Spain will assume responsibility for carrying out border checks on travellers arriving in Gibraltar under a new post-Brexit framework agreement designed to remove physical barriers between the British overseas territory and the Spanish mainland.

The arrangement, reached after prolonged negotiations between the United Kingdom, Spain and European Union officials, seeks to integrate Gibraltar into the Schengen free-movement area for the purposes of border control while preserving British sovereignty over the territory.

Under the terms outlined by negotiators, Spanish authorities would conduct Schengen entry and exit checks at Gibraltar’s airport and port.

The objective of the agreement is to eliminate routine controls at the land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain, facilitating the daily movement of thousands of cross-border workers and residents.

By relocating Schengen checks to points of arrival, the deal aims to streamline travel and reduce economic disruption that has persisted since the UK left the European Union.

Gibraltar, which voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum, has faced ongoing uncertainty over its future relationship with the bloc.

The new framework is intended to provide legal certainty for people and businesses on both sides of the border while maintaining the UK’s constitutional responsibility for the territory.

Officials involved in the negotiations have described the agreement as pragmatic and forward-looking, balancing sovereignty considerations with practical economic needs.

The arrangement will require further legal and procedural steps before full implementation, including ratification processes and the establishment of operational details for joint cooperation.

If finalised, the framework would mark a significant milestone in resolving one of the most sensitive outstanding issues arising from Brexit, offering a structured approach to border management that seeks to combine Schengen compliance with continued British administration of Gibraltar.