How long does it take to cross the Gibraltar–Spain border?

Short answer

Since 15 July 2026 there have been no routine passport or customs checks at the land border, so on foot you can usually walk straight through. By car, crossing times now depend on traffic, and busy periods can still mean delays.

Detailed answer

Before 15 July 2026, crossing between Gibraltar and Spain meant passport and customs checks on both sides, and queues for cars could exceed an hour at peak times. Those routine checks ended when the UK/EU Treaty began to apply provisionally, and the fence at the frontier was removed.

On foot

Pedestrians no longer stop for a passport check, so walking across usually takes only as long as the walk itself.

By car

Vehicles also no longer stop routinely, which has improved the flow of traffic considerably. Queues have not disappeared entirely. Around 15,000 people cross each day to work in Gibraltar, and traffic still builds up at commuter peaks, in summer and around holidays.

Where checks happen now

Checks on people arriving from outside the Schengen Area now take place at Gibraltar's airport and port, carried out jointly by Gibraltar and Spanish officials. The land crossing is treated as an internal Schengen crossing.

What to carry

There is no routine check at the land crossing, but you should still carry a valid passport or national ID card. Gibraltar residents should carry both their passport and their Gibraltar identity card or civilian registration card.