The key figures
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New residency rules in force | 14 July 2026 | Residency Regulations 2026 (LN 166 of 2026) |
| Salary needed for an employee's permit | At least the Gibraltar average, currently £37,500 | HM Government of Gibraltar, residency portal |
| Residence permit fee (first / renewal) | £250 / £20 | Residency Regulations 2026 |
| Permit valid for | 1 year | Residency Regulations 2026 |
| Penalty for living without a permit | £2,500 | Residency Regulations 2026 |
Gibraltar changed its residency rules on 14 July 2026. Under the Residency Regulations 2026, anyone applying to live there on or after 6 October 2025 needs a residence permit, unless they hold a red Gibraltar identity card. For an employee that means a job contract of at least a year paying at least the Gibraltar average, currently £37,500, a home bought or rented for at least 12 months, and being 55 or under, unless an exemption applies. The permit costs £250, lasts a year and renews for £20; living in Gibraltar without one can cost a £2,500 penalty (press release 548/2026).
Who the new rules apply to
- People applying on or after 6 October 2025 need a residence permit under the 2026 Regulations (residency portal).
- Red identity card holders don’t: “holders of Gibraltar identity cards will not be required to hold a residence permit under the new framework.”
- EU, EEA and Swiss nationals covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement keep their residence rights (Regulation 27).
What an employee needs
Under Regulation 7, as summarised by the Government’s residency portal:
- A contract of at least one year paying gross annual earnings of at least the Gibraltar average, “currently £37,500”. The figure is the latest average from the Statistics Office’s Employment Survey, rounded up to the nearest £500, once published by notice in the Gazette.
- An employer that is trading, licensed and compliant in Gibraltar.
- A home: a property you’ve bought, or a rental of at least 12 months (not a holiday let), as your main home.
- Age 55 or under, and passing vetting.
There are waivers for jobs with skills shortages, and people under 30 can earn below the threshold if the employer pays a deposit. The most recent Employment Survey put average earnings at £39,510.90 in October 2025; when that is gazetted, the threshold should rise to £40,000 (our calculation of the rounding; as of 28 October 2026 no notice had been published).
The right to work is separate
British, EU, EEA and Swiss nationals don’t need a work permit: they can start work and apply for residency at the same time. But “employment on its own does not give you the right to live in Gibraltar”. Other nationals need a work permit first, and their residency must be approved before they start work. Details: jobs in Gibraltar.
ID cards and registration cards
| Card | Who it’s for |
|---|---|
| Red identity card | British Overseas Territories citizens with a connection to Gibraltar, and registered Gibraltarians |
| Blue civilian registration card | EU, EEA and Swiss nationals with Withdrawal Agreement rights |
| Magenta civilian registration card | British citizens who aren’t eligible for a red card |
| Green civilian registration card | Other nationals |
Card colours from the Electronic Identity Card Regulations 2015. Since 14 July 2026, British citizens with a right of permanent residence no longer qualify for the red card: that route was deleted from the Civilians Registration Act. Fees at the Department of Immigration and Home Affairs: £37 for a first identity card, £16 to renew, £250 for a first residence permit.
Becoming Gibraltarian
Gibraltarian status now needs 20 years’ residence for people who become resident on or after 6 October 2025, or 10 years for those who held a valid civilian registration card or permit of residence on that date.
What residence doesn’t give
The Government’s policy paper lists public and affordable housing among the “benefits which will not arise from residence” for new residents. Government housing schemes require 15 years’ residence. For the costs of renting and living there, see moving to Gibraltar.
Wealthy residents and senior executives
Two tax schemes come with their own residence route: Category 2 status for wealthy individuals and HEPSS for executives earning over £160,000. Both are explained on tax in Gibraltar.
Limits
This summarises the published rules as of 28 October 2026, not legal advice. The rules are new, so check the residency portal before you apply, and contact the Department of Immigration and Home Affairs with questions about your own case.
Questions
How do I get residency in Gibraltar?
Under the Residency Regulations 2026, in force from 14 July 2026, you apply for a residence permit through the Government's residency portal. As an employee you need a contract of at least one year paying at least the Gibraltar average (currently £37,500 a year), a home you own or rent for at least 12 months as your main home, and to be 55 or under, unless an exemption applies. The permit costs £250 and lasts a year.
Who needs a residence permit in Gibraltar?
The new rules apply to people applying for residency on or after 6 October 2025. Holders of a Gibraltar identity card (the red card) don't need a residence permit, and EU, EEA and Swiss nationals covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement keep their existing rights.
Can a British citizen live in Gibraltar?
A British citizen can work in Gibraltar without a work permit, but working doesn't give the right to live there. To live in Gibraltar they need a residence permit under the 2026 rules, unless they hold a red Gibraltar identity card. Since 14 July 2026, British citizens with permanent residence no longer qualify for the red card.
What is the Gibraltar ID card?
The red identity card shows the right of abode in Gibraltar. Since 14 July 2026 it's for British Overseas Territories citizens with a connection to Gibraltar and people registered as Gibraltarians. Other residents hold civilian registration cards in other colours: blue for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals with Withdrawal Agreement rights, magenta for British citizens without a red card, and green for other nationals.
How long does it take to become Gibraltarian?
Under the new rules, Gibraltarian status needs 20 years' residence for people who become resident on or after 6 October 2025, or 10 years for people who held a valid civilian registration card or permit of residence on that date, according to the Government's residency portal.
More on working in Gibraltar
- Working in Gibraltar: the overview, with pay, tax and the rules in one place
- Jobs in Gibraltar: Live listings, where the 32,206 jobs are, pay by industry, the gaming firms and work permit rules
- Tax in Gibraltar: Income tax under both systems, social insurance, HEPSS and Category 2, and the new Transaction Tax
- Frontier workers: Living in Spain and working in Gibraltar: the treaty, the border, Schengen, tax and healthcare
- Moving to Gibraltar: The steps to move, the housing open to newcomers, prices against pay, and the Spanish alternative
- Minimum wage in Gibraltar: £10.00 an hour from 1 August 2026, one rate from age 15, with weekly, monthly and yearly figures
- Bank holidays in Gibraltar: Every bank and public holiday in 2026 and 2027, from the official Orders, with the days moved off weekends
Sources
- HM Government of Gibraltar, Residency Regulations 2026 published (press release 548/2026) (10 July 2026)
- Residency Regulations 2026 (Legal Notice 166 of 2026), Gibraltar Laws (in force 14 July 2026)
- HM Government of Gibraltar, residency portal: who the rules apply to (updated 4 September 2026)
- HM Government of Gibraltar, residency portal: work permits and employment (updated 12 August 2026)
- Civilians Registration Act, Schedule 1, version of 14 July 2026 (14 July 2026)
- Electronic Identity Card Regulations 2015, reg. 5(4) (consolidated text)
- Department of Immigration and Home Affairs, ID cards and civilian registration cards (checked 28 October 2026)
- HM Government of Gibraltar, Residency policy paper (17 June 2026)