Gibraltar travel guide

Travel Advice

Coronavirus travel health

Check the latest information on risk from COVID-19 for Gibraltar on the TravelHealthPro website.

See the TravelHealthPro website for further advice on travel abroad and reducing spread of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entry and borders

See Entry requirements to find out what you will need to do when you arrive in Gibraltar.

Returning to the UK

When you return, you must follow the rules for entering the UK.

You are responsible for organising your own COVID-19 test, in line with UK government testing requirements. The Government of Gibraltar has issued a press release giving full details of how to access pre-departure testing in Gibraltar at the Covid RapidTest facility outside Gibraltar International Airport.

Be prepared for your plans to change

No travel is risk-free during COVID. Countries may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example due to a new COVID-19 variant. Check with your travel company or airline for any transport changes which may delay your journey home.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may need to stay where you are until you test negative. You may also need to seek treatment there.

Plan ahead and make sure you:

• can access money
• understand what your insurance will cover
• can make arrangements to extend your stay and be away for longer than planned

Public places and services

Most lockdown restrictions in Gibraltar have been lifted, however some still remain in place. The key points are:

• Masks must be worn in shops and on public transport
• Shops are now all permitted to open, subject to Public Health rules
• Gyms and hair and beauty salons open
• Places of worship are open and organised religious services permitted
• Bars and restaurants permitted to open with no requirement for the wearing of masks by patrons. There is no limit on the number of people permitted at a table

Health

Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Read guidance on how to look after your mental wellbeing and mental health

View Health for further details on healthcare in Gibraltar.

Testing positive for COVID-19 while in Gibraltar

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 while in Gibraltar, you must self-isolate and should not visit any friends or relatives, nor should you permit anyone to visit you until you have been tested and are negative for the virus.

If you develop symptoms or feel unwell call the Gibraltar COVID-19 Health and Care Information Helpline 111 immediately even if you have already been swabbed. If calling from an international number, you must dial (+350) 2007 2266 and asked to be transferred to 111.

If you are tested for COVID-19 and are positive you must not travel. You must follow local rules and guidance for positive COVID-19 cases. You will be required to quarantine at your hotel / self-catered accommodation for up to 10 days and be tested after the quarantine period. The Gibraltar Contact Tracing Bureau will contact you with more instructions at this time.

COVID-19 vaccines if you live in Gibraltar

The UK Government has been supplying vaccines to the people of the UK’s Overseas Territories. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the UK authority responsible for assessing the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines. MHRA has temporarily authorised under Regulation 174 of Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the Pfizer/BioNTech and Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine for supply in the UK, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories for use in Gibraltar.

British nationals officially resident in Gibraltar can obtain a vaccination locally. If you have not already been contacted and wish to be vaccinated, you should contact the Gibraltar Health Authority.

Finance

For information on financial support you can access whilst abroad, visit our financial assistance guidance.

Further information

If you need urgent consular assistance, contact your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate. All telephone numbers are available 24/7.

Crime

Violence and street crime are rare. However, there have been reports of people walking between La Linea (Spain) and Gibraltar at night being attacked and robbed.

Road travel

You can drive in Gibraltar with a UK driving licence. More information on road traffic rules is available on the Government of Gibraltar website.

See the AA guide on driving in Gibraltar.

Consular assistance

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory so does not have formal British consular representation. Assistance for British nationals is delivered by HM Government of Gibraltar Civil Status and Registration Office in relation to passports, deaths, births, marriages and other notarial services.

• Victims of crime should contact the Royal Gibraltar Police on +350 200 72500
• For birth and death registration enquiries, call + (350) 200 78303
• For marriage bookings and information on marriage requirements in Gibraltar, call + (350) 200 72289 or email marriages.csro@gibraltar.gov.gi
• For visa information, call + (350) 200 51726 or email visa.csro@gibraltar.gov.gi
• For passport information, call + (350) 200 51725, 51727 or 51728, or email passports.csro@gibraltar.gov.gi
• For immigration information, call + (350) 200 51725 or 59832, or email immigration.csro@gibraltar.gov.gi

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Gibraltar, attacks can’t be ruled out.

