Jeremy is one of this year’s students, and he has shared his experience of working within our compliance team. We’ll let him tell you the rest.

About Me

Hi! I’m Jeremy and I am a 21-year-old student currently working for Abacus in the compliance sector. I’m going into my third year at university in Buckinghamshire for an undergraduate degree in Criminology, so my degree goes hand in hand with my role in Abacus.

My experience at Abacus

Luck was most definitely by my side when it came to the role I was placed in, as the Compliance department and the day to day as a compliance worker has been an absolutely fantastic experience. Not only that, but the compliance team, as well as the teams in other departments have been absolutely amazing.

I truly believe that the Abacus community is one of the most positive and friendly environments I’ve worked in, and it really brings me joy to be a part of such a special community. They really made me feel welcomed and part of the team. You can really see the effort put into finding people that truly care about the work they do and who they work with. This positive atmosphere heavily impacts the work Abacus does, focusing on quality and consistency, as well as maintaining that same positive and friendly outlook to all of their clients.

What I’ve learned

I worked at Abacus last year, where I was mainly tasked to organise the company’s filing room. That experience taught me a tremendous amount, but wow, I don’t think it even comes close to how much I learned this summer working in compliance.

I haven’t had much experience working in an office, as all my previous jobs have been in hospitality, so I knew going into this summer work I wanted to learn as much as possible, and that goal was most definitely realised.

Within the compliance department I was taught so much, primarily understanding compliance work itself, which mainly consisted of making sure all documents and information we had was correct, valid and aligned with the client’s company behaviour. That meant I needed to have a decent understanding of how companies function behind the scenes. I knew next to nothing about companies and documents at the start, but as I continued and learned more, I understood a tremendous amount of what documents companies need, why people open certain companies and how they function.

On top of this, Abacus also provided little taster sessions for the students to get a rundown of how each department works. These included Funds, Accounting, Business Development, Fiduciary and Compliance, giving all the students an insight, not only into seeing if the department is a good fit for their future career paths, but also to give us an understanding as to how Abacus works. We also had the chance to ask any questions to learn more about the departments in more detail.

These sessions were also a fantastic way of getting to know the other students working at Abacus over summer, as well as building a more personal connection with people across the business. This stems again from my view of Abacus having a fantastic community and an exceptional work environment.

My Future Career

When it comes to my future career, I plan to move on to air traffic control and hopefully develop a career path within that field once I finish university. But the knowledge, understanding and perspective working for Abacus has given me will be unforgettable. I have no doubt in my mind that this experience has opened my eyes to office work and understanding the benefits Abacus provides from a client’s perspective, and more importantly, why that’s valued.

I really appreciate the opportunity I was given to work at Abacus, and I will be forever thankful for the knowledge I gained and the people I’ve met. I’m sure that compliance work will always stay as an option for my future.

Internships and Summer Work Experience with Abacus

We offer internship opportunities each year for students and graduates looking to gain real world experience in our industry. Interns work directly alongside our teams across departments, including compliance, accounting, funds, fiduciary and business development.

If you’re a student or recent graduate who’s motivated and keen to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

The post The Abacus Student Experience appeared first on Abacus.

Equal treatment for all

The TGEU Implementation (Frontier Workers) Regulations 2026 were made following the introduction of the Treaty on Gibraltar and the European Union Act 2026 and bring in provisions relating to cross frontier workers under the UK/EU Agreement.

The new regulations establish that Spanish frontier workers have the right to work in Gibraltar under the same conditions as UK and Gibraltarian nationals. This means equal treatment in pay, dismissal, reinstatement, social and tax advantages, trade union rights and access to vocational training.

This also includes certain family members of frontier workers, regardless of nationality, regarding social and tax advantages, provided that they legally reside in Spain.

Under the new regulations, self-employed frontier workers will also be entitled to benefit from the same rights as those who are employed locally.

Introduction of a frontier worker certificate

The new regulations have also established a certificate of frontier worker status, to be issued by the Director of Employment. Workers will need to apply online through egov.gi with a valid identity document and supporting evidence. Certificates will be valid for one year and must be renewed annually, although the Director of Employment can refuse renewal or revoke a certificate under certain circumstances.

