Work permits and employment
work permit employment approval contract non-EU department of employment terms of engagement TOE employer responsibilities employment forms notice of terminationHow work permits and employment approval relate to a residency application, and what employers and employees need to do.
Residency and Employment: How They Work Together
If you are applying for residency as an employee, your application depends on a valid employment contract that meets the criteria. See check if you can apply.
If you need a work permit, your residency application must be approved and your residence card issued before you can start work. If you are a British, EU, EEA or Swiss national, you do not need a work permit — you can start employment and apply for residency at the same time. Employment on its own does not give you the right to live in Gibraltar — you need your residence permit for that.
Your employment must stay in place for your residence permit to remain valid. If your employment ends, your permit can lapse — see When Your Employment Terminates.
If you employ workers who are not otherwise entitled to work in Gibraltar, you must make sure all their required documents stay valid throughout their employment.
If you need a work permit, it is separate from your residency application and comes first. A work permit lets you work in Gibraltar. A residency application decides whether you can live here. Where a work permit is needed, the residency application cannot go ahead until the employer has ‘approval in principle’ for it.
Work permits
Some individuals need a valid work permit before they can work in Gibraltar. The Department of Employment runs the work permit system.
A work permit is tied to one specific role with one specific employer. It cannot be transferred, shared between employers, or used for a different role. Each employer needs a separate work permit for each role.
The employer applies for the work permit — not the individual. You need a work permit before you start work only if you are not a British, EU, EEA or Swiss national. British, EU, EEA and Swiss nationals do not need one.
Your employer must get ‘approval in principle’ for the work permit before you submit your residency application. If you apply before this is in place, your residency application cannot go ahead until it is. The Department of Employment emails the employer to confirm approval in principle.
A work permit lasts up to 12 months. It can last up to 36 months where the Department of Employment decides this is in the public interest and the role is in:
- financial services
- gaming, including betting and gambling
- academic staff at the University of Gibraltar
It is an offence to employ someone who is not entitled to work in Gibraltar without a work permit. Employers can be given a £3,000 fixed penalty.
Your employer completes the Application for the Issue of a Work Permit (PDF) (opens in new tab).
Documents your employer must provide
Your employer must submit these before your start date:
- the completed Application for the Issue of a Work Permit
- your passport (original or certified copy)
- your spouse or partner's passport or ID card, if applicable (original or certified copy)
- your marriage certificate, if applicable (original or certified copy)
- your Notice of Terms of Engagement — the start date on it cannot be before the work permit is issued
- proof of your qualifications and experience, and your CV, as set out in the Notification of Vacancy
- a Certificate of Good Conduct
- a copy of the Notification of Vacancy
- any other documents that support the application
- the fee (see Work permit fees below)
Renewing a work permit
Your employer must apply to renew a work permit no later than 14 days before it expires. If they miss this deadline, a full new application and fee may be needed.
A renewal needs:
- the Application for the Renewal of a Work Permit (PDF) (opens in new tab)
- the Notice of Terms of Engagement, dated with the original start date
- a copy of your current passport
- a copy of your current residence permit
Work permit fees
The Department of Employment charges:
- £70.00 to apply for a work permit
- £36.00 to renew a work permit
These fees are set by the Department of Employment and may change.
The Department of Employment tells the employer once it has assessed the work permit. This only covers the employment side — the outcome of your residency application is sent to you separately.
If you are making a business application
If you are self-employed, a working director or a partner, employment steps may also apply. See making a business application for the order to do things in.
Terms of Engagement and employer responsibilities
Your employer confirms your employment to the Department of Employment through a Notice of Terms of Engagement.
Terms of Engagement
If you already hold a residence card
Your employer must send the Department of Employment a completed Notice of Terms of Engagement (PDF) (opens in new tab) and a copy of your valid residence card before you start work.
If you are applying for residency under the new rules
The new rules apply if you are applying for residency on or after 6 October 2025. If you do not already hold a residence permit, you can apply in one of two ways:
- With a Notice of Terms of Engagement — you submit an unstamped Notice of Terms of Engagement with your residency application. The Department of Employment checks it and confirms the details with your employer.
- With an employment contract — if the Notice of Terms of Engagement is not ready, you submit a copy of your employment contract instead. The Department of Employment then asks your employer for the completed Notice of Terms of Engagement. Your application is not processed until this has been received and checked.
After the employment check
Once the checks are done, the Department of Employment gives one of three outcomes:
- Cleared — all employment requirements are met
- Queried — more information is needed before the check can finish
- Refused — the employment requirements are not met
If more information is needed, you’ll be contacted and given the chance to provide it before a final decision.
What your Notice of Terms of Engagement must show
To support a residency application, your Notice of Terms of Engagement must show that:
- you are 55 or under, unless an exemption applies
- your gross annual earnings are at least the Gibraltar average — currently £37,500
- you are employed by a registered Gibraltar employer
If your terms change
If anything changes about your employment or personal details, your employer must tell the Department of Employment using a Notice of Variation of Terms of Engagement (PDF) (opens in new tab). If a change brings your pay below the salary threshold, the Department of Employment will review it. If you change your address and you live in Gibraltar, update it through the Residency Application Platform.
When Your Employment Terminates
Your employer must send the Department of Employment a Notice of Termination of Employment (PDF) (opens in new tab) within 7 days of your employment ending. Any pay you are owed must be paid by the end of the next pay day.
Your residence permit will lapse 16 weeks after a Notice of Termination is filed, unless the Director of Immigration and Home Affairs is satisfied that you have a new employment contract. See your residency.
Employer responsibilities
Employers help the residency process by giving the Department of Employment accurate, timely employment information.
If asked, you must complete and sign the Notice of Terms of Engagement accurately, so that it reflects the employee’s real terms and conditions.
If an employee submits an unstamped Notice of Terms of Engagement, the Department of Employment will contact you to confirm it is genuine and the details are still correct. Respond promptly, and provide any supporting documents within the time you are given.
The information you give must match the employee’s contract. If there are differences, the Department of Employment may ask you to explain them before finishing its check. If you do not respond, or do not provide the documents needed, the residency application cannot go ahead until the information has been received and checked.
Send all messages about a residency application through the official channel for the Residency Application Platform.
Employers do not decide whether someone is granted residency. Your role is to confirm the employment and give accurate information when asked. Residency decisions are made by the relevant government departments under the residency rules.
Get help
For employment and work-permit queries, see contact.
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