Guide · La Jonquera – Le Perthus
Crossing the Spain–France border: a practical guide
Between Barcelona and the South of France, you cross the border on the motorway, between La Jonquera and Le Perthus, whether you are heading north or coming back to Spain for a flight. Most of the time you drive straight through, but checks can happen. Here is what every passenger needs to carry and what changes on each side.
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- Spain and France
- Schengen
- per passenger
- 1 ID
- emergency number on both sides
- 112
The border, live
- Barcelona → Girona (AP-7)Checking…
- Girona → La Jonquera (AP-7 / N-II)Checking…
- French side (A9)Border checks possibleA9 status on Bison Futé
France has notified checks at its internal borders until 30-04-2027 (European Commission): carry ID for every passenger.
- Booked in advance, in your name
- Fixed price per vehicle
- VAT invoice
- GPS log of every ride
- Support 24/7 in your language
A QuickPickups service
Documents
The papers every passenger needs
Spain and France are both in the Schengen area, so there is no fixed border post where everyone has to stop. However, France has reintroduced checks at its internal borders and extends them regularly, which means officers can ask every occupant of the vehicle for ID, at Le Perthus as well as on nearby roads.
Every passenger, children and babies included, needs valid identification: a national ID card for EU citizens, otherwise a passport. Travellers from other countries need their passport and, if their nationality requires it, a Schengen visa or a valid residence permit.
Keep your documents to hand, not in a suitcase at the bottom of the boot: if there is a check, it makes things easier for everyone.
Official sources
- Your Europe (European Commission) · travel documents within the EU
- Service-public.fr · French public administration
Door-to-door comparison
Train, bus, own car or private driver: the real numbers for your group
Choose where you start, where you are going and how many of you are travelling. The private transfer price comes live from our booking engine; train, bus and tolls come from published fares, with their date. You decide.
The private transfer is priced for the whole vehicle; we divide it by the number of travellers so you can compare.
Sources (checked 27-10-2026): train times and fares from Barcelona-Sants (kombo.co, Trainline), FlixBus routes, 2026 Vinci Autoroutes/ASF rates (class 1). Driving times: OSRM, without traffic. Indicative: check with each operator.
If you live in France
Flying from Barcelona or Girona: what time should you leave?
Perpignan-Rivesaltes airport has few routes and none to Spain: for most destinations you fly from Girona (≈ 1 h 20 from Perpignan) or Barcelona (≈ 2 h 30). Enter your flight time and we work out the pick-up for the worst case, border checks included.
Recommended pick-up
09:50
- Expected arrival between 12:20 and 13:00.
- Driving: 147 to 170 min (206 km).
- Border and traffic margin: 5–20 min.
- Airport margin: 120 min before the flight.
A careful estimate, not official data: no public source publishes border waiting times.
What’s included
A fixed price with nothing hidden
- Fixed price per vehicle, taxes and tolls included: the price you book is the price you pay.
- Free waiting time: 60 minutes at the airport (from the actual landing), 30 minutes at the cruise port and Sants station, 15 minutes at any other address.
- Live flight tracking: if you are delayed, we move the pick-up time.
- Meet and greet: your driver comes to meet you with a sign bearing your name.
- Door-to-door service, with your luggage in the same vehicle all the way.
- Driver’s name, phone number, car model and number plate emailed to you before the ride.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up.
- VAT invoice in your name or your company’s.
Optional or to tell us about
- Child seats: on request, for a small supplement. Add one for any child under 135 cm.
- Extra stops or last-minute changes.
- Bulky items (bikes, double buggies, equipment): mention them when you book.
- Tips, entirely optional.
From a saloon car to a 22-seat minibus: up to 22 passengers in one vehicle, and for larger groups the widget prices several vehicles. Secure online payment when you book.
Your fixed price in a few minutes
Choose your route, date and number of passengers: from or to Barcelona or Girona airport, the widget shows the fixed price per vehicle, tolls included, and you book online. For a special request, we reply by WhatsApp, phone or email, 24/7.