While the certificate is the employee’s responsibility, employers should ensure that their frontier worker employees are properly documented.

Posted workers

The regulations also set out protections for EU citizens living in Spain, who are employed by a Spanish employer and posted to Gibraltar for a limited period to supply services that are both produced and consumed in the surrounding frontier zone.

Such workers have the right to enter, leave and stay in Gibraltar for the purposes of supplying those services and are entitled to equal treatment in relation to a range of employment terms and conditions.

Retaining status between jobs

In circumstances such as illness or involuntary unemployment, or if workers are undergoing vocational training, frontier worker status can be retained. If a worker becomes involuntarily unemployed after a fixed-term contract of less than one year, or within the first 12 months of employment, status can be retained for up to six months.

Changes for the better

The regulations mark another step in formalising Gibraltar’s new relationship with Spain and the wider Campo de Gibraltar, one that has real and practical implications for businesses operating here.

If you have questions about how the new frontier worker regulations could affect your business, or would like to discuss your arrangements more broadly, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Abacus. Abacus are experts in Gibraltar company formation, trust and fund set up and management and a broad range of corporate wealth services.

The post Gibraltar’s New Frontier Worker Regulations Come into Effect appeared first on Abacus.

And yet, Gibraltar is home to some of the world’s largest online gaming companies, a thriving financial services sector and a professional services ecosystem that punches well above its weight.

Businesses from across Europe, the Americas and beyond have chosen to form companies here, and after 50 years of supporting those businesses, we know why.

An attractive tax environment

Gibraltar’s tax framework is structured in a way that can be highly advantageous depending on the nature of your business and where your income is generated.

For businesses with an international footprint, e.g. holding structures, funds, digital businesses, gaming operators, that framework can make a significant difference to their overall tax position.

In addition to the tax benefits, Gibraltar’s location, just off the tip of southern Spain, makes it more accessible than other jurisdictions, benefitting from being within 2.5 hours of many popular European destinations.

Small place, short distances

Gibraltar is difficult to convey until you experience it for yourself. In a larger jurisdiction, getting something done can involve weeks of correspondence and layers of bureaucracy. In Gibraltar, the people who need to speak to each other tend to know each other and can often do so in person.

That’s not to say that Gibraltar cuts corners. It does not, and its regulatory standards are taken seriously because it has worked hard to establish and protect its reputation. But the proximity between government, regulator and industry means that problems get resolved faster, questions are answered directly and new ideas can move from concept to law in a much quicker timeframe.

A serious regulator

The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission has developed an excellent reputation as a regulator that is both rigorous and accessible. Standards are maintained and enforcement happens. But it’s also a regulator that actively engages with industry, consults on new frameworks and approaches innovation with curiosity rather than caution.

An existing ecosystem

One of the less talked-about advantages of Gibraltar is that the professional infrastructure a business needs is already well established and highly experienced. This is a jurisdiction that has been building its professional services sector for decades.

The online gaming industry arrived in Gibraltar during the early 2000s and brought with it a new wave of investment in professional talent and infrastructure that has benefitted many sectors. The financial services and digital assets industries have also added further depth, and the result is a place where new business can get properly set up, advised and supported without having to import everything from scratch.

Recent changes

Gibraltar has always presented a strong case for business, but the experience of being here has changed for the better in 2026. The opening of the border in July, and Gibraltar’s entry into the Schengen zone has materially changed the jurisdiction’s connectivity and its relationship with the surrounding region.

Getting in and out, accessing talent, connecting with European markets – all of this has improved significantly. Gibraltar has entered a new chapter, and the timing for businesses to consider it as an option has never been better.

A straightforward incorporation process

Setting up a company in Gibraltar is a relatively quick and uncomplicated process. Companies are incorporated through Companies House Gibraltar, and with the right support, the process can be completed within a matter of days. Once incorporated, the ongoing administrative requirements are well-understood and can be handled by experienced local providers.

