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New Border Controls and the Impact on Yachting

The Schengen Area still allows yachts to move freely between Spain, France and Italy, but the situation is changing as several countries have reintroduced temporary internal border controls.

France currently has temporary border controls in place, including at its borders with Spain and Italy. This does not mean that yachts cannot enter or leave France, but it does mean that authorities can carry out checks on people travelling by land, sea or air.

Italy has introduced a new measure affecting travel from Spain, with targeted checks on non-EU nationals arriving from Spain by sea and air. This is particularly relevant to yachting because Spain and Italy are connected by major Mediterranean yacht routes.

For the yachting industry, the main impact is not a restriction on yacht movements themselves. Yachts can continue cruising between Spain, France and Italy. The greater concern is the movement of the people onboard, particularly non-EU crew and guests.

Crew changes therefore require more careful planning. Before a crew member travels, yacht managers and captains should verify their passport, visa or immigration status, Schengen entry date, remaining days and embarkation/disembarkation arrangements.

The key message for yacht operations is:

Schengen no longer automatically means "no border checks."

Yachts can continue to move around the Mediterranean, but captains, yacht managers and crew agencies should be prepared for possible immigration checks and ensure that all crew and passenger documentation is in order before moving between Spain, France and Italy.

For the 2026 yachting season, Spain–Italy movements and France's controls on its Spanish and Italian borders are areas that deserve particular attention when planning yacht itineraries and crew changes.