Children
Minors: what to check
A child travels with their own ID. If they are travelling without their parents, or with one parent whose surname they do not share, the rules depend on their nationality: check with the authorities of their country before you leave and, where relevant, bring a signed consent letter and a copy of the parent’s ID.
For safety, children under 135 cm need a child seat: request one with your booking (small supplement).
What changes
Once you are across the border
- Same time zone: no change of clocks between Spain and France.
- The 112 emergency number works on both sides.
- Mobile phones: within the EU, roaming is generally charged as in your home plan; check with your provider.
- Motorway: on the French side, the A9 is a toll road. Tolls are always included in our prices.
- Different speed limits, which your driver knows and respects.
- The language changes, but your driver and our team can help you in English.
Shopping in La Jonquera
Tobacco and alcohol: quantities are limited
La Jonquera is known for its shops. If you ask for a shopping stop, bear in mind that the quantities of tobacco and alcohol you can bring into France are regulated by French customs. Check the official customs website before buying: if you go over the limits, the traveller is the one held responsible.
A stop has to be requested when booking and is confirmed before you travel.
Official sources
- French customs (douane.gouv.fr) · traveller allowances
Pets
Travelling with a dog or cat
To travel from one EU country to another, a dog or cat generally needs to be microchipped, have an EU pet passport and an up-to-date rabies vaccination. Check the requirements with your vet.
Mention the animal before you book: we will confirm whether the vehicle can take it and under what conditions (in a travel crate, for example).
Heading back to Spain
Crossing from France into Spain
We also collect you in France and drive you back to Spain, for example from Perpignan to Barcelona airport or to Girona airport. Only the direction changes: you cross at Le Perthus and La Jonquera again, and on the Spanish side the police and customs can stop vehicles entering the country and ask every occupant for ID.
Keep the same documents to hand as on the way out, in the cabin and not in the boot: ID cards or passports for every passenger, children included, and a visa or residence permit if your nationality requires one. If you are flying from outside the Schengen area, you will show your passport again at the airport.
If you have a flight, tell us its time when you book. We plan the pick-up with a margin for possible checks and for the traffic around Barcelona, and the price stays the same whatever the wait at the border.
Official sources
- Spanish Ministry of the Interior · entry requirements for Spain
Time at the border
How long does the crossing take?
Most of the time, none at all: the vehicle drives straight through. During stepped-up checks or peak holiday departures, the wait can range from a few minutes to longer. Our price is fixed, so waiting at the border does not change what you pay. If you have a deadline in France, tell us and we will set off with a margin.
Our team answers in English, French and Spanish by phone and WhatsApp, 24/7, so if anything comes up on the road you always have someone to call.
Included in your fixed price
- Fixed price per vehicle, no meter, no surprises
- Tolls and parking included
- Free waiting: 60 min at the airport, 30 min at the cruise port and Sants station, 15 min at any other address
- Real-time flight tracking
- Meet & greet: driver with a name sign at arrivals
- Luggage help, no card surcharge
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport to go from Barcelona to Perpignan?
For an EU citizen, a valid national ID card is enough. Other nationalities need a passport and, depending on the country, a visa or residence permit.
Are there checks at the border?
Yes, they can take place at any time at Le Perthus and on nearby roads. Every passenger must be able to show their ID.
Does my child need their own ID?
Yes, every child needs their own. If they travel without their parents, check the rules of their country of nationality.
Does waiting at the border cost extra?
No. The price is fixed and does not change with border waiting time or traffic.
Are there checks when coming back into Spain?
They can happen. Spanish police and customs may check vehicles entering Spain at La Jonquera, so every passenger should keep their ID to hand on the way back as well.
Can we stop in La Jonquera?
Yes, if the stop is requested when booking. Stay within the quantities allowed by French customs.
Does the driver speak English?
Our team answers in English. Tell us your language when booking and we take it into account when assigning a driver, subject to availability.
Ready to book your ride?
A fixed price, a booking in your name and a driver waiting with a name sign. Check your price now, with no obligation.