An application for residency is made under Gibraltar’s Immigration, Asylum and Refugee Act, which permits the Governor to issue the necessary permit to any person who, in his opinion, is of good character and to whom he considers that it is in the interests of Gibraltar to issue such a permit.

The Immigration, Asylum and Refugee Act recognises that EU nationals have certain rights to residency. If a person is self-employed or likely to remain in employment for twelve months, he is entitled to a permit of residence, which will usually be granted for twelve months and are renewable thereafter if their circumstances have not changed and they continue to meet the requisite criteria.

While the Immigration, Asylum and Refugee Act provides the basic requirements that must be satisfied for the issue of such a permit, the Government of Gibraltar has issued guidelines highlighting factors that are relevant in considering applications for residency. These can be briefly summarised as follows:

(a) proof, by way of Deeds or Rental Contract, of the purchase/ rental of a property sufficient in size to accommodate the applicant and all his family for residential purposes;

(b) the applicant must establish that he is in good health;

(c) the applicant must establish that he has adequate financial resources to maintain himself and his family without recourse to public funds.