Forming a company in Gibraltar

Setting up here is the straightforward part, but getting the structure right, staying compliant, and making the most of what Gibraltar offers is where knowing the jurisdiction well makes a real difference.

Abacus has been supporting businesses in Gibraltar since 1974. Over more than 50 years, we have helped individuals, entrepreneurs, and international businesses with everything from initial company formation and domiciliation through to accounting, financial reporting, and ongoing compliance.

We also work across a number of other key jurisdictions, including Malta, Cyprus, Cayman, BVI, and Delaware, for those whose structures extend beyond Gibraltar.

Beyond company formation, we also offer a broader range of services for those who need them – including trusts, foundations, funds, crypto funds, and tax residency solutions. Whether you are setting up a single entity or something more complex, our team can help.

If you would like to discuss your options, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

The post Why Choose Gibraltar For Company Formation? appeared first on Abacus.

In this article, we will cover everything you need to know to both become and stay compliant.

The Treaty Does Not Cover Services

The UK–EU Treaty on Gibraltar provides for the free movement of people and goods, but not services. Businesses established in Spain or elsewhere in the European Union therefore have no automatic right under the Treaty to enter Gibraltar and provide services.

Having established a new Business Compliance and Enforcement Team, the Government has already approached a number of Spanish businesses found to be providing services in Gibraltar without the required authorisation, instructing them to cease operating until they register.

However, it’s been confirmed that the Enforcement Team will not take action against a business that can show it has already submitted its registration or Detached Worker application and that it is being processed.

The Three Ways of Operating in Gibraltar

The Government’s guidance has set out three main structures through which an overseas business can operate lawfully in Gibraltar.

Company: an independent legal entity incorporated in Gibraltar through Companies House. If you already have a company incorporated outside Gibraltar, you can register it as a foreign company with a place of business in Gibraltar under Part XIV of the Companies Act, without needing to form a new Gibraltar company. Given the technical formalities involved, the Department of Business strongly recommends engaging a specialist service provider to handle this process on your behalf.

Partnership: two or more persons operating together under a business name, without forming a separate company. The first step here is to register a Business Name at Companies House under the Business Names (Registration) Act 1918.

Self-employed: an individual operating under their own name. If you are operating under your own forename and surname without using a separate business name, you do not need to go through Companies House first and can proceed directly to the Business Application.

Companies House Gibraltar is typically the first step for companies and partnerships. Once the legal structure is in place, any individual, partnership, or company wishing to sell goods or provide services in Gibraltar must then submit a Business Application through the Office of Fair Trading. The Companies House step establishes the legal entity, while the Business Application obtains the licence to operate. Both may be required.

The Detached Worker Route

For businesses that do not wish to incorporate a company in Gibraltar or submit their own Business Application, there is a fourth option: the Detached Worker regime. This allows an overseas company to collaborate with a business already registered in Gibraltar, registering its own workers as temporarily posted to Gibraltar to carry out specific work. There are three tiers, depending on the length of stay:

Non-Chargeable Detached Workers: visits of less than 48 hours for presentations, meetings, training, or advice. The business must notify the Director of Employment by email before the visit and provide the worker’s name, copy of their passport, the company, period and the reason for the visit, as well as reporting the worker’s entry and exit.

Expedited Detached Workers: stays of up to 10 working days, covering on-site work and internal audit reviews among other activities. Requires letters from both the contracting Gibraltar business and the employing company, plus a certified copy of the passport.

Detached Workers (general regime): stays of more than 10 working days. Requires a formal notification form, an A1 certificate (for EU companies) or HMRC confirmation (for UK companies), passport or ID card, and a copy of the employment contract.

A fee applies for each detached worker registered under the Expedited and General routes. Any worker who is not a British or EU national will also need a work permit.

Employees and Directors

Once a company, partnership, or self-employed activity has been registered, any employees, working directors, partners, or self-employed workers providing services to the business must also be registered with the Department of Employment.

One-Off Deliveries from the Campo de Gibraltar

Businesses that only deliver goods from the Campo de Gibraltar to a single client in Gibraltar, in a single transport operation that ends at the point of delivery, do not need a licence or registration for that one-off roadside delivery. If the delivery involves installation, on-site service, or a subsequent collection, however, the exemption does not apply.

