Gibraltar at a glance
Gibraltar is one of the EU jurisdictions founders most often use today, especially while the EU-wide 28th Regime (EU Inc) is still a proposal. Below are the verified essentials: company types, tax, capital, timing and whether you can set up remotely.
Company types in Gibraltar
- Private company limited by shares (Ltd) The standard vehicle: liability limited to unpaid share capital, at least one director, one shareholder and a company secretary, plus a Gibraltar registered office.
- Public company limited by shares Can offer shares to the public and list, with higher disclosure and membership requirements; used mainly by larger or capital-raising businesses.
| Corporate tax | The standard corporate tax rate is 15% on Gibraltar-source income (territorial basis), effective 1 July 2024 (up from 12.5%). Utilities and companies abusing a dominant position pay 20%. No capital gains, wealth, inheritance or dividend withholding tax. |
|---|---|
| VAT rate | Gibraltar has no VAT at all, no registration and no VAT returns; it is outside the EU VAT area and customs union. Some imports attract import duty instead. |
| Minimum share capital | No minimum share capital. Companies are usually formed with around GBP 2,000 of authorised capital, of which only a nominal amount (often GBP 1 to GBP 100) is issued and paid up, in any currency. |
| Setup time | Incorporation usually takes about 3 to 5 business days once KYC on the owners clears. Opening a bank account is the slow part and can add several weeks. |
| Remote setup | Yes, entirely remote with no visit, handled through a licensed Gibraltar corporate service provider who files with Companies House Gibraltar and runs KYC. The hard part is banking, not the filing. |
| Director / residency | No residency requirement for directors or shareholders (any nationality, anywhere); a minimum of one director and one shareholder is needed. The company must keep a Gibraltar registered office and a company secretary, usually supplied by the local agent. |
| Banking options | Banking is the biggest hurdle: local banks apply strict KYC and are often slow for non-residents or higher-risk sectors. Many founders pair the company with EMIs (Wise, Revolut Business, Airwallex) for fast multi-currency banking. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory under UK sovereignty, NOT a member of the EU (it left with the UK at Brexit). A UK-EU treaty on Gibraltar was agreed in 2025 for Schengen-style border fluidity, but it does not make Gibraltar part of the EU. It uses English common law and the Gibraltar pound, and is a leading hub for online gaming, crypto and insurance.
How to register a company in Gibraltar
The process is straightforward and, in Gibraltar, largely digital. In outline:
- Choose your company type and name. Most founders pick the Private (Ltd); we confirm the name is available.
- Verify your identity. Yes, entirely remote with no visit, handled through a licensed Gibraltar corporate service provider who files with Companies House Gibraltar and runs KYC. The hard part is banking, not the filing.
- File the incorporation. Once documents are signed, registration usually completes in around 3-5 days.
- Open a business account and register for tax/VAT. Banking is the biggest hurdle: local banks apply strict KYC and are often slow for non-residents or higher-risk sectors. Many founders pair the company with EMIs (Wise, Revolut Business, Airwallex) for fast multi-currency banking.
We handle each step with licensed local counsel, so the paperwork, registered address and filings are done correctly the first time.
Form your Gibraltar company in days
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service starts from around €100 to €200 (estimated); we confirm the right structure for Gibraltar, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in Gibraltar
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a Gibraltar company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for Gibraltar up front, so there are no surprises.
Gibraltar and the 28th Regime (EU Inc)
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would let you register one company valid across all 27 EU member states. It is not law yet (expected around 2027-2028), so a Gibraltar company is one of the ready options you can use today. Forming an EU company now also positions you to adopt EU Inc later, as we cover in how to prepare an EU Inc company. To weigh Gibraltar against other countries, see company formation in Europe.