Gibraltar is a self-governing British Overseas Territory which was ceded by Spain to the UK under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. We have a unique social and political history which has influenced and, ultimately, created the modern Gibraltar of today.
Political & Immigration Status
Gibraltar is a self-governing British Overseas Territory. We have our own Parliament and pass all of our own laws. Under our constitutional arrangements with the UK, they remain responsible for our foreign affairs and defence.
We fully control our own immigration policy and do not follow criteria set by the UK.
UK, EU and EEA nationals are all permitted to enter Gibraltar upon production of a valid national identity card or passport issued by such a State. A family member is also admitted into Gibraltar on the same basis. Such nationals are also permitted to reside in Gibraltar and cross the land frontier into Spain.
US, Canadian, Australian and several South American nationals do not require a visa to enter Gibraltar. Other nationals can check visa entry requirement on the website of the Borders and Coast Guard Agency: http://www.gibraltarborder.gi.
The UK/EU Trade & Mobility Treaty Agreement on Gibraltar is due to be implemented on 15 July 2026. This will see the removal of the land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain and allow all Gibraltar residents, irrespective of nationality, free access to move throughout the entire Schengen zone (including the EU) without a visa.
Legal System
We have a common-law legal system modelled on that of the United Kingdom.
English case law is generally binding in Gibraltar and this is often relied upon by our courts. Our laws consist of Gibraltar Acts of Parliament, the English common law and principles of equity, some English Acts of Parliament which have force of law in Gibraltar and, following Brexit, retained EU law. The practice and procedure used in civil and criminal matters largely reflect the practice and procedure used in England and Wales with variations to suit local conditions.
The court system in Gibraltar is similar to that of England and Wales. Gibraltar has its own Magistrates Court, Coroner’s Court and Supreme Court.
The Magistrates Court primarily deals with lower level criminal and administrative matters.
The Supreme Court is the equivalent of the High Court and Crown Court in England and Wales. It has unlimited jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil or criminal proceedings. It deals with more serious criminal matters which fall out of the remit of the Magistrates Court. Family, Chancery and Admiralty legal matters are also heard in the Supreme Court.
The first appellate court is the Gibraltar Court of Appeal (consisting of recently retired English Court of Appeal Judges) that sits in Gibraltar in two 10/15 day sittings namely in September/October and February/March. A right of further appeal lies to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, in essence the UK Supreme Court.
Gibraltar also has an Industrial Tribunal that deals with employment law matters.
Financial Services Regulation
The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission regulates financial services businesses including our firm and other trust and company managers. We have other regulators who regulate data protection, the activities of gambling companies and estate agents.
We have high standards of regulation and Gibraltar is on the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) of well-regulated and compliant jurisdictions.
Gibraltar also has passporting rights with the UK and our regulated financial services companies are able to register with the UK regulatory authorities and do business there. This is unique to us as we are the only jurisdiction which has these specific rights. UK companies can, likewise, passport their financial services into Gibraltar.
Lifestyle, People, Geography & Communications
Lifestyle
Gibraltar has a thriving and diverse economy. It is built on four distinct sectors: financial services, shipping, tourism and e-gaming. Gibraltar’s prosperous economy has proven to be strong and robust with our gross domestic product steadily growing year on year.
Gibraltar offers a vibrant property market with an excellent choice of high-quality housing. Gibraltar provides diverse marina facilities capable of berthing large luxury yachts. It is a Mediterranean territory and as such enjoys excellent weather and lifestyle.
Gibraltarians are enterprising and hardworking and have perfected a happy balance between industrious activity and leisurely enjoyment of life. Highest quality accommodation is available both for purchase and rental. All the commercial and business facilities and high-quality professional services which may be required also exist.
Gibraltar is a pleasant and safe place to live. Within a couple of hour’s drive in Spain, there are many attractive places to visit and spend time such as Marbella, Seville, the Sierra Nevada ski resort (next Granada) and the beautiful white sandy beaches of the Tarifa area and the south-west coast of the province of Cadiz.
An excellent quality of life can be enjoyed in Gibraltar which makes it an ideal place for families to relocate to. We have an English education system with our students all being entitled to attend UK universities.
People
The population of Gibraltar is in the region of 38,000. The vast majority of the population are native Gibraltarians of mixed ancestry from Britain, Malta, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
We are a multi-cultural society where Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus live together peacefully as one community. The official language of Gibraltar is English, although the majority of Gibraltarians are typically bilingual, speaking English and Spanish.
Geography & Communications
Gibraltar is located at the southern tip of Spain and covers an area of around 7 square kilometres.
It is one of the two mythological Pillars of Hercules, the other being Jebel Musa on the North African continent across the Strait of Gibraltar. To the Romans, Gibraltar marked not only the end of their “Mare Nostrum”, but also the end of the world, “plus ultra”, nothing beyond. In Greek mythology, Gibraltar was the entrance to Hades.
Gibraltar is physically part of Europe; it is not an island which allows easy access to Spain, Portugal and beyond. With a state-of-the-art international airport, Gibraltar offers flights to and from a number of UK destinations on a daily basis.
We have daily scheduled flights between London Gatwick and London Heathrow, Manchester and Bristol. We also have a ferry service to and from Tangier.
Gibraltar is only about 1 hour and 20 minutes’ drive away from Malaga airport which has an excellent network of flight connections to locations all over the world.
Gibraltar has a deep-sea port which can berth all but the largest of ships. It is an attractive and a convenient port of call at a strategic location both for merchant vessels, cruise liners and yachts. There are two large marinas offering excellent berthing facilities.
Gibraltar is on Central European Time (CET) which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Our clocks go forward one hour between the end of March and October and go back between the beginning of November and April.
Gibraltar has a high-quality digital and fibre-optic internet and telecommunications system as well as a modern postal service.
