New Gibraltar Residence Criteria

Last reviewed: 17 June 2026

Current status: HM Government of Gibraltar has announced a new Residence Criteria framework, but the regulations that will give it legal effect have not yet been published. The information below explains the Government’s published policy proposals and should be checked again when the final regulations and guidance are available.

Gibraltar’s New Residence Framework

Gibraltar has announced a revised framework for people applying for residence. The proposed system is intended to link residence more closely to genuine employment or business activity, suitable accommodation, tax and social insurance contributions, and continuing compliance with Gibraltar law.

The first important distinction is that:

• permission to enter Gibraltar
• permission to work in Gibraltar; and
• approval of a residence application

are separate matters.

Visa-free entry, a Gibraltar employment contract, permission to work, purchasing a property or signing a tenancy agreement does not automatically establish a right to reside.

The detailed requirements remain subject to the final implementing regulations.

Who Will the New Criteria Affect?

The framework is primarily intended to apply to people seeking residence in Gibraltar under the new regime after 6 October 2025.

The Government policy paper states that the new criteria will not apply to:

• current holders of Gibraltar identity cards; or
• current Gibraltar residents who obtained residence before 6 October 2025.

Those residents are expected to remain under the regime that applied to them before that date.

However, simply having been physically present in Gibraltar before 6 October 2025 may not be sufficient. Someone who was in Gibraltar but did not hold a residence card is expected to fall under the new framework, unless the authorities exercise discretion to allow an application under the previous regime.

Anyone whose position falls between the two systems should obtain confirmation before making important employment, property or family decisions.

Employment, Earnings and Employer Requirements

Under the announced framework, an employment-based residence application will normally need to be supported by a qualifying Gibraltar employment contract.

The Government policy paper currently uses £37,500 gross annual earnings as the relevant benchmark. This represents Gibraltar’s average gross annual earnings for the applicable year, rounded to the nearest £500.

This should not be treated as a permanently fixed salary figure. The intention is for the threshold to be reviewed and published annually in the Gibraltar Gazette.

The employing business will also be expected to:

• have traded in or from Gibraltar for at least one year
• be properly registered and licensed
• have its tax, social insurance, registration, licensing and regulatory payments up to date; and
• continue satisfying these requirements while the residence permit remains in force.

A job offer alone will therefore not guarantee residence. Both the applicant and the employer may be assessed.

Prospective applicants can review current jobs in Gibraltar, but should establish whether the employment and employer meet the residence requirements before committing to a move.

Applicants Under 30: The proposed framework allows the salary requirement to be waived for an applicant under 30 where the employer pays tax and social insurance contributions as though the employee earned the applicable average annual earnings figure.

The employer would need to continue making contributions at that level until the employee’s salary reaches the required threshold.

This is not a general exemption for all younger workers. It depends upon the employer accepting and meeting the additional contribution requirement.

Sector-Specific Exceptions: The policy paper also allows for the earnings threshold to be waived where the Chief Minister considers that a particular sector requires workers whose normal earnings fall below the general benchmark.

Any such exception should be confirmed through official regulations or published sector guidance. An applicant should not assume that a sector exemption applies merely because a role is difficult to fill.

Accommodation Requirements

Applicants will be expected to show that they have suitable accommodation in Gibraltar as their genuine primary residence.

Under the published proposals:

• a tenancy should normally be for at least 12 months
• holiday accommodation and short-term rentals will not qualify
• an applicant who purchases a property must have it genuinely available for their exclusive residential use
• the property must not be let to another person during the residence-permit period; and
• future applications based on living aboard a vessel will not be accepted.

Existing residence-permit holders who already live aboard a vessel are expected to be protected.

Buying or renting a home will provide evidence of accommodation, but it will not independently create an entitlement to residence. Prospective residents should review housing and accommodation in Gibraltar.

Age and Vetting Requirements

Applicants will generally be expected to:

• be aged 55 or under; and
• provide official vetting documentation from their country of origin.

The proposed age requirement is not absolute. The Chief Minister is expected to have discretion to approve an applicant over 55 where their residence is considered to be in Gibraltar’s interests.

An applicant should not rely on that discretion without receiving confirmation that their circumstances will be considered.

The framework also allows residence to be refused, suspended or revoked on good-standing, public-policy, public-health or public-security grounds.

New Businesses and Self-Employment

Additional financial safeguards are proposed where:

• the employing business has traded for less than one year; or
• the applicant is newly registered as self-employed.

The Government may require an advance deposit covering:

• the first year’s employee and employer social insurance contributions; and
• tax calculated on Gibraltar’s applicable average gross annual earnings at a rate of 25%.

The policy paper states that the deposit would be returned when the business ceases and that the Minister for Business would have discretion to waive the full amount in defined circumstances.

Applicants should not attempt to calculate or pay this deposit without official instructions. The final regulations will need to clarify the calculation, payment procedure, available waivers and circumstances in which a deposit may be retained or returned.

