Gibraltar employee residence applicants must separate work approval from permission to live

Check the transition before using the new application route

Gibraltar's employee-residence applicants should first establish which residency regime applies, then coordinate the residence and employment decisions. The government launched its residency portal in July 2026 alongside regulations commencing on 14 July. This current guide explains the application sequence; it does not announce a new November entry scheme or imply that a job offer guarantees residency.

The portal's scope guidance says the new rules apply to applications from 6 October 2025 unless the person held a valid Civilian Registration Card or Permit of Residence on that date. A former card that had already expired is not sufficient for that protection. Holders of a qualifying valid document remain under the previous regime and deal directly with Immigration and Home Affairs rather than using the new portal. The Gibraltar red identity card, denoting right of abode, is also outside the new framework. Use the scope page before paying for an application through the wrong process.

Standard employee eligibility involves more than the salary figure

The employee eligibility page lists a contract of at least one year with a fully registered, licensed and compliant Gibraltar business, and current gross annual earnings of at least £37,500. It identifies that figure as the locally measured average, updated annually, rather than a permanent threshold. Applicants also need evidence of suitable Gibraltar accommodation: a rental must be the main home for at least 12 months, not a holiday let; owned accommodation must be available for exclusive use.

The standard age condition is 55 or under and the checklist includes official vetting from the country of most recent residence. Exemption applications can be considered where age, salary or business-registration requirements are not met, using an explanation in the application; that is an assessment rather than an entitlement. New applications from people living on vessels are excluded, with a distinction for people already living on that vessel before the rules. Partners of Gibraltarians and university students should follow their separate routes instead of assuming employee criteria apply.

The separate documents checklist calls for passports and any national identity cards, with both sides of the latter uploaded. Each included dependant aged 18 or over also needs official vetting from the country of most recent residence. Use that checklist to prepare each person's evidence individually, rather than assuming the principal applicant's vetting covers the household.

Nationality changes the work-permit sequence

The employment guidance exempts British, EU, EEA and Swiss nationals from the work-permit requirement. They may start employment and apply for residency concurrently, but employment alone does not establish the right to live in Gibraltar. Other nationals need their employer to obtain work-permit approval in principle before the residence application can proceed. Where a work permit is needed, the residence decision must be approved and the residence card issued before work begins.

A work permit is specific to an employer and role; it cannot be transferred to another employer or different duties. The employer must use the appropriate employment application and supporting evidence rather than expecting the worker's residency application to replace that step. Current work-permit fees are £70 to apply and £36 to renew. Renewal should be sought no later than 14 days before expiry. Keep those employment dates distinct from the residence-card dates and obtain the two outcomes through their respective government departments.

Budget for the residence fee and any separate deposit

The portal's fees page lists a £250 residency application charge, £250 for each included dependant and £20 for annual renewal. These charges do not represent the full cost in cases requiring a deposit. New businesses, first-time self-employment, some younger lower-paid employees and applications including a spouse or civil partner can involve different deposit obligations. Use the named fees resource to identify both the payer and the applicable basis before submitting.

For an employee under 30 whose salary requirement is waived, the employer deposit is calculated using the £37,500 benchmark and is payable for each year below 30. The portal gives an approximate £14,420 figure, while warning that some other deposit calculations vary with salary. Its separately identified spouse or civil-partner deposit is currently £2,121.21, charged at the counter rather than online. These deposits should not be confused with an application fee or assumed refundable on the same terms. Confirm the applicable amount for the household and preserve the receipt alongside the residence and employment approvals.