Are Gibraltar residents exempt from EES, ETIAS and passport stamping?

Short answer

Yes. Gibraltar identity card and civilian registration card holders of any nationality are exempt from the EU Entry/Exit System, ETIAS and passport stamping, and their time in Gibraltar does not count towards the Schengen 90/180-day limit. Some residents have nonetheless been registered in the EES, and they can ask for the record to be erased.

Detailed answer

Residents may also stay visa-free in Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and have the right to transit through Schengen States to return home. Spanish officers cannot refuse a Gibraltar resident entry to Gibraltar. Residence is proved with a valid Gibraltar identity card or residence permit, presented together with a passport.

On Tuesday 13 October 2026 the Government of Gibraltar confirmed that the European Commission had issued further instructions to Schengen authorities that Gibraltar residents should not be registered in the EES or be required to interact with it. Residents registered on or after Wednesday 15 July 2026, and those registered before that date, have the right to request erasure from the competent authorities of the Schengen State that recorded their most recent entry into or exit from the Schengen Area. The Government of Gibraltar cannot remove an EES record itself.

Residence permits issued before the Treaty remain valid for two years after it takes effect or until their stated expiry date, whichever comes first.