Business registration may also take account of factors including:

• employment created in Gibraltar
• skills required locally
• suitable commercial premises
• the applicant’s tax history; and
• the proposed generation of economic activity in Gibraltar.

Annual Renewal and Continuing Compliance

Residence permits are proposed to be renewed annually rather than granted indefinitely.

Applicants will need to continue meeting the conditions on which residence was granted. This is expected to include:

• continuing qualifying employment or business activity
• maintaining suitable accommodation
• ensuring tax and social insurance contributions remain current
• providing complete and accurate information; and
• reporting material changes in circumstances.

A permit may be refused, suspended or revoked where the applicant no longer meets the criteria or fails to disclose relevant information.

The policy paper also proposes that a residence permit will lapse eight weeks after a Notice of Termination of Terms of Engagement is filed, unless the Director of Immigration and Home Affairs is satisfied that the individual has secured a qualifying new employment contract.

A permit may also lapse if tax or social insurance payments stop. An employee may be protected where they can prove that the contributions were deducted from their salary but were not passed on by the employer.

Anyone changing employer, becoming self-employed or losing employment should therefore obtain advice immediately rather than waiting until the next annual renewal.

Spouses, Children and Other Family Members

Under the proposed framework, a principal applicant may generally be accompanied by:

• their spouse; and
• their children.

Parents and wider dependants are not included within the proposed automatic family route.

Where a spouse is included, the principal applicant is expected to pay an amount equivalent to the maximum employee social insurance contribution on the spouse’s behalf.

The policy paper also proposes a route for the unmarried partner of a person with Gibraltarian Status where evidence is provided of a durable relationship lasting at least two years. This is a separate provision and should not be assumed to apply identically to every residence applicant.

The final regulations will need to confirm the documents required, the treatment of adult children, students, separated families and other individual circumstances.

Healthcare, Education and Scholarships

The Government policy paper proposes that residence will provide access to certain core services for the resident and qualifying immediate family members.

These include:

• access to the Group Practice Medical Scheme for the resident, spouse and qualifying children
• schooling in Gibraltar for qualifying children; and
• possible scholarship eligibility for a child after the required period of continuous lawful residence and uninterrupted tax and social insurance contributions.

Children are generally described as those under 18 or, for specified purposes, those continuing in qualifying full-time or tertiary education.

The detailed entitlement conditions must still be confirmed. Residence should not be treated as an unconditional guarantee of every healthcare, education or financial benefit.

Further general information is available in Gibraltar.com’s guides to healthcare and insurance and education and schools.

University of Gibraltar Students: The policy paper proposes that University of Gibraltar students will be able to access the benefits associated with residence while studying, provided the required Group Practice Medical Scheme contribution is paid.

It currently identifies an annual contribution of £470 for the student, with the same contribution payable for an accompanying spouse and each qualifying child.

This figure and the detailed family conditions should be checked against the final regulations before an application is made.

Residence Does Not Automatically Provide Every Public Benefit

The announced framework distinguishes between core services connected with residence and wider public benefits.

The policy paper states that residence alone will not automatically provide entitlement to:

• public or affordable housing
• elderly residential care
• domiciliary care
• a berth under a Government berthing scheme; or
• other wider social benefits.

These services may be governed by separate legislation, qualifying periods and eligibility rules.

Holding a residence permit should therefore not be confused with permanent residence, Gibraltarian Status, British citizenship or an automatic entitlement to the full range of public services.

Category 2 and HEPSS Applicants

Category 2 and High Executive Possessing Specialist Skills, or HEPSS, are specialist tax and residence arrangements with their own qualification requirements.

The Government policy paper does not set out detailed changes to either route. Published professional interpretation indicates that the ordinary employment-based framework is not intended to replace the existing Category 2 and HEPSS arrangements.

Applicants should nevertheless verify:

• whether the final regulations expressly exclude these categories
• which residence documents are required
• the applicable accommodation and tax conditions; and
• whether accompanying family members are affected.

The position should be confirmed with Gibraltar Finance, the Department of Immigration and Home Affairs or an appropriately qualified adviser before relying on a specialist status.

Proposed Changes to Permanent Residence and Gibraltarian Status

An ordinary residence permit, permanent residence and Gibraltarian Status are different legal stages.

Separate proposed legislation would change some long-term qualification periods for new applicants. The proposals include:

• increasing the relevant permanent-residence qualification period from five to ten years for affected routes; and
• increasing the long-residence period used for an application for Gibraltarian Status from ten to twenty years for new residents applying after 6 October 2025.

The Government policy paper also refers to British citizenship as part of the proposed route to Gibraltarian Status.

These changes arise through separate legislative proposals and should not be presented as fully operational until the relevant Bill has been enacted and the final transitional provisions are confirmed.

Gibraltarian Status is also not necessarily automatic at the end of a qualifying period. The statutory route and any ministerial discretion must still be satisfied.

Proposed Fees and Penalties

The policy paper proposes:

• a residence application fee of £250
• a renewal fee of £100; and
• a fine of up to £2,500 for a person residing in Gibraltar without the required residence permit.

