What has been agreed on visas under the 2026 UK/EU Treaty in relation to Gibraltar?
Short answer
Gibraltar will align its short-stay visa policy with the Schengen Area. This means aligning visa-requiring nationalities with the EU, recognising Schengen short-stay visas for Gibraltar entry, and ending UK-linked visa exemptions. Persons legally resident in Gibraltar will no longer need Schengen visas, which particularly benefits residents of visa-requiring nationalities like Indian or Moroccan nationals.
Detailed answer
As is the case between all Schengen states, Gibraltar has agreed to align its short stay visa policy (for stays of 90 days in any 180 days) with that of the Schengen Area. In the same way that the short stay visa policy of the Schengen States is homogenised to allow immigration control free movement across the internal borders of the Schengen States, this is a necessary element of the treaty which allows for there to be no immigration controls between Gibraltar and the Schengen Area. This leads to a number of consequences: Gibraltar will align its list of visa-requiring third-country nationalities with that of the EU over time. Gibraltar will no longer operate exemptions linked to a person's immigration status in the UK. Neither will Gibraltar operate any other exemption that is not consistent with Schengen policy on visas. Gibraltar will recognise, as valid for entry into Gibraltar, Schengen short-stay visas issued by any of the Schengen States. The Schengen States will no longer require a Schengen short-stay visa from any person legally resident in Gibraltar. This will be of particular interest to persons legally residing in Gibraltar who have normally required a visa in order to travel to the Schengen Area (e.g. Indian or Moroccan nationals). Gibraltar will reciprocate with respect to persons legally resident in a Schengen State.