| Gibraltar passport | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The front cover of a Series C Gibraltar passport | |
.jpg) Polycarbonate data page of all current Series C British passport variants | |
| Type | Passport |
| Issued by |  HM Passport Office(via the CRSO) |
| Eligibility | British citizenship and/orBritish Overseas Territories citizenship connected toGibraltar |
TheGibraltar variant British passport[1][2] is aBritish passport issued to British Citizens and British Overseas Territory Citizens who work or live inGibraltar. HavingGibraltarian status alone, without being resident in Gibraltar, is insufficient to obtain a Gibraltar Passport. Gibraltar passports are issued by the Passport Office of the Gibraltar Civil Status and Registration Office. Since 2005, passports issued in Gibraltar have beenbiometric.
TheBritish Nationality Act 1981, made GibraltariansBritish Overseas Territories citizens by default, and they could apply for registration as aBritish citizen ("an entitlement that cannot be refused") under section 5 of the Act until 2002. Despite not being British citizens prior to 2002 and hence having no automaticright of abode in the United Kingdom, all BOTCs connected to Gibraltar have enjoyed theright to live and work in the EEA countries (including the United Kingdom itself) since 1973 because of the territory'saccession to theEuropean Community as territories of the United Kingdom, and their Gibraltar passports have borne observations to demonstrate such treaty rights.[3][4]
Under theBritish Overseas Territories Act 2002, all British Overseas Territories citizens (BOTC) have been British citizens since 21 May 2002. Therefore, a Gibraltarian may apply for either a passport describing them as a British citizen or a passport describing them as a BOTC. Holders of BOTC passports and holders of British citizen passports face different visa requirements.
Until 31 January 2020, Gibraltarians who opted for the BOTC passport were considered "UK nationals for EU purposes", making them fullcitizens of the European Union with all consequential rights and entitlements. Sincethe UK's withdrawal from the EU, Gibraltar is no longer part of the EU and Gibraltarian BOTCs ceased to be EU citizens, although they continued to enjoy the same rights in the EU during the transition period until 31 December 2020. On 31 December 2020, the governments of Spain and the UK announced a draft agreement on Gibraltar becoming part of theSchengen area.[5]
Similar to those of the UK, new Gibraltarian passports will be blue. However, the timescale for their introduction has not been confirmed.[6]
British passports issued in Gibraltar differ from UK issued ones only in some of the wording but otherwise have the same status. The word "Gibraltar" is added beneath "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" and on the information page. The only other difference is that Gibraltar-issued passports replace the mention ofHis Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State withTheGovernor of Gibraltar:
The Governor of Gibraltar requests and requiresin the Name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.[7]
Changes to the passport's wording, replacing "Her Majesty" with "His Majesty," were undertaken following thedeath of Queen Elizabeth II.[8]
A British Overseas Territories Citizen who has acquired the status by virtue of a connection with Gibraltar has the right of free movement within the European Union and the observation: "THE HOLDER IS DEFINED AS A UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL FOR EC PURPOSES" should be entered in the passport. Applicants who have lesser connections with Gibraltar are given right of abode but do not have free movement rights within the European Union. So they can be distinguished from those who enjoy this privilege the observation: "THE HOLDER HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN GIBRALTAR" should be entered in the passport.
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