Working in Gibraltar

Gibraltar’s local economy is largely based on tourism, logistics and the financial sector, with plenty of opportunities available to expats with skill and experience in these areas.

Gibraltar is an ideal assignment for many expats, owing to its convenient location and the fact that English is the language of business. EU and EEA citizens looking to live and work in Gibraltar do not need a visa. However, non-EEA citizens will need work and residence permits to legally take up employment in the British territory. 

Job market in Gibraltar

Thanks to Gibraltar's favourable tax conditions, the country's financial services – particularly offshore banking – is a thriving industry.

Tourism is another major sector. With millions of visitors heading to Gibraltar each year, there's plenty of work for expats in this industry, especially during the busy summer months.

Gibraltar has also become a global leader in the online gaming industry. This is once again due to its favourable tax climate, as well as other aspects such as reliable internet connectivity and a well-developed regulatory system. Companies running online gambling are particularly prominent in Gibraltar.

Finding a job in Gibraltar

Word of mouth and personal recommendations are the best way to secure a job in Gibraltar, but those who haven't yet made the move should explore online job portals, expat forums and recruitment agencies.

The difficulty of obtaining a job depends very much on the industry. Those with specialised skills in one of Gibraltar's main industries stand a good chance of finding work.

As English is commonly spoken throughout Gibraltar, it's possible to get a job without knowledge of Spanish. That said, Spanish skills can sometimes set applicants apart from those that don't speak the language.

Work culture in Gibraltar

Gibraltar's work culture is similar to that of the UK in many ways. Politeness, punctuality and respect are important cornerstones of working life. Expats should ensure they arrange all meetings in advance, as preparing for meetings is key in Gibraltar. 

The standard working week is 40 hours, with 48 hours a week being the legal maximum. Employees are allowed 15 days of annual leave. After eight years of service, this increases to 25 days of leave per year.