Gibraltar Passport Rules for UK Travellers
Quick answer: Gibraltar is British but has its own entry rules: your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least 3 months after you leave Gibraltar or the Schengen area. Time in Gibraltar now counts towards the same 90-in-180-day limit as the Schengen area.
Gibraltar travel requirements at a glance
Issued within the previous 10 years.
At least 3 months after you leave Gibraltar or the Schengen area.
Up to 90 days in any 180, counted together with time in Schengen.
Gibraltar checks and Spanish Schengen checks, including EES where it applies.
Official source: GOV.UK Gibraltar entry requirements.
Passport rules: quick summary
- Gibraltar is British, but since 15 July 2026 its short-stay entry rules align with Schengen.
- Your passport must be issued within the last 10 years and valid for 3 months after you leave.
- Time in Gibraltar counts towards the same 90-in-180-day limit as the Schengen area.
- After the airport checks you can cross the land border into Spain freely.
Do you need 6 months on your passport for Gibraltar?
No. GOV.UK says your passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years, and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you intend to leave Gibraltar or the Schengen area.
If you renewed your passport before October 2018, check the issue date carefully — extra months added to the expiry date do not count.
What changed in July 2026
From 15 July 2026 the UK-EU agreement on Gibraltar provisionally applies, and Gibraltar's short-stay entry conditions formally align with the Schengen rules. Gibraltar is not in the EU or the Schengen area, but your time there now counts alongside time in Schengen.
Arriving at Gibraltar airport
There are two sets of checks: by Gibraltar, and by Spain as the neighbouring Schengen country, including Entry/Exit System registration where it applies. After that you can move freely across the land border into Spain.
Stays of more than 90 days must be registered with Gibraltar's Department of Immigration and Home Affairs.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need 6 months on my passport for Gibraltar?
No. GOV.UK says it must have been issued within the previous 10 years and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you intend to leave Gibraltar or the Schengen area.
Do I go through EES when flying into Gibraltar?
Yes, where it applies. At the airport you go through Gibraltar's checks and Spanish Schengen checks, which include EES registration, and then you can cross freely into Spain.
Does time in Gibraltar count towards the Schengen 90 days?
Yes. GOV.UK says time in Gibraltar counts alongside time in the Schengen area towards the 90-day limit in any 180 days.