Working in Gibraltar by Nationality
Whether you can work in Gibraltar depends on your passport. British and EU citizens need no work permit. Non-EU nationals need an employer to sponsor one. And since June 2026, living here is tied to holding a qualifying job. Pick your country below for the exact 2026 route.
New to the rules? Start with our full 2026 guide to who needs a permit, then pick your nationality below for the specifics.
EU or EEA citizen? You can work without a permit, see what that means for EU and EEA nationals.
Hiring rather than job-hunting? See the employer guide to sponsoring and hiring.
British citizens
EU & EEA citizens
Non-EU nationals
Frequently asked questions
Do EU citizens need a work permit to work in Gibraltar?
No. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals can work in Gibraltar without a work permit. Many live in Spain and commute across the border as frontier workers.
Do non-EU nationals need a work permit for Gibraltar?
Yes. Non-EU, non-British nationals need a work permit sponsored by a Gibraltar-registered employer, who must first show no Gibraltarian or EEA worker was available. Processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.
Do I need a job before I can live in Gibraltar?
Increasingly, yes. Under the residency criteria announced in June 2026, a new residence permit generally requires an employment contract paying at least around £37,500, and the permit lapses eight weeks after a job ends. The job has become the route to residency.
Last updated: 22 June 2026
Ethan Roworth is a Gibraltar-based writer and one of the founders of Norry Group. He covers the Gibraltar and Spain border region: cross-border work, daily life, business, and the markets that move between the two.