PEOPLE hoping to move to Gibraltar will now face stricter residency requirements after the government introduced new legislation to ease pressure on the housing market.
The regulations, which came into effect on July 14, require most applicants to have a job with a Gibraltar-based employer that has been operating for at least one year.
Applicants are also expected to earn an income close to Gibraltar’s average annual salary of £37,500.
Workers under 30 may qualify for an exemption if their employer pays the required tax and social contributions.
To qualify, new residents must also prove they have accommodation in Gibraltar. This can be done by either purchasing a property or signing a rental contract of at least 12 months.
Most applicants must be aged 55 or under and pass background checks.
Residence permits will be linked to continued employment. If a resident loses their job, they will have eight weeks to secure another eligible position before their permit expires.
The reforms follow a surge in residency applications in Gibraltar during post-Brexit negotiations with the European Union.
Applications were suspended in October 2025 while the government reviewed the system.
Officials say the changes are designed to ensure new residents make a genuine economic contribution while protecting Gibraltar’s limited housing supply.
The new rules do not affect people who were already resident before October 6, 2025, or those holding Category 2 or High Executive Possessing Specialist Skills (HEPSS) status.
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