• Business Licensing
  • Online Access to Business forms
  • Business Support

Business Licensing

Any person wishing to trade in Gibraltar, be it wholesale or retail, or to provide a service in Gibraltar must hold a valid business licence (unless the relevant business is regulated by another enactment). Find out more about the Business Licencing Authority and download copies of the licence application forms.

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Online Access to Business forms

All forms and applications relating to the licensing and registration requirements of your business with various Government departments can now be downloaded for free from our website. This includes forms for the Department of Employment, Income Tax Office, Development and Planning Commission, HM Customs and the OFT. Just visit the Business Support section.

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Business Support

The Business Support team’s aim is to assist entrepreneurs with the process of establishing their new businesses in Gibraltar. We can provide guidance about your business’s licensing and registration requirements with the OFT and other HM Government of Gibraltar Departments.

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*COVID-19 - Measures to Increase Social Distancing

Further to HM Government of Gibraltar’s policy to increase social distancing and slow the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19, the following measures have been put in place by the Office of Fair Trading.

The OFT remains committed to providing the best possible service to the public despite these measures. We apologies for any inconvenience caused.

For specific COVID-19 news and guidance please see below or refer to our News section*

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is a regulator set up by Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar. It was established on 7th October 2015 and forms part of the Ministry of Business, Tourism and Transport.

The OFT’s legal framework is enshrined within the Fair Trading Act 2015 and its subsidiary legislation. Its primary objectives are:

  1. to protect the interests of consumers and prevent harmful business practices;
  2. to ensure a fair market is maintained for all businesses in Gibraltar;
  3. to license and regulate Gibraltar businesses;
  4. to facilitate the establishment of new businesses in Gibraltar; and
  5. to prevent the laundering of illicit funds using high value dealers and real estate agents.

It shall meet these objectives by:

  1. encouraging businesses to comply with consumer law;
  2. by investigating and reviewing business practices which may harm consumer interests;
  3. by undertaking efficient licensing, regulatory and investigatory work; and
  4. by issuing information and educational guidance.

The OFT has updated its consumer guidance for Gibraltar consumers dealing with cancellations of travel arrangements as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was last issued in June 2020 however the OFT is updating its guidance to keep consumers abreast with the latest develops and to provide the most up to date guidance possible.

The Office of Fair Trading has received numerous complaints and queries relating to the cancellation of travel arrangements and holidays as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. These include cancellations by airlines, cruise ships, package holiday operators and other travel service providers.

The scale of these cancellations globally is unprecedented as the travel industry has been severely affected by the significant travel restrictions imposed by Governments for public health reasons.

For more assistance with any cancelled travel arrangements due to Covid-19 please contact the OFT Consumer Protection Team for assistance : consumer.protection@oft.gov.gi

As part of its consumer protection responsibilities the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is monitoring the prices of certain goods for which there has been an elevated demand since the beginning of the Coronavirus crisis.


While the OFT notes the positive response from many businesses working hard within our community to ameliorate the current situation, the office has received numerous complaints and gathered intelligence about significant price rises for everyday goods such as hand sanitiser, medicines and vitamins and toilet paper etc. It is concerned that certain traders in Gibraltar may be profiteering from the lack of supply to meet the increased demands to the detriment of consumers who may be vulnerable, and therefore willing, to pay unreasonably inflated prices.


The OFT wants to ensure that no one is taking advantage of the current crisis and will take appropriate and targeted enforcement action against any businesses engaging in practices which are causing harm to consumers. In order to allow a comprehensive assessment of the situation the OFT would welcome information from the public about any traders who, in their view, are abusing the current crisis.

They can do so by e-mailing the OFT’s Consumer Protection Team (consumer.protection@gibraltar.gov.gi) or by calling the OFT (200 71700).


The Minister for Business, Tourism and Transport the Hon. Vijay Daryanani said:
“This is not the moment for businesses to take advantage of the situation. We live in unprecedented times, and we need to show consideration towards our people. Our business community will start prospering again. In the meantime, we need to stick together and be patient.”

Further to HM Government of Gibraltar’s policy to increase social distancing and slow the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19 the OFT's public counters are closed. The following measures have been put in place by the Office of Fair Trading.

The OFT remains committed to providing the best possible service to the public despite these measures. We apologies for any inconvenience caused.

About us

The OFT is a statutory regulator set up by Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar to protect the interests of consumers in Gibraltar and to ensure a fair market is maintained.

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