There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.

There’s a low tolerance of any alcohol or drug-related crime (eg being drunk in a public place).

Attitudes towards LGBT people are generally tolerant in Gibraltar. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Gibraltar since December 2016. There is an active gay community, but given the small size of Gibraltar there are few places which are exclusively LGBT orientated. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.

This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Gibraltar set and enforce entry rules. For further information contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to. You should also consider checking with your transport provider or travel company to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.

Entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)

Entry requirements to Gibraltar depend on whether you are fully vaccinated or not, and on the countries you have visited in the 10 days prior to your arrival.

On 4 October, the traffic light system of green, amber and red lists was replaced with a simplified system with two categories: firstly, countries and territories on the red list, and secondly, all other countries and territories.

See the Government of Gibraltar Technical Notice which sets out entry requirements in full, including a definition of what qualifies as fully vaccinated.

Additionally, the official Gibraltar Tourist Board website lists the countries which are included in the red list, and provides comprehensive information about the requirements in respect of COVID-19 for travelling to Gibraltar, including information on how to book your COVID-19 tests before you arrive. The website also provides information for travellers entering by sea, and crossing the land border into Gibraltar.

If you are a fully vaccinated traveller

If you are fully vaccinated and have not been in a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days preceding your arrival in Gibraltar by air, you must upload your vaccination certificate on the Passenger Locator Form. You must book a COVID-19 lateral flow test before arriving in Gibraltar. This test must take place in Gibraltar within 24 hours of arrival.

If you are an unvaccinated traveller

If you are unvaccinated and have not been in a country or territory on the red list in the 10 days before arrival, you must have a pre-departure COVID-19 lateral flow test taken no more than 48 hours before your flight to Gibraltar. Before you travel to Gibraltar you must also book a COVID-19 lateral flow test, to be taken in Gibraltar within 24 hours of your arrival.

Gibraltar’s red list requirements and exemptions

If you have been to a country on the red list in the previous 10 days, you are not permitted to enter Gibraltar, unless you meet one of the specified exemption categories. The exemption categories are listed in the Government of Gibraltar Technical Notice.

If you meet the red list exemption categories to enter Gibraltar by air and you are fully vaccinated, you must upload your vaccination certificate on the Passenger Locator Form. You must have a pre-departure COVID-19 test taken no more than 48 hours before your flight to Gibraltar. You must also have a COVID-19 PCR test immediately on arrival. If you are remaining in Gibraltar for more than 7 days, you must also take another COVID-19 PCR test on day 5.

If you meet the red list exemption categories to enter Gibraltar by air and you are unvaccinated, you must have a pre-departure COVID-19 test, taken no more than 48 hours before your flight to Gibraltar. Once in Gibraltar, you will be required to self-isolate for 10 days and take a COVID-19 PCR test on the day of your arrival and on day 10. You must continue to self-isolate until the day 10 test is conducted.

In all instances you must complete a Passenger Locator Form. Details of suitable pre-flight COVID-19 tests are covered in Annex B of the Government of Gibraltar Technical Notice.

Demonstrating your COVID-19 status

Gibraltar will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status.

Regular entry requirements

Visas

British nationals don’t need a visa to enter Gibraltar.

For further information on entry requirements, check the website of HM Government of Gibraltar.

Passport validity

You must hold a valid passport to enter Gibraltar. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

UK Emergency Travel Documents are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Gibraltar.

Customs

Gibraltar is not part of the EU Common Customs Territory. The amount of some goods (e.g. tobacco and alcohol) that you can take into and out of Gibraltar is limited.

Check the Gibraltar Customs website for more information on duty free allowances when arriving in Gibraltar.

If you regularly enter or return to Gibraltar (more than once per calendar month), you are not entitled to duty free imports.

If you travel to Spain from Gibraltar, you should declare any duty free goods to Spanish customs officers.

If you’re returning directly to the UK from Gibraltar, see information on bringing goods into the UK.

