Border Crossings in Gibraltar and Other Warnings and Dangers

Warnings and Dangers in Gibraltar: Border Crossings

Over 12 million people go to Gibraltar every year to visit the casinos, military installations, and the Rock of Gibraltar, and more. Here are some of the warnings and dangers about crossing the border from Spain into Gibraltar you should know about before you go.

Bring your Passport

Gibraltar is a self-governing British colony, so if you are traveling there from Spain, you must bring your passport along with you and will have to show it on the way back.

If you needed a visa to enter the United Kingdom, you’ll have to show the visa to visit Gibraltar. Note, if you have a Schengen visa, which allows people to move freely between the twenty-six European countries that signed the Schengen agreement, you will still need an additional visa to visit Gibraltar, as the United Kingdom is not part of this agreement.

If you do forget your passport and are unable to cross into Gibraltar, you can spend some time In La Linea. Not the most exciting place in the world, but you will still be able to see the Rock of Gibraltar.

Crossing the Border

If you are going to enter Gibraltar by car, be prepared for a long wait. The length of the queue to get in and out of Gibraltar is more often a barometer of the political relationship between the UK and Spain. The Spanish Government can make life as difficult as possible for people crossing the Gibraltar border back into Spain, this includes thoroughly checking your passport, your luggage, your car and, if you’re really unlucky, your passport again for good measure.

The UK side will check to see if you have anything recently purchased in the vehicle so they can charge an import tax on it. Remove any recently purchased items from the packaging and throw away the packaging before entering.

The best way to cross the border quickly and without hassle is to park your vehicle on the Spanish side of the border and walk or bicycle across. Once across the border, you can catch a bus wherever you want to go.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about border crossings in Gibraltar.