Spain's Internal Passports: A 18th-19th Century Relic Restricting Regional Travel and Economic Growth

In the 18th and 19th centuries, traveling between regions in Spain, such as from Galicia to Castilla y León, required internal passports. These documents were necessary due to regional administrative autonomy, customs, and border controls. Each region had its own passport format, creating confusion and delays. Obtaining a passport involved applying to local authorities, providing identification and travel reasons, and paying fees, which could take days or weeks. These internal passports hindered the free movement of people, impacting the economy by increasing costs and slowing transactions for merchants and transporters. Socially, they created obstacles for families living in different regions to reunite. Internal passports were abolished in the second half of the 19th century, facilitating free movement and contributing to national unification and economic development.