Issuance of New Gibraltar Residence Cards
- New residence permits will be issued under the treaty, replacing the current green, blue, and magenta civilian registration cards.
- These new cards will comply with the EU uniform format for residence permits.
- Transitional arrangements will apply: existing cards will remain valid at the treaty’s entry into force.
- The government may issue the new permits before the treaty takes effect to ensure readiness.
- Red ID cards (for Gibraltarians) are not aƯected – they are not residence permits and will continue to be issued as before.
- Conclusion: No action is required by residents at this stage. The government will manage the transition smoothly.
Recognition of Gibraltar Documents at EU Border eGates
- British passports issued in Gibraltar can already be read by Schengen border IT systems.
- However, they do not distinguish Gibraltarians from other UK nationals.
- The key documents for Schengen border entry under the treaty will be:
- The Gibraltar Identity Card (red card)
- The new Gibraltar Residence Permit
- Both will be recognised by Schengen eGate systems once the treaty is in force.
- Holders will need to travel with both passport and ID/residence card when entering the
- Schengen area.
- No immigration checks will apply at the Gibraltar–La Línea land border once the treaty is implemented.
90-Day Schengen Stays and Border Systems
- Non-residents will be subject to the standard 90-day-in-180 rule for Schengen stays.
- Stays will be calculated based on entry/exit records, including through eGates at
- Gibraltar Airport.
- Residence in Gibraltar does not count toward the Schengen 90-day limit.
- Gibraltar residents will benefit from rights under the treaty to move freely in Schengen without passport stamps or needing an ETIAS-style travel authorisation.
Information Sharing with Schengen Authorities
Key Principle: Gibraltar Controls Its Residence System
- Gibraltar retains full competence to assess and issue residence permits.
- The EU originally proposed Spanish control of residence permits – this was successfully
- rejected in negotiations.
Notification Process
- As with Schengen states, Gibraltar will notify the Schengen system (via Spain) when it intends to issue or renew a residence permit.
- This consultation is security-based only—Schengen states may only object if the applicant poses a serious threat, e.g., flagged in the Schengen Information System (SIS).
- This mirrors existing EU internal freedom of movement rules, where restrictions must meet strict legal thresholds.
No List-Based Data Sharing
- There will be no list of residence card or red ID card holders shared with Schengen.
- Red ID card holders (Gibraltarians) are outside the scope of the notification process.
- Renewals of residence permits will trigger notification but not batch data sharing.
Special Exemptions
- UK Armed Forces personnel and UK government officials posted to Gibraltar, and their families, will be exempt from the consultation process.
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.
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