Gibraltar Category 2 Register Hits Record 374
The high-net-worth residence register now exceeds its December 2022 peak after new certificate issuance more than doubled in early 2026.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Remote Work
Live Poll
Would you support wealthy foreign residents moving to your community for tax-residency benefits?
Gibraltar's Category 2 register, which establishes residence through the High Net Worth Individuals' Regime, reached 374 certificates, an all-time high. New certificates issued in the first half of 2026 rose 104% compared with the same period in 2025.
Why it matters
The register had fallen to 300 certificates in October 2023 before recovering, and the recovery follows a quadrupling of the application fee and a rise in the minimum net wealth requirement from £2m to £5m. A further 37 applications are in the pipeline, with 11 already approved but not yet issued.
The register grew from 300 certificates in October 2023 to 374 now, with issuance up 104% in the first half of 2026 compared with 2025 (51 versus 25 certificates). The source does not say how many pipeline applications will be approved or issued.
The players
Gibraltar Government
The government of the British Overseas Territory that operates the Category 2 residence register and sets its application fees and eligibility requirements.
The details
Category 2 provides residence in Gibraltar through the High Net Worth Individuals' Regime. Growth in the register has come despite a fourfold increase in the application fee and a higher minimum net wealth threshold of £5m.
Timeline
December 2022: The Category 2 register stood at 356 certificates.
October 2023: The register fell to 300 certificates.
First half of 2025: 25 Category 2 certificates were issued.
First half of 2026: 51 Category 2 certificates were issued, up 104%.
January to October 2026: 68 Category 2 certificates were issued.
Market Landscape
The rebound places Gibraltar's Category 2 scheme back at its highest recorded level despite higher costs, suggesting sustained demand from wealthy applicants for residence in the territory. The register's recovery after the 2023 decline is the central pattern in this trajectory.
Applicants considering Category 2 residence face a fourfold higher application fee and a £5m minimum net wealth requirement, up from £2m. Those already in the pipeline should factor these costs into timing and budgeting.
The takeaway
Residence schemes can recover from a downturn even as entry costs rise, and the Category 2 register's rebound shows that demand among qualifying applicants has not been deterred by the higher thresholds. Prospective applicants should weigh the current fee and wealth requirements against the scheme's recent momentum.
Further reading
Explore more on Remote Work to see how residence schemes like this one connect to mobile and location-independent careers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation.
Live Poll
Would you support wealthy foreign residents moving to your community for tax-residency benefits?