These amounts remain subject to the final regulations and should be checked before applying.

Before Planning Your Move

Before committing to employment, accommodation, school places, shipping costs or other relocation expenses:

1. Establish which immigration and residence route applies to your nationality and circumstances.
2. Check whether you are protected by an existing residence card or transitional arrangement.
3. Confirm that your proposed employment and employer meet the applicable requirements.
4. Verify the current earnings threshold and whether any under-30 or sector waiver applies.
5. Check that the proposed accommodation will qualify.
6. Obtain the required vetting, identity, employment and family documents.
7. Confirm the position for your spouse and children.
8. Obtain specific guidance if you are self-employed, establishing a new business, over 55, or applying through Category 2 or HEPSS.
9. Check the final regulations and current Government application guidance before paying non-refundable costs.

For a broader overview, see Relocating to Gibraltar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Gibraltar’s new Residence Criteria already in force?
The framework has been officially announced, but the Government stated on 17 June 2026 that the implementing regulations were still being drafted. The detailed criteria should therefore be treated as proposals until the regulations are published.

Who is expected to come under the new framework?
It is primarily intended for new residence applicants after 6 October 2025. Current Gibraltar identity-card holders and residents who obtained residence before that date are expected to remain under the previous regime.

I was living in Gibraltar before 6 October 2025 but did not have a residence card. Am I protected?
Not automatically. The policy paper states that people who were present but did not hold a residence card are expected to come under the new regime unless discretion is exercised to permit an application under the previous rules.

Can a British citizen move to Gibraltar without applying for residence?
British citizens do not generally require an entry visa, but visa-free entry is not the same as a right to reside indefinitely. A British citizen wishing to live in Gibraltar long-term must comply with the applicable residence and registration requirements.

Does a Gibraltar job offer guarantee residence?
No. The applicant’s employment contract, earnings, employer, accommodation, age, vetting and continuing compliance may all be considered. Work permission and residence approval are separate decisions.

Is £37,500 a permanent minimum salary?
No. It is the current benchmark stated in the Government policy paper and is based on average gross annual earnings in Gibraltar. The amount is intended to be reviewed and published annually.

Can someone under 30 qualify while earning less than the threshold?
Possibly. The proposed waiver requires the employer to pay tax and social insurance contributions as though the employee earned the applicable average annual earnings figure. It is not an automatic exemption.

Can workers in lower-paid sectors qualify?
The policy paper provides for possible sector-specific waivers where Gibraltar requires workers whose normal earnings fall below the general benchmark. A waiver would need to be officially approved and should not be assumed.

Can someone over 55 apply?
The general proposed limit is 55 or under, but the Chief Minister is expected to retain discretion to approve an older applicant where their residence is considered to be in Gibraltar’s interests.

Does buying a Gibraltar property give someone residence?
No. Property ownership may satisfy the accommodation element of an application, but it does not independently establish a right to reside.

Will a short-term rental qualify?
The proposed framework requires a tenancy of at least 12 months for use as the applicant’s primary residence. Holiday and short-term accommodation will not qualify.

Can a new applicant live aboard a boat?
The policy paper states that new applications based on living aboard a vessel will not be accepted. Existing permit holders who already live aboard a vessel are expected to be protected.

What additional requirements apply to a new business or newly self-employed applicant?
A deposit may be required covering the first year’s employee and employer social insurance contributions and tax calculated under the formula contained in the policy paper. Final regulations should confirm the calculation and procedure.

What happens if the resident loses their job?
The proposed rule is that a permit will lapse eight weeks after the employment termination notice is filed unless the authorities are satisfied that the person has obtained a qualifying new contract.

Can a spouse and children accompany the applicant?
The proposed framework generally permits a spouse and children to accompany the principal applicant, subject to documentation and contribution requirements. Parents and wider dependants are not included within the proposed automatic route.

Does residence provide access to Government housing and social care?
Not automatically. The policy paper expressly separates residence from wider public benefits, including public or affordable housing, elderly residential care, domiciliary care and Government berthing schemes.

Are Category 2 and HEPSS applicants affected?
The Government policy paper does not expressly alter these specialist routes. Professional interpretation indicates that they are expected to continue separately, but this must be verified against the final regulations and current Gibraltar Finance requirements.

Is permanent residence now granted after ten years?
A separate Bill proposes increasing the relevant qualification period from five to ten years for affected applicants. This should not be described as an enacted general rule until the legislation and transitional provisions are confirmed.

Will new residents need to wait twenty years for Gibraltarian Status?
The Government proposes increasing the long-residence period for new applicants from ten to twenty years. Gibraltarian Status is separate from ordinary residence and remains subject to its statutory requirements and any applicable discretion.

Where should applicants obtain official confirmation?
Applicants should use the latest information from HM Government of Gibraltar and the Department of Immigration and Home Affairs and check the published regulations before making financial or contractual commitments.

Official Information

• HM Government of Gibraltar - New Residence Criteria Framework
• HM Government of Gibraltar - Residence Criteria Policy Paper