institutions will share responsibility, with Gibraltar holding the final decision-making power.
While Spain will conduct residency checks, Gibraltar has clarified that ultimate approval or rejection of residence permits will remain under its jurisdiction.
Agreement Still Under Negotiation
The final text of the agreement is still being reviewed by EU and UK negotiators. Once completed, it will proceed to adoption and ratification.
A Gibraltar government spokesperson stressed that the deal does not affect the territory’s sovereignty and will significantly enhance trade and labor mobility.
“The agreement does not compromise sovereignty in any respect and provides huge opportunities for traders in Gibraltar,” the spokesperson said, adding that it also supports industrial growth by maintaining the free movement of workers.
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