Gibraltar Is Open for Business

The Government has made it clear that this is not intended to close Gibraltar off for overseas businesses. The treaty has created genuine commercial opportunities on both sides of the frontier, and Gibraltar actively wants to attract businesses from Spain, Europe, and beyond, provided they do so through the correct channels.

Gibraltar offers a favourable tax environment, a well-regulated financial services sector, and now, with the border open, significantly improved connectivity with the surrounding region.

Getting Started the Right Way

This is precisely the kind of process where having the right support in place makes a real difference. The registration process involves multiple steps, multiple authorities, and different requirements depending on the structure you choose, and it can be difficult to manage this alone.

For more than 50 years, Abacus has supported individuals, entrepreneurs, and international businesses through the formation and ongoing management of companies in Gibraltar and in a number of other key jurisdictions. Our Company Management services cover company formation and domiciliation, accounting and financial reporting, and ongoing administrative and compliance support – all the practical infrastructure that businesses need once they have decided to set up in Gibraltar.

If you are considering operating in Gibraltar, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team to see how we can assist you. We can help ensure the setup is straightforward and the administration is handled properly from day one.

The post Operating in Gibraltar as an Overseas Business appeared first on Abacus.

With immigration controls at the land border now removed, the catchment area for Joshua Hassan Gibraltar International Airport has expanded overnight, from a local population of around 38,000 to approximately 4 million people within reach. Tourism Minister Christian Santos has described it plainly: it is, he says, “a different ballgame now.”

From Local Airport to Regional Hub

Until now, Gibraltar Airport’s appeal to the surrounding area was limited by the destinations it could serve. With routes focused primarily on the UK market, there was little reason for residents of the surrounding region to choose Gibraltar over Málaga, which offers a far more extensive range of international connections. However, Gibraltar is looking to change that dynamic. With new European routes now being actively pursued, Gibraltar is positioning itself as a new option for the 4 million people within its expanded catchment area, not just for those already living in or visiting the territory.

The Government has responded with a two-tier strategy. The first strand involves promoting Gibraltar as a destination in its own right, attracting new visitors from across Europe who might not otherwise have considered it. The second involves marketing the airport to people in the surrounding area as a convenient gateway, positioning Gibraltar not just as somewhere to go, but somewhere from which to depart.

New Routes on the Horizon

Currently, Gibraltar is served by around 33 scheduled flights each week, connecting the territory with London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, and Birmingham. The Government is in active discussions with airlines over potential new European routes, with interest already expressed from carriers connected to destinations in Spain, France, and the Netherlands.

New routes are not expected to materialise before summer 2027 as airline scheduling cycles mean that decisions made now typically take between 12 and 18 months to translate into operational services. The Government has been conducting detailed catchment studies, analysing flight demand data from nearby airports and presenting that analysis to airlines as part of its route development case.

Growth will be gradual rather than sudden. The airport’s runway places constraints on the size of aircraft that can operate, and the Government has been clear that expansion will be managed carefully through scheduling and slot management. As Minister Santos put it, the aim is slow and steady progress, not a sudden surge in traffic.

Tourism Continues to Grow

Gibraltar welcomed more than 1.16 million visitors to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve in 2025, up from 859,000 the year before. Cruise calls rose from 185 in 2024 to 220 in 2025, with around 260 expected during 2026. Hotel occupancy climbed from 65.2% to 70.1%, and the average visitor stay lengthened from 3.1 nights to 3.4.

The short-term rental market has also seen significant growth. Between July 2025 and May 2026, the sector recorded approximately 58,600 booked nights, with revenue in the first five months of 2026 up almost 79% compared to the same period a year earlier.

Airport passenger numbers reflected the same trend, reaching more than 437,000 in 2025 (a 3% increase on the previous year) with early 2026 figures continuing in the same direction.

The Bigger Picture

The aviation and tourism story is just one part of a wider economic change that Gibraltar is going through in the wake of the treaty. The removal of the border has already changed how the jurisdiction thinks about itself, not just as a small territory at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula, but as a connected, accessible hub within a broader region.

