Living in Switzerland

This page tells you what to do ahead of Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.

You can also:

• read the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement and our Explainer
• look through the official Swiss government page on BrexitEU exit and their questions and answers on BrexitEU Exit
• watch our explanatory video
• follow the UK Embassy in Switzerland on Facebook and Twitter

The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement

The UK has reached an agreement with Switzerland, which protects the rights of UK nationals in Switzerland, whether or not the UK reaches a deal with the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, the agreement will protect UK nationals resident in Switzerland from the end of the implementation period. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the agreement will apply from the day the UK leaves the EU.

The agreement protects UK nationals’ right to stay and to work, including frontier workers, family reunification and access to healthcare. It also protects social security benefits, access to an uprated state pension and export benefits, and the continued recognition of professional qualifications.

For more informationinformation, you can read the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement and our Explainer.

Visas

Residency and residencyvisas

CheckYou may want to check the entry requirements for Switzerland.

If you movecome to live in Switzerland, you must register at your local office of resident services (Einwohnerdienste or Centre du contrôle des habitants) within 14 days of arriving. ReadFor more information, see the guidanceinformation by the Swiss government on notification of departure and registration.

If you stay and are employed for more than three3 months, you will need to apply for a residence permit with your local cantonal authority (Einwohnerdienste or Centre du contrôle des habitants).

Read our guidance on moving or retiring abroad. for further information.

Visas

Residency and residencyvisas after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement will protect UK nationals resident in Switzerland after Brexit.the UK leaves the EU. If you are in scope of the Agreement, you will not need to take any special action to benefit from it.

You should reapply for a new permit before your existing one expires, as usual. This applies whether you hold a short or long stay permit, or a frontier worker permit.

If therethe isUK leaves the EU with a deal, current travel rules between the UK and Switzerland will apply until the end of the implementation period.

If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals would not need a visa to enter Switzerland for short stays of up to 90 days in a 180 day period.

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There will be no restrictions for those coming to Switzerland to work for less than 4 months.

International permits (cartes de légitimation)

International permits (cartes de légitimation) will not be affected by Brexit.the UK leaving the EU. Special provisions will continue to apply to international permit holders wishing to retire and remain in Switzerland.

UK nationals with an international permit are not in the scope of the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Switzerland. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.

You can look at our travel advice for Switzerland and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

Passports and travel after Brexit

After Brexit, the rulesUK onleaves travelthe will change. Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

EU

If therethe isUK aleaves deal, nothing will change until the endEU ofwithout 2020.a Duringdeal, thisnew time you can continue to travel freelyrules in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will formapply. theYou nextshould part of negotiations.

If there’s no deal, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU,Schengen area, including Switzerland. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in anotherSwitzerland EU,and EEAEU orcountries, EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You mustshould retain evidence of travel (for(e.g. example, train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU,EU EEAMember State or EFTASwitzerland, country, you will be able to transit through otherthe EU,Schengen EEAarea or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

Healthcare

You must take out compulsory insurance with a Swiss health insurance company no later than 3three months after arriving or beginning to work in Switzerland. You can look at the Swiss government’s website for more information on:

• health insurance for foreigners in Switzerland
• social insurance for foreign nationals

If you are living or working in Switzerland, you need to have old-age and survivors’ insurance and disability insurance.

If you live in Switzerland and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

If you are resident in Switzerland, you mustshould not usebe using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Switzerland.

When

• you travelmay from Switzerland for a temporary stay in a European Economic Area (EEA) country, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in thatanother country.European DuringEconomic thatArea short(EEA) stay:
  country
  • the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
  • an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance

  For

• for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

The NHS has more information about healthcare for UK nationals living in and visiting Switzerland.

IfYou youcan are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.

You can find ana English-speakinglist doctorof medical facilities and practitioners in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

CheckYou should also check if your prescriptions are legal in Switzerland.

Healthcare after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

If therethe isUK leaves the EU with a deal, there will be no changes to your access to healthcare until the end of the implementation period. After the implementation period, the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement will protect the rights of UK nationals who are resident in Switzerland at that time.

If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement protects the rights of those UK nationals resident in Switzerland on the day that the UK leaves the EU. Your access to healthcare will not change for UK nationals resident in Switzerland, including students and S1 holders.

Your EHIC may not be valid ifin there’sthe noevent the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme ifafter there’sthe noUK deal,leaves the EU, however this is reliant on Switzerland continuing to accept UK EHICs.

ReadYou should read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Switzerland and how it may change after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU.

Working in Switzerland

ReadYou should read our guidance on working in another EU country. You will need to register your residence for work purposes in Switzerland.

If you live abroad and require a police certificate from the UK, apply to the ACRO Criminal Record Office.

If you work 8 hours or more a week, you’re covered against occupational and non-occupational accidents by your employer.

Working in Switzerland after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

If therethe isUK leaves the EU with a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.

ReadIf the guidance on providing services after Brexit if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after Brexit.the UK leaves the EU, further guidance can be found here.

Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Switzerland to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

ReadYou should read the guidance about:on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad

See the Swiss government’s detailed information on paying tax.

YouWe shouldstrongly obtainrecommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Switzerland. Find an English-speakingEnglish speaking lawyer in Switzerland.

National Insurance

FindYou outmay ifbe youable can to pay National Insurance while abroad soin thatorder youto can protect your stateState pensionPension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

Money and tax after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in Switzerland.

Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.

The UK leaving the EU will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Switzerland. You should senddirect yourindividual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

Pensions

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

If you retire in Switzerland, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pensions Centre to claim
• your Swiss retirement provision, if you worked in Switzerland
• pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries

For more information on your Swiss retirement provision, you can read the Swiss government’s guidance on:

• how the system works
• how to manage your retirement provision

Life certificates for UK Statestate Pensionspensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Pensions after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

The UK government will continue to pay aan uprated state pension for the fiscal year 2019/2020 to those eligible in Switzerland after Brexitthe and will uprate your UK stateleaves pension for the fiscalEU year 2019/2020 in allany Brexitscenario. scenarios.

These rights are protected for those covered by the social security coordination section of the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement.

You can also read ourfurther guidance on benefits and pensions if there’sthe noUK deal.leaves the EU without a deal.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Switzerland. You should:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad
• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while you’re abroad

ManyIf you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than four weeks.you.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Swiss benefits

You may be eligible to claim some Swiss social security benefits. To find out if you are entitled to Swiss benefits and how to claim, readsee the following guidance on social security benefits and social insurances.

Benefits after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

The UK government will continue to pay an uprated state pension, child benefits, and disability benefits to eligible UK nationals living in Switzerland after the UK’s exit from the EU in any scenario. These rights are protected under the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement for those in scope.

You can also read further guidance on benefits and pensions if there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal.

Driving in Switzerland

If you are resident in Switzerland you have 12 months to swap your UK licence for a Swiss one. You can do this at your local cantