Government Issues Reminder On New Visa Arrangements

The Government has published updated guidance on visa requirements for non-British travellers entering Gibraltar under the new Treaty arrangements.

A statement from the Government follows below:

Technical Notice: Reminder Concerning Visa Arrangements  

NOTE: THIS TECHNICAL NOTICE DOES NOT APPLY TO GIBRALTAR IDENTITY CARD HOLDERS, GIBRALTAR CIVILIAN REGISTRATION CARD HOLDERS OR OTHER BRITISH CITIZENS. 

List of Third Countries Whose Nationals Are Exempt from the  Requirement to be in Possession of a Visa 

1. STATES 

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 

Andorra 

United Arab Emirates 

Antigua and Barbuda 

Albania 

Argentina 

Australia 

Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Barbados 

Brunei 

Brazil 

Bahamas 

Canada 

Chile 

Colombia 

Costa Rica 

Dominica  

Micronesia  

Grenada  

Georgia 

Guatemala 

Honduras 

Israel 

Japan 

Kiribati 

Saint Kitts and Nevis 

South Korea 

Saint Lucia  

Monaco 

Moldova 

Montenegro 

Marshall Islands 

Mauritius 

Mexico 

Malaysia

Nicaragua 

Nauru 

New Zealand 

Panama 

Peru  

Palau  

Paraguay 

Serbia (including holders of Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate  Solomon Islands 

Seychelles 

Singapore 

San Marino 

El Salvador 

Timor-Leste 

Tonga 

Trinidad and Tobago 

Tuvalu 

Ukraine 

United Kingdom  

United States 

Uruguay 

Holy See 

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 

Venezuela 

Samoa 

2. SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 

Hong Kong SAR 

Macao SAR 

3. ENTITIES AND TERRITORIAL AUTHORITIES THAT ARE NOT RECOGNISED AS  STATES BY AT LEAST ONE MEMBER STATE 

Taiwan 

Kosovo 

1. Impact of Treaty Arrangements 

Details with respect to the impact of the treaty arrangements on immigration arrangements and the crossing of Schengen external borders were published on 26 February 2026, on the Government’s Treaty website FAQs, upon publication of the text of the treaty.  

The purpose of this Technical Notice is to remind and update the public with respect to arrangements concerning visa requirements with respect to the entry into Gibraltar by visa requiring third country nationals. 

This Technical Notice will cover only certain aspects relating to the above which HMGoG seeks  to underline. To obtain a fuller picture on the impact of the treaty arrangements on immigration matters generally, the public should refer to the FAQs.  

2. Visa requirements with respect to the entry into Gibraltar by visa-requiring third country nationals. 

As is the case between all Schengen states, Gibraltar has agreed to align its short stay visa policy (for stays of 90 days in any 180 days) with that of the Schengen Area. In the same way that the short stay visa policy of the Schengen States is homogenised to allow immigration movement across the internal borders of the Schengen States, this is a necessary element of the treaty which allows for there to be no immigration controls between Gibraltar and the Schengen Area. 

This leads to a number of consequences: 

• Gibraltar will align its list of non-visa requiring third-country nationalities with that of the EU over time. The list is extensive and it comprises over 60 visa-exempt passport jurisdictions including the USA, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Israel and the United Kingdom. A full list of visa-exempt passport jurisdictions is appended to this Technical Notice. 

• Gibraltar will align its list of visa-requiring third-country nationalities with that of the EU over time. 

• Gibraltar will no longer operate exemptions linked to a person’s immigration status in the UK e.g. the exemptions we currently apply with respect to visa-requiring third country nationals who are resident in the UK or have been issued with a UK visa. 

• Neither will Gibraltar operate any other exemption that is not consistent with Schengen policy on visas. 

• Gibraltar will recognise, as valid for entry into Gibraltar, Schengen short-stay visas issued by any of the Schengen States. 

• The Schengen States will no longer require a Schengen short-stay visa from any person legally resident in Gibraltar. This will be of particular interest to persons legally residing in Gibraltar who have normally required a visa in order to travel to the Schengen Area (e.g. Indian or Moroccan nationals). 

• Gibraltar will reciprocate with respect to persons legally resident in a Schengen State.

So, in relation to visas, what will be required from visa-requiring third-country nationals (therefore, not UK citizens) who wish to visit Gibraltar? 

In addition to fulfilling other entry conditions applicable, such persons will be required to be in possession of a Schengen short-stay visa. To obtain one, an application would need to be made to the appropriate Schengen authorities. Where the main purpose of the visit is to stay in Gibraltar, the treaty allows Spain, as the neighbouring Schengen State, and whose Schengen territory will actually be crossed by the traveller, and with access to Schengen information systems that shall issue the visa. However, if a visit includes destinations both elsewhere in the Schengen Area (e.g. Portugal) and Gibraltar, and Gibraltar is not the main destination, the visa will be issued by the Schengen State competent to do so in accordance with Schengen rules (e.g. Portugal in this example if Portugal is the main destination). 

Separately, and a point that is important for shipping agents and port operators to note, exemptions from visa requirements will apply to civilian sea crew members, when they land to board a ship or go ashore to transit to another country, provided they hold a seafarer's identity document issued in accordance with the International Labour Organisation Conventions No 108 of 13 May 1958 or No 185 of 19 June 2003 or the International Maritime Organization Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic of 9 April 1965. 

Closure of the UK Visa Application Platforms 

As a result of the arrangements described above, the existing UK visa application process for travel to Gibraltar ceased operations on 8 July 2026 in preparation for the implementation of the new arrangements on 15 July 2026. 

Therefore: 

• It is no longer possible to apply for a UK visa to travel to Gibraltar. 

• UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) will no longer accept new applications for Gibraltar.

New arrangements from 15 July 2026 

From 15 July 2026, the arrangements described in this Technical Notice will apply. 

Applications for Schengen short-stay visas will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Schengen Visa Code and will be examined by the competent consular authorities of the relevant Schengen State or by their authorised visa application centres. 

Advice to Prospective Travellers 

If you are planning to travel to Gibraltar from 15 July 2026 for any purpose, including work, and require a Schengen short-stay visa, you are strongly advised to: 

• Acquaint yourself with the procedures for applying for a Schengen short-stay visa from your country of residence. 

• Allow sufficient time for visa processing before making any travel arrangements. 

• Refrain from making non-refundable travel bookings until the appropriate visa has been obtained. 

4. Further Information 

For official updates and further guidance, please visit: https://treaty-gov.info/ 

Alternatively, enquiries may be directed to: Department of Immigration and Home Affairs Email: visas.diha@gibraltar.gov.gi 

or 

The Gibraltar Borders and Coastguard Agency 

Email: info@bca.gov.gi