Improved connectivity means easier access for international visitors, a larger labour pool, and a stronger case for Gibraltar as a place from which to operate regionally. The combination of financial services infrastructure, a competitive tax environment, and now a meaningfully more connected airport makes for a proposition that looks quite different to what was on offer even a year ago.

The post Gibraltar’s Next Chapter: Connectivity, Tourism and a Changing Airport appeared first on Abacus.

The removal of the land border between Gibraltar and La Línea de la Concepción marks the culmination of a treaty signed in Brussels the day before, formally bringing Gibraltar into the EU’s Schengen passport-free travel area for border purposes, while the territory remains a British Overseas Territory and outside the EU itself. It is a settlement that resolves the last major unresolved issue arising from Brexit, and one that few would have predicted possible in the years that followed the 2016 referendum.

How The Border Works Now

The physical fence is gone, and the land crossing between Gibraltar and Spain is now an internal Schengen point, allowing residents and workers on both sides to cross using only a national ID card or Gibraltar residence card. The long queues that have been a feature of daily life for both communities, sometimes stretching for hours during rush hour, are over.

The border controls have not disappeared altogether, as Gibraltar’s airport and port are now the external Schengen frontier, where passengers arriving from outside the zone are checked jointly by Gibraltarian and Spanish officers. For those travelling between Gibraltar and the wider Schengen area, that process happens at the point of departure or arrival, not at the land crossing.

For the first time, direct flights between Gibraltar and EU destinations are now possible under the new framework, a development that opens up Gibraltar’s connectivity even further.

A Daily Difference

For the roughly 15,000 people who cross from Spain into Gibraltar to work every day, the change was felt immediately. The friction of the daily commute, the document checks, the queues, the unpredictability, is gone. That matters not just in practical terms, but in the quality of life for people whose working days used to start and end at the border crossing.

For Gibraltar’s businesses, the benefits are equally real. Recruiting and retaining workers who live across the border has always come with a friction cost that is difficult to quantify but easy to feel. As the head of the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses put it, it is “very, very positive”, and for employers across sectors, that understates it considerably.

The border has been a source of tension, inconvenience, and at times genuine hardship for generations of people whose lives simply straddle the two sides of it. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking at the border-removal ceremony, described it as “closing an open wound.”

A Stronger Proposition for Business

Gibraltar’s economy has long attracted international operators, and the removal of the border strengthens it in several respects.

Easier access to the Spanish labour market, improved connectivity to EU destinations via the airport in the future, and a clearer regulatory relationship with Europe all make Gibraltar a more straightforward proposition for businesses and individuals considering the jurisdiction.

For those of us who live and work here, this feels less like a policy change and more like a return to something that should always have been straightforward, as Gibraltar and the surrounding region are deeply connected economically, culturally, and personally.

Looking Ahead

At Abacus, we have been based in Gibraltar for decades. We have watched the negotiations, navigated the uncertainty, and supported clients through the questions that inevitably follow when the future of a jurisdiction is unclear. The border being opened felt like the end of a long chapter and the beginning of a more settled one.

If you have questions about what the new treaty arrangements mean for your business or residency in Gibraltar, we would love to hear from you.

The post A New Chapter for Gibraltar and Spain: The Border Comes Down appeared first on Abacus.

Here is a practical explainer of who qualifies, on what basis, and what the process will look like going forward.

The Routes to Residency

The Regulations set out six main routes through which a person may apply for a residence permit in Gibraltar: as an employee, as a self-employed individual, as a student, as a Crown Servant or member of HM Armed Forces, as an existing resident, or as a permanent resident.

Employees

To qualify as an employee, an applicant must hold an employment contract of at least one year, under which their gross annual earnings are no less than the average gross annual earnings in Gibraltar, which is currently £37,500. Their employer must be trading in Gibraltar, fully licensed under the Fair Trading Act 2023 or appropriately regulated, and must have complied with all due payments and filings.

Applicants must also be aged 55 or under, provide evidence of a purchase or rental agreement for a property in Gibraltar to be used as their primary residence, and be fully vetted by the relevant authorities of the country in which they were most recently habitually resident.

