Business Licensing

Business registration and business licence applications have merged

Business registration and business licence applications are now made through a single Business Application. This applies to every business - whether you need a full business licence and registration, or you only need to register because you do not require a business licence.

You complete one form online. It will only ask you for licensing information if you need to apply for a business licence.

How to apply

All applications are made online, through our application portal:

Apply online — Business Application

If you need help completing your application online, you can attend our offices or arrange a meeting with the Business Licensing Team.

Altering an existing business licence

You must apply to:

extend an existing business licence
transfer an existing business licence to another person
transfer an existing business licence to another premises
alter the conditions of an existing business licence

You can submit these using the Business Licence Transfer / Change Conditions Online Form, or the Business Licence Extension Online Form.

What you'll need to apply

All applications require supporting documentation. What you need depends on the type of application you're making. This is what you'll need to submit your business application:

ID card, passport or other proof of identification for applicant(s)/director(s)/partners, as applicable;
Business registration number;
Business name and business name registration number (if applicable);
Company name and company incorporation number (if applicable);
Lease/licence agreement for business premises and photographs (interior and exterior)/site plan for premises;
Proof of client account (unless the business will not be handling client monies, or if evidence of the client account is to be provided within the next 3 months); and
Qualifications, insurance and policies (applicable to certain service types only).

See the relevant checklist for other applications:

We may ask for any documentation and information we reasonably need, and may pause your application until we receive everything we have requested.

What happens after you apply

Once we have received your complete application - including any documents we have reasonably requested – we will give public notice of your application within 5 working days. This notice allows members of the public to object.

Objections

An objection will only be considered if:

it's made on one of the acceptable grounds (below)
it's in writing, explaining the exact nature of the objection
it's given to us within 5 working days of the notice being published
the objector also gives notice to you (the applicant) within the same 5 working days – we may ask the objector to prove this was done
a £100 filing fee is paid

Acceptable grounds for objection:

the applicant (or a partner, if the applicant is a partnership) is an undischarged bankrupt, has an active scheme of arrangement with creditors, or was convicted of an offence under the Insolvency Act 2014 within the past 5 years
carrying on the business at the premises would breach a covenant, condition or restriction in the applicant's lease or occupation terms
the premises aren't appropriate for the intended business
a required licence, authorisation, registration or approval under other legislation hasn't been obtained
the applicant is under 18
the premises wouldn't conform to the laws of Gibraltar
the licence is likely to cause nuisance or annoyance to people living or working near the premises
the business wouldn't be compatible with another business operating from the same premises
the licence would conflict with an approved town planning scheme
the premises don't match the Official Address Register or Land Property Services' records
the applicant is a natural person not entitled to reside or work in Gibraltar under Gibraltar law
the business is a Specified Business and we are not satisfied the applicant can carry it on safely and in compliance with relevant regulations

Fees

The following fees are applicable in respect of business licence matters as from 1st August 2025 pursuant to the Fair Trading (Fees) Regulations 2024:

Description of fee	Amount of fee
1. On the issue of a new licence: (i) for a single business class (trade or service); (ii) for a trade business class and a service business class; subject to the deduction of fees already paid in obtaining provisional approval for that licence.	£185.00 £264.00
2. On the issuance of a licence or renewal of a licence to carry on any of the businesses referred to in sub-section 30 (1) (for business regualted by the OFT from a money laundering and financing of terrorism perspective)	£63.50
3. On the extension of a licence by adding another business class or other activities to an existing licence.	£116.00
4. On the renewal of an existing licence with: (i) a single business class (trade or service); (ii) a trade and service business class.	£116.00 £211.00
5. On the provisional approval for the grant of a new licence.	£116.00
6. On the issue of a temporary licence.	£264.00
7. On the issue of an occasional licence	£63.50
8. On the transfer of a licence to another person.	£116.00
9. On the transfer of a licence to another premises.	£116.00
10. On the removal or alteration of licence conditions.	£116.00
11.On the issue of a duplicate licence.	£47.50
12.On the filing of an objection to an application: (i) for a new licence; (ii) for an extension to an existing licence; (iii) for a transfer of a licence to another person; (iv) for a transfer of a licence to another premises.	£105.50
13. On the registration of a business pursuant to sub-section 25 (3) (For cottage indistires, artisans and service porviders with an anual turnover below £20,000).	No fee