His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar is aware of commentary circulating on social media suggesting that persons who have been refused a UK visa, or who do not otherwise have the necessary documentation to enter the Schengen Area, can fly into Gibraltar and then enter Spain without immigration controls or the necessary documentation.

This is incorrect.

The arrangements governing movement across Sir Joshua Hassan Gibraltar Airport do not provide a means of circumventing visa or immigration requirements applicable to travel to the United Kingdom, Gibraltar or the Schengen Area.

The arrangements agreed in connection with the UK-EU Treaty concerning Gibraltar are designed to facilitate the movement of people across Gibraltar-Spain while maintaining the necessary immigration and security controls. They do not create a general right for individuals who do not otherwise meet the relevant entry requirements to enter Spain or the Schengen Area.

In particular, any person who is a visa-required national must obtain the necessary visa to enter Gibraltar before travelling. A person who requires a visa but does not hold the required visa upon arrival will not be permitted to enter Gibraltar.

Additionally, the refusal of a UK visa does not create a right to enter Gibraltar or the Schengen Area via Gibraltar, nor does travelling by air to Gibraltar provide a means of circumventing the applicable visa or immigration requirements. Any person seeking to travel in this way will remain subject to the relevant entry requirements and immigration checks and where they do not meet those requirements, will again not be permitted to enter.

The Government therefore strongly advises members of the public to rely on official information concerning visa and immigration requirements and not on unverified information circulating on social media. 

Anyone who is unsure about the documentation or visa requirements applicable to their particular circumstances should seek advice from the relevant immigration authorities before travelling.