On the accommodation point, the Regulations are specific: rental agreements must be for at least 12 months, must not be holiday lets, and must reflect a genuine commercial arrangement. Vessel-based living will not satisfy the requirement for new applicants, though those who were already residing on a vessel before the Regulations came into force are exempt.

Two waivers are available on the salary threshold. The Chief Minister may waive it where an applicant possesses skills important to Gibraltar’s economic development, or where they belong to a sector with a demonstrable shortage of labour or skills, and this discretion may be exercised across an entire sector rather than on a case-by-case basis. Separately, the Authority may waive the threshold for applicants under 30, provided their employer pays a deposit covering the equivalent social insurance contributions and 25% of the average gross annual earnings.

New Employers

Where an employer has been trading or regulated in Gibraltar for less than a year, the Regulations impose an additional requirement: the employer must pay a deposit to the Government before the Authority will process the application. That deposit covers the total employee and employer social insurance contributions for the first year of employment, plus an amount equivalent to 25% of the average gross annual earnings in Gibraltar.

The deposit may be set off against any liabilities the employer owes to the Government, with any remainder returned on cessation of the business. There is a mechanism for reducing the deposit where the number of employees required to provide deposits would otherwise be so great as to stifle the business, or where there is a legitimate and justifiable reason in Gibraltar’s interests. If a residence application is unsuccessful, the deposit is refunded within 30 days.

Self-Employed Individuals

The conditions for self-employed applicants broadly mirror those for employees: average gross annual earnings at or above the Gibraltar threshold, appropriate accommodation, age 55 or under, eligibility to be licensed or regulated in Gibraltar if required, and full vetting. The Chief Minister retains the same discretion to waive the earnings or age requirements where the applicant’s skills or sector warrant it.

Applicants who have not previously been registered as self-employed in Gibraltar must pay a deposit before their application will be processed, covering the first year’s social insurance contributions plus 25% of the average gross annual earnings. As with new employers, this deposit may be reduced in justifiable circumstances, and is refunded if the application is unsuccessful.

Students and Other Categories

Students accepted for full-time enrolment at the University of Gibraltar qualify for a residence permit for the duration of their studies. Crown Servants, members of HM Armed Forces posted to Gibraltar, Gibraltar Government employees, and their entitled dependants also qualify, with permits valid for a period determined by the Authority having regard to the length of any intended tour of duty.

Existing and Permanent Residents

Those who already held a valid civilian registration card under the Immigration, Asylum and Refugee Act qualify for a residence permit under the same conditions that applied before the new Regulations came into force, provided they can demonstrate six months of continuous and lawful residence in Gibraltar immediately preceding the application. The Authority may waive this continuity requirement where an absence was due to military service, pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training, or an overseas posting.

A separate discretionary route exists for those who were resident in Gibraltar before the previous residency arrangements were suspended, but had not yet obtained a residence document or valid civilian registration card. The Chief Minister may, in his absolute discretion, issue a residence permit to such individuals under the conditions that applied prior to the suspension. No criteria are prescribed for how this discretion will be exercised.

Those who already hold permanent residence are also protected: they qualify for a permit directly, though permanent residence can be lost through an absence from Gibraltar of two years or more.

Family Members

Spouses or civil partners, children under 18, and children over 18 in full-time education may all be included in an employee’s, self-employed individual’s, or student’s application. Each family member over 18 must be independently vetted. Where a spouse or civil partner is included, the applicant must pay an additional deposit equivalent to the total social insurance contributions payable under their employment contract for the first year.

Unmarried partners of Gibraltarians may also qualify, provided the Authority is satisfied that they are in a genuine and durable relationship of at least two years, one that is not based solely or primarily on remote or online communication.

Validity, Renewal and Revocation

Residence permits are valid for one year and must be renewed annually. At renewal, employees must continue to satisfy the earnings and accommodation requirements, though the age 55 cap does will no longer apply at that stage. The deposit requirements do not apply on renewal, with one exception: under-30 employees whose employer is paying salary deposits must continue to do so for each year the employee remains under 30.

