Quick answer: Not formally. Gibraltar is still outside the Schengen Area, but since 15 July 2026 Schengen checks apply when you arrive at its airport. For British, US, Canadian, Australian and other non-EU visitors, that means time spent in Gibraltar now counts towards your 90 days in any 180-day period, just like time in Spain.
Last checked: 25 October 2026
For years, Gibraltar was the easy answer to a common question: it’s British, it isn’t in Schengen, so days there don’t count. That changed on 15 July 2026, when a new UK-EU agreement on Gibraltar began to apply. Many websites still give the old answer.
This guide explains where Gibraltar stands now, whether your days there count, what happens at the airport and the border with Spain, and who the new rules don’t apply to.
Is Gibraltar in Schengen?
No, not formally. HM Government of Gibraltar says Gibraltar remains outside the Schengen Area, and it’s still a British Overseas Territory.
But for visitors, it now works much as if it were in Schengen. Under the agreement, Schengen rules apply at Gibraltar’s external entry points (the airport, and according to the European Parliament’s research service, the port too), and the checks at the land border with Spain have gone. Gibraltar’s entry conditions for short-stay visitors now match the Schengen rules.
What changed on 15 July 2026
| Before 15 July 2026 | From 15 July 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Do days in Gibraltar count towards your Schengen 90? | No | Yes, for British and other non-EU visitors who aren’t Gibraltar residents |
| Checks when you arrive by air | Gibraltar checks only | Gibraltar checks, then Schengen checks by Spanish officers |
| Land border with Spain | Entry and exit checks at border booths | No border booths or routine checks |
The agreement is being applied provisionally while it goes through final approval (see below), but these rules are in force now.
Do days in Gibraltar count towards your 90 days?
Yes. If you’re a British citizen or another non-EU visitor (for example from the US, Canada or Australia), GOV.UK says any time you spend in Gibraltar counts alongside your time in the Schengen Area towards the 90-day limit in any 180-day period. Arrival and departure days count as full days, as they do elsewhere in Schengen.
For example, say you fly into Gibraltar on 2 November 2026, stay there for a week, then spend the rest of the month on the Costa del Sol:
- 2 to 8 November in Gibraltar: 7 days
- 9 to 29 November in Spain: 21 days
- Total counted towards your 90: 7 + 21 = 28 days, not 21
Days you spent in Gibraltar before 15 July 2026 don’t count, because the change only applies from the date the agreement took effect.
If you split your time between Gibraltar, Spain and home, the Schengen Calculator 90/180 app can track every trip and show exactly how many days you have left. For how the 180-day count works, see our guide to the 90/180 rule.
Arriving at Gibraltar airport
When you land at Gibraltar International Airport, expect two checks, one after the other:
- a Gibraltar immigration check, by the Gibraltar authorities
- a Schengen check, carried out by Spanish officers on behalf of the Schengen Area
The Schengen check includes registering with the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) where it applies to you, so expect a photo and fingerprints if you haven’t registered before. See our guide to EES for what to expect. ETIAS, the EU’s planned travel authorisation, will also apply once it starts operating.
According to the European Parliament’s research service, Spanish officers can refuse entry to visitors who don’t meet Schengen rules, including anyone who would go over the 90/180 limit.
Once you’ve cleared both checks, you can move freely across the land border into Spain and the wider Schengen Area. For leaving Gibraltar by air, check with your airline about departure checks.
Crossing the land border with Spain
The passport booths at the land border between Gibraltar and La Línea de la Concepción have gone. You can walk or drive between Gibraltar and Spain without routine checks.
That makes day trips easy, whether you’re popping into Gibraltar from the Costa del Sol or heading into Spain from Gibraltar. Just remember that both sides of the border now count towards the same 90 days.
Who the new rules don’t apply to
- Gibraltar residents. The European Parliament’s research service says time residents spend in Gibraltar doesn’t count towards the 90/180 limit, and that they’re exempt from EES and ETIAS. The 90/180 rule still applies to their time in Spain and the rest of the Schengen Area.
- British-Irish dual nationals travelling on an Irish passport. You’re treated as an EU citizen, so the 90-day limit, EES and ETIAS don’t apply. If you travel on your British passport, the rules above apply.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. The 90/180 rule doesn’t apply to you.
If you need a Schengen visa, you apply to Spain, even if you’re mainly visiting Gibraltar. In some cases Spain may issue a visa that isn’t valid for Gibraltar.
Passport rules
To enter Gibraltar on a British passport, your passport must:
- have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive
- be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave Gibraltar or the Schengen Area
Staying longer than 90 days
If you want to stay in Gibraltar for more than 90 days, you need to register and take up residence with HM Government of Gibraltar’s Department of Immigration and Home Affairs (DIHA).
Is the agreement final?
Not yet. The EU Council authorised the agreement to apply provisionally from 15 July 2026, so the rules above are in force now. The European Parliament still has to give its consent, with a vote indicatively scheduled for 14 December 2026. We’ll update this page if anything changes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gibraltar part of the Schengen Area?
No. Gibraltar remains outside Schengen, but since 15 July 2026 Schengen checks apply when you arrive at its airport, and its entry conditions for short-stay visitors match Schengen’s.
Does time in Gibraltar count towards my Schengen 90 days?
Yes, from 15 July 2026, for British and other non-EU visitors. Days before that date don’t count.
Are there still passport checks at the Gibraltar border with Spain?
No. The land border no longer has routine entry and exit checks.
Do I need to register for EES when I fly into Gibraltar?
Yes, if EES applies to you. Spanish officers carry out the Schengen check, including EES registration, at Gibraltar airport.
Does the new rule apply to Gibraltar residents?
No. According to the European Parliament’s research service, residents’ time in Gibraltar doesn’t count towards the 90 days, and they’re exempt from EES and ETIAS.
Can I stay in Gibraltar longer than 90 days?
Only if you register and take up residence with Gibraltar’s Department of Immigration and Home Affairs.
Summary
Gibraltar isn’t formally in Schengen, but since 15 July 2026 it behaves like it for visitors. If you’re British or from another non-EU country, and not a Gibraltar resident, every day in Gibraltar now counts towards your 90 days in any 180, Spanish officers carry out Schengen checks at the airport, and there are no more passport checks at the border with Spain.
If you spend time in both Gibraltar and Spain, it’s easy to lose track. The Schengen Calculator 90/180 app keeps a running count of every day, wherever you are, so you always know where you stand.