Crossing between Gibraltar and Spain

The Gibraltar-Spain border is a busy external Schengen Border and Gibraltar is outside the customs union. There are rules on taking food and drink into the EU, which apply when crossing the border from Gibraltar to Spain. See the Spain travel advice page for details.

Entry restrictions continue to apply for travel to Spain. You should refer to the Spain travel advice page for the latest entry requirements.

You can find up to date information on waiting times at the border on the Gibraltar Borders & Coastguard Agency website.

Information on the queue is also available by calling +(350) 200 42777, or checking the Gibraltar Frontier website and/or Twitter hashtag #GibFrontier.

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website.

General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines. For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, you should contact HM Customs Gibraltar.

While travel can be enjoyable, it can sometimes be challenging. There are clear links between mental and physical health, so looking after yourself during travel and when abroad is important. Information on travelling with mental health conditions is available in our guidance page. Further information is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).

Local medical care

Most medical problems can be dealt with locally. The main hospital is St Bernard’s at Europort (telephone: +350 200 79700).

If you’re a British national living in the UK, you can get emergency treatment in Gibraltar by presenting your British passport. However, as some emergency treatment may require transfer to Spain, you should get a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. If you already have an EHIC it will still be valid as long as it remains in date.

The GHIC or EHIC entitles you to state provided medical treatment that may become necessary during your trip. Any treatment provided is on the same terms as Spanish nationals. A EHIC or GHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and you should have both before you travel. You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or non-urgent treatment. Read more about what your travel insurance should cover.

Pounds sterling is the currency in Gibraltar. Bank of England issued notes and UK coins are accepted, and circulate mixed with locally issued notes and coins of the same value in pounds and pence.

Notes issued in Scotland or Northern Ireland are not usually accepted in Gibraltar, and Gibraltar issued notes and coins are not usually accepted in the UK.

Some businesses accept euros, although exchange rates may not necessarily be favourable. Change is normally given in Sterling.

UK debit cards and all major credit cards are widely accepted in Gibraltar.

Foreign travel checklist

Read our foreign travel checklist to help you plan for your trip abroad and stay safe while you’re there.

Travel safety

The FCDO travel advice helps you make your own decisions about foreign travel. Your safety is our main concern, but we can’t provide tailored advice for individual trips. If you’re concerned about whether or not it’s safe for you to travel, you should read the travel advice for the country or territory you’re travelling to, together with information from other sources you’ve identified, before making your own decision on whether to travel. Only you can decide whether it’s safe for you to travel.

When we judge the level of risk to British nationals in a particular place has become unacceptably high, we’ll state on the travel advice page for that country or territory that we advise against all or all but essential travel. Read more about how the FCDO assesses and categorises risk in foreign travel advice.

Our crisis overseas page suggests additional things you can do before and during foreign travel to help you stay safe.

Refunds and cancellations

If you wish to cancel or change a holiday that you’ve booked, you should contact your travel company. The question of refunds and cancellations is a matter for you and your travel company. Travel companies make their own decisions about whether or not to offer customers a refund. Many of them use our travel advice to help them reach these decisions, but we do not instruct travel companies on when they can or can’t offer a refund to their customers.

For more information about your rights if you wish to cancel a holiday, visit the Citizen’s Advice Bureau website. For help resolving problems with a flight booking, visit the website of the Civil Aviation Authority. For questions about travel insurance, contact your insurance provider and if you’re not happy with their response, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Registering your travel details with us

We’re no longer asking people to register with us before travel. Our foreign travel checklist and crisis overseas page suggest things you can do before and during foreign travel to plan your trip and stay safe.

Previous versions of FCDO travel advice

If you’re looking for a previous version of the FCDO travel advice, visit the National Archives website. Versions prior to 2 September 2020 will be archived as FCO travel advice. If you can’t find the page you’re looking for there, send the Travel Advice team a request.

Further help

If you’re a British national and you have a question about travelling abroad that isn’t covered in our foreign travel advice or elsewhere on GOV.UK, you can submit an enquiry. We’re not able to provide tailored advice for specific trips.