A permit will automatically be revoked 16 weeks after a notice of termination of employment is filed with the Department of Employment, unless the Authority is satisfied that the holder has a new employment contract meeting the relevant requirements. Permits may also be refused, not renewed, or revoked on grounds of public policy, public security, or public health, or where the holder has ceased paying social insurance or income tax, no longer meets the conditions of their permit, or has engaged in address or residence fraud or assisted illegal migration.

Where a permit is revoked on the grounds of fraud or facilitation of illegal migration, the former holder is barred from applying for a new permit for five years, unless the Chief Minister directs otherwise.

Fees and Penalties

The application fee for a new residence permit is £250, and the renewal fee is £20, the same fees apply to each family member included in an application. Residing in Gibraltar without a valid permit carries an administrative penalty of £2,500, payable within 28 days, and the person concerned will be treated as an unauthorised person under the Immigration, Asylum and Refugee Act.

The Right to Appeal

The Regulations establish a new Residency Appeals Tribunal, consisting of a Chair and four other members appointed by the Chief Minister. Anyone aggrieved by a decision to refuse or revoke a residence permit may appeal to the Tribunal within seven days of being notified of the decision. Appeals are determined on the basis of written representations, unless the Chair considers it necessary to hear the appellant in person. The Tribunal may affirm, vary, or reverse the Authority’s decision and must give reasons for doing so.

It is worth noting that decisions taken under the Government’s discretionary power (regulation 15) and those arising from Schengen checks (regulation 20) fall outside the Tribunal’s jurisdiction and are not subject to this appeals process.

Discretionary Powers

Discretionary powers appear throughout the framework, the Chief Minister may waive salary and age thresholds, issue permits to individuals resident before the suspension who lacked documentation, direct that additional persons be treated as family members, and grant permits to anyone he considers to be of good character and in Gibraltar’s interests. The Government holds a similarly broad power to order the issue of a permit where it considers doing so to be in Gibraltar’s economic, reputational, cultural, or public interest.

Finding The Right Route

Navigating a new legal framework always raises questions that the document itself doesn’t answer. If you would like to discuss how the Residency Regulations apply to your specific situation, our team at Abacus would be delighted to help you.

The post Gibraltar’s Residency Regulations 2026: The New Legal Framework appeared first on Abacus.

In this episode of ABACAST, we welcome Grahame Jackson, Partner and Head of Tax at Hassans, for an insightful discussion on the evolution of Gibraltar’s tax and financial services landscape. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, Grahame reflects on his journey from Liverpool to becoming one of Gibraltar’s leading tax professionals and shares his perspective on the major regulatory, economic, and professional changes that have shaped the jurisdiction.

The conversation explores the increasing complexity of international taxation, the transition from Gibraltar’s tax-exempt company era to today’s more sophisticated regulatory environment, and the growing importance of expertise, transparency, and professional excellence in maintaining Gibraltar’s competitiveness. Grahame also discusses global developments such as OECD initiatives, tax harmonisation, economic substance requirements, and the challenges and opportunities facing international finance centres.

Looking ahead, we examine Gibraltar’s future, including the potential impact of the UK-EU treaty, the evolution of cross-border business, and the importance of preserving Gibraltar’s unique identity while remaining competitive in a rapidly changing global market. A thoughtful and engaging discussion on tax, business, regulation, and the future of Gibraltar as an international financial centre.

The post ABACAST: Episode 11 – Grahame Jackson on Tax & Finance appeared first on Abacus.

The briefing was opened by Nigel Feetham KC MP, Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry, who has been closely associated with this legislation since first setting out his ambition for it at an international conference in Hong Kong earlier this year.

Nathan Catania, Partner at Xreg Consulting, then took attendees through the detail, presenting on the key aspects of the proposed legislation and its practical applications.

Our team was glad to attend, and the discussion gave a clear sense of where things are headed.

Why Tokenisation is Gaining Momentum

One of the most interesting parts of the briefing examined why fund tokenisation is becoming an increasingly important topic for the global investment industry.

