Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

Gibraltarians virtually have EU freedom of movement because their (red?) ID cards are never questioned by Spanish border guards and they always get through the border very easily.

It's only third country nationals who have difficulties at the border although that will resolve itself with the introduction of EES ie they will be hived off to a separate queue with EES passport readers which will free up the flow through the existing passport shed for everyone else.

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

No, not at all. Those silly surveys only look at how many countries you can enter for a short visit without needing a visa beforehand. The "winners" are those that give easy entry to those 2 or 3 extra dictatorships that are the LAST places anyone would want to visit anyway...

What I wrote about is the biggest plunge in 'passport strength' in moden history. Never mind the right to easily visit someplace, we lost the right to LIVE in 31 other countries!

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

Good headline but not strictly accurate. The right still exists albeit with different strings attached.

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

Please explain

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

Not Gibraltar but similar problemThe sovereignty of the Falkland Islands will not be up for discussion as long as they want to remain a British territory, Lord Cameron has said.

BBC today

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

Simples, you can move almost anywhere in the world as long as you conform to the immigration requirements of that country.
To live in the EU now with a British Passport you must meet the healthcare and financial requirements, all brexit did was let the EU treat the UK the same as the rest of the world.

Another questiion, cause we may want to visit Gib at some point..
As a Brit with a British passport can I just walk over the Spanish border without issue?
And as a Spanish resident van I walk back without issue?

If yes to both then we may visit.....

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

That is not the same thing as having a right. A right is something you can exercise without prior request.

To call that "rights with different strings attached" is "alternative facts".

Incidentally, you had to meet healthcare and financial requirements previously in order to be considered exercising your rights.

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

For entering Gibraltar, just show your passport. It may be stamped by Spanish border guard as you are leaving Schengen (show your TIE and they may not), and you will be almost waved through by Gibraltar border official after a quick look, just like returning to UK. For re-entry into Spain, since you have residency, make sure you take your TIE card and show both to the Spanish official, and you should be let in. It's those who are coming from UK who may be asked about onward/return travel, accommodation and finance. They are stricter than officials you meet at Alicante or Malaga airport.

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

"It's those who are coming from UK who may be asked about onward/return travel, accommodation and finance.It's those who are coming from UK who may be asked about onward/return travel, accommodation and finance."
That is not complete truth. Anyone without EU passport/residency card will be subject to above, not just Brits.

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

Yes, that's the rule but talking specifically about the border in Gibraltar, because of the ongoing stalemate over post-Brexit agreement between Spain and UK on Gibraltar, travellers from UK seem to get singled out for particular scrutiny.
BTW, someone from Torrox who was on a daytrip to Gibraltar on Saturday stated they experienced no trouble at the border and none of their bags or cases were opened searching for dairy products, fresh fish and meat which can no longer be brought over into Spain/EU. In contrast, Dutch border officials were confiscating ham sandwiches brought over by UK lorry drivers early in 2021 just after the end of the transition period.

Re: Spanish boarder issues with Gibraltar
 

Most of the fish and meat products sold in Gibraltar are now coming in from Spain or Ireland.. Other traditional British products now register in Ireland which enables them to export freely to the EU - take a closer look at the labels and you will see an Irish (north or south) or Dutch address.

I agree that British people seem to be closely scrutinised at the Spain/Gib border, more so than at Malaga and I have also noticed how differently I am treated with my Irish passport.

If no agreement is reached on Schengen, this will be the new normal and EES and ETIAS booths will have to be installed and new non-EU lanes set up for both vehicles and foot crossings. We noticed that the Spanish border force booth has recently been moved nearer to the customs area in the vehicle section, presumably because they are getting ready for the changes. Of course there is a chance that everyone will have to queue together meaning we will all be held up by the third country nationals because EES and ETIAS will slow things down considerably.