Royal Gibraltar Police Jobs 2026: The Complete, Unfiltered Guide
The Royal Gibraltar Police isn’t a waiting list or a lucky break. It’s a process shaped by timing, preparation, and knowing how recruitment really works in 2026.
A genuine shot requires more than interest; it demands clarity on eligibility, recruitment cycles, assessments, and the mistakes that quietly derail candidates. This guide cuts through the noise and leads straight into what actually matters.
In 2026, the real bottleneck isn’t competition. It’s timing, preparation, and understanding how the RGP recruitment system actually works. Miss one exam window or misunderstand one requirement, and you’re out for a year without realising why.
This guide exists to close that gap. Not with generic encouragement—but with dates, steps, and realities pulled directly from the current 2026 recruitment cycle.
Why Policing in Gibraltar Is Different
Gibraltar isn’t a scaled-down UK force. It’s a concentrated, high-intensity policing environment covering just 6.8 square kilometres, serving around 34,000 residents plus millions of visitors each year.
That means visibility matters. Community knowledge matters. Decision-making matters.
The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) isn’t recruiting people who want a badge. It’s recruiting people who can operate in a place where you’ll police the same streets, businesses, and families for decades.
Royal Gibraltar Police Recruitment Windows (2026)
This is where most applicants fail without realising it.
You cannot apply whenever you feel ready. Applications are only accepted during live recruitment windows.
Confirmed 2026 application window:
Opens: 6 January 2026 at 10:00 (Gibraltar time)
Closes: 5 April 2026 at 23:59
Applications are submitted exclusively via the official careers portal at police.gi. If the apply button is not visible, recruitment is closed.
The RGP Entrance Exam: The Real Gatekeeper
Here’s the part most guides gloss over: you can’t even be considered without a valid RGP Entrance Exam pass.
The exam is:
- Online
- GCSE-level difficulty
- Pass mark: 60%
- Valid for multiple recruitment campaigns unless the exam format changes
Subjects tested:
- Vocabulary
- Verbal comprehension
- Verbal reasoning
- Accuracy and checking
Confirmed 2026 exam sittings include:
- 26 January – 1 February 2026
- 2 March – 8 March 2026
- 25 May – 31 May 2026
- 28 July – 3 August 2026
Miss the exam window, and you miss the entire recruitment cycle—regardless of how strong your CV is.
Eligibility: What Actually Matters in 2026
Eligibility rules are reviewed each campaign, but as of the 2026 intake:
- Minimum age: 17 at application, 18 by start of training
- No formal qualification requirement if you pass the entrance exam
- GCSEs and A-levels can exempt you from the exam requirement
- No mandatory minimum residency in Gibraltar
- Applicants must be able to live in Gibraltar or commute within approximately 1 hour of New Mole House Police Station
There is currently no transfer scheme from UK police forces. Every applicant goes through the same process.
The Application Form: Where Scores Are Won or Lost
This isn’t a formality. The application is scored.
Your written responses are assessed for personal effectiveness, judgment, and communication. Many applicants are rejected here—before fitness tests or interviews are even booked.
There is no official “save” button, but most applicants report that progress is retained if the form is closed and reopened. Do not rely on this. Draft answers offline first.
What Happens After You Apply
Timeline for the 2026 campaign:
- Confirmation email: usually within 24 hours
- Application sift results: by 13 April 2026
- Assessment Day booking deadline: 20 April 2026
- Assessment Days: 9–10 May 2026 (Bleak House)
- Interviews: 13–14 May 2026
- Conditional offers: from 25 May 2026 (subject to vetting and medical)
Successful candidates from the second 2026 campaign are expected to begin recruit training around 14 September 2026.
Criminal Convictions: The Reality
A past conviction does not automatically disqualify you.
What matters is honesty. All convictions, cautions, and police interactions—UK or overseas—must be disclosed. Non-disclosure is far more damaging than the conviction itself.
Required Documents
You’ll need to upload scans or photographs of key documents during the online application and bring originals for verification later. Requirements vary by candidate—check the official portal for the current list.
If You’re Unsuccessful
Reapplication is allowed. Many successful officers were not appointed on their first attempt.
The difference is learning where you lost points—and fixing it before the next window opens.
Closing the Loop
Most people think RGP recruitment is about competition.
It isn’t.
It’s about understanding a system that rewards preparation, timing, and precision. Once you see that, the process stops feeling mysterious—and starts feeling manageable.