While tokenisation has often been viewed as an emerging technology in search of a practical application, the presentation highlighted a growing body of evidence that suggests the opposite.

Among the advantages discussed were:

• Faster settlement: reducing subscription and redemption times from days to minutes and supporting round-the-clock markets.
• Programmability: allowing smart contracts to automate distributions, compliance checks and other administrative processes.
• Greater transparency: with distributed ledger technology providing an auditable register that can simplify regulatory reporting and investor record keeping.
• Fractionalisation: enabling broader access to investment opportunities through smaller minimum investment amounts.
• Improved collateral utility: allowing tokenised fund interests to be used more efficiently within digital financial markets.

Making the Legislation Work

Legislation, however well drafted, only becomes useful once the industry understands how to apply it. The PCC (Amendment) Bill 2026 introduces a new legal framework, enabling protected cell companies authorised as experienced investor funds to issue tokenised shares, and to maintain DLT-based share registers.

That process of translation is still very much underway. The Bill itself is still proceeding through the legislative process, so the practical detail discussed at sessions like this will continue to evolve.

We are following this legislation closely and are already considering what it means for the funds we administer. If you would like to discuss how tokenised fund structures might apply to your business, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

The post Inside the Gibraltar Finance Centre’s Briefing on Fund Tokenisation appeared first on Abacus.

At first glance, a master-feeder structure can sound technical. In practice, it is a straightforward way of allowing different investor groups to access the same underlying strategy.

A simple structure with a clear purpose

In a master-feeder arrangement, feeder funds raise capital from different groups of investors. Those feeders invest into a single master fund, and it is at master fund level where the actual investment activity takes place.

Rather than managing each investor group separately, capital is brought together into one pooled strategy. This allows the manager to operate more efficiently while ensuring all investors participate in the same underlying portfolio.

Why structure it this way?

One of the reasons these structures remain so widely used is that investors rarely fit into a single mould. Different investor groups may need to come through different feeder vehicles because of legal, regulatory, tax or reporting considerations, even when they are all investing into the same underlying strategy.

A master-feeder structure allows a manager to accommodate these differences at the feeder level, while keeping the investment strategy consistent at the core, enabling the manager to focus on what matters most: the investment strategy itself.

While a Gibraltar fund can allow direct investment from US investors, a fund manager may still prefer to group and segregate US investors from others for regulatory, tax, cost or other reasons. This can be achieved by establishing an “onshore” US feeder fund, which would then invest or “feed” into a Gibraltar master fund. As with any such arrangement, careful legal and structuring advice is key to ensuring the chosen structure is appropriate for the investor base and jurisdictions involved.

How the value flows

A key feature of this model is how performance is allocated.

Take a simple example:

• If one feeder owns 70% of the master fund
• And another owns 30%

Any profit or loss generated at the master level is allocated back to the feeders in those same proportions. This ensures each investor group receives its fair share of the underlying performance. It’s consistent, coherent and cost-efficient.

For the model to work properly, subscriptions, redemptions, ownership percentages and the allocation of profit and loss all need to be reflected accurately across both the feeders and the master fund. Even small timing or allocation errors can create inconsistencies in NAV calculations, which is why the support of a strong fund administration is such an important part of running these structures well.

Why it matters

The strength of a master-feeder structure lies in how it brings simplicity to what could otherwise become complex.

By separating investor-level considerations from the investment activity itself, managers can run a single, consistent strategy without needing to duplicate it across multiple vehicles.

In practice, this means fewer moving parts at portfolio level, clearer oversight, and a structure that can scale as new investor groups are added.

For managers operating across borders, this structure provides a practical way to accommodate different investor requirements without compromising the integrity of the investment approach.

In this context, a Gibraltar fund can play a flexible role within the structure, whether as a feeder or master fund, offering a well-regulated platform for accessing a broader international strategy.

Final thought

At its core, a master-feeder structure is not about adding layers, it is about removing friction.

Investors may come with different requirements, but the underlying strategy can remain the same.

When the structure is supported by strong administration and accurate allocation of value, it provides a clear, consistent and scalable framework for managing capital across different investor groups.

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