theForum » Travel » Travelling whilst on licence or serving a community order » Does Gibraltar count as abroad?

Does Gibraltar count as abroad?

BenS — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:07:59 GMT

If travelling to Gibraltar, directly by air from London, does this count as foreign travel for SOR purposes?

It would be a 3-day trip and I would not be entering Spain. So if it counted as within the UK, I would not normally need to notify due to it being less than a week. Though if it counts as abroad, of course I'd have no problem notifying.

RE: Does Gibraltar count as abroad?

expatofff — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:07:59 GMT

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[b]Stersco83 - 24 Mar 26 12:15 AM[/b]

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[b]BenS - 18 Jan 18 7:55 AM[/b]

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The upside is, it's one place on Earth of which you are a citizen where the SOR doesn't apply.

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Actually, since a few months ago British people wanting to live there have to get residency and that includes a criminal background check. So you wouldn't get it approved. This is due to the new agreement with the Spanish.

RE: Does Gibraltar count as abroad?

Stersco83 — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:15:52 GMT

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[b]BenS - 18 Jan 18 7:55 AM[/b]

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The upside is, it's one place on Earth of which you are a citizen where the SOR doesn't apply.

RE: Does Gibraltar count as abroad?

BenS — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 10:53:45 GMT

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[b]Yankee - 19 Jan 18 11:27 AM[/b]

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[b]BenS - 18 Jan 18 7:55 AM[/b]

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Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory (like Bermuda, the Falklands etc.) and is not part of the UK. You will have to notify as the Act refers to all travel outside the United Kingdom.
As an aside, legally according to the Act you would have to notify trips to the Channel Islands and the IOM (which are crown dependencies and not part of the UK) - however, flights and ferries are classed as domestic and there are no immigration controls - I don't know what the PPU do in that case, but I always work on the basis that it's better to notify even if you didn't have to than find out later on you should have and give the PPU a reason to cause trouble.

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That's useful, thank you, and I agree with not giving them any reason to accuse you of being difficult and giving them a reason to refuse to get the order revoked in future.

RE: Does Gibraltar count as abroad?

Yankee — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 11:27:12 GMT

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[b]BenS - 18 Jan 18 7:55 AM[/b]

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RE: Does Gibraltar count as abroad?

BenS — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 11:21:23 GMT

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[b]AB2014 - 18 Jan 18 10:25 AM[/b]

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[b]BenS - 18 Jan 18 7:55 AM[/b]

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According to Unlock's information here on travelling abroad on licence, the UK is "England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Channel Islands includes Jersey and Guernsey. Added to the Isle of Man, these represent three Crown Dependencies." I realise it's not the same law, but they seem to be relying on an accepted definition of the UK. I suppose the best advice would be to ask the police, as they enforce SOR restrictions.

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Thank you for the info!

RE: Does Gibraltar count as abroad?

AB2014 — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 10:25:38 GMT

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[b]BenS - 18 Jan 18 7:55 AM[/b]

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