When and how can I apply online for a Gibraltar variant British passport?

Short answer

Online applications are not yet available. On 8 September 2026 the Government of Gibraltar announced an online service, reached through the Government of Gibraltar website and run on HM Passport Office (HMPO) systems, scheduled to launch in November 2026, subject to final confirmation. Until it launches, apply using the existing process.

Detailed answer

Current position (as at 2 October 2026)

The online service has been announced and has not yet launched. The Department of Immigration and Home Affairs has said it is scheduled to go live in November 2026, with the date still subject to final confirmation. This is an administrative change to how applications are made. No new legislation or Gazette notice accompanies it, and it does not change who is eligible for a Gibraltar variant British passport.

How it will work

Applicants will follow a dedicated link on the Government of Gibraltar website to the established online passport system operated by HM Passport Office (HMPO), the same platform already used for British passport applications in the United Kingdom. Once you are in the system you will be able to:

• be guided through the application and told which information and supporting documents your particular application needs;
• upload or provide a digital photograph;
• pay the passport fee securely online;
• track the progress of your application and receive a notification when your passport is ready for collection or has been dispatched.

Once launched, applying online will become the standard method for Gibraltar residents applying for a Gibraltar variant British passport. The change is part of a wider HMPO programme to replace legacy paper-based systems across the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, and Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are joining the same system.

Help for applicants

The Department has said support will be available for anyone who needs assistance using the new system, and that it will work with other Government services to help people who have difficulty accessing or completing an online application. Details of these arrangements, including how to obtain help, are to be published before launch.

What to do now

No action is needed. If you need a passport before the online service opens, apply in the usual way using the Passport Application Smartform on the Government's Passports and Nationality page, which covers first applications, renewals and changes of particulars. If you have travel booked, do not delay an application to wait for the online service. Follow official Government announcements for confirmation of the launch date and the support arrangements.