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Spain: Update to Response to Information Request ESP18210.E of 1 September 1994 on passport controls and information on the location of the duty-free shop at Madrid International Airport

The following information was provided to the DIRB on 16 February 1995 by an Iberia Airlines of Spain official in Montréal during a telephone interview.

There are several duty-free shops at the Madrid international airport and they are all located in the international transit zone. A passenger departing from Madrid to Canada must go through three passport control checkpoints. The first passport control is performed at the luggage registration area by the airline agents who examine passports, visas and tickets. The second passport control takes place at the entrance of the international transit zone and is performed by Spanish border police officers. No passenger can access the international transit zone without going through the second passport checkpoint. Passengers in the international transit zone must go through a third passport checkpoint before boarding a Canada- bound aircraft. This control is performed by Spanish border police officials with the assistance of the airline agents, and sometimes by Canadian immigration officials from the Canadian Embassy in Madrid. If there are any doubts about the validity of a passport, airline agents may retain the document and hand it over to the Canadian authorities after the aircraft's landing in Canada.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference

Iberia Airlines of Spain, Montréal. 16 February 1995. Telephone interview with official.

Topics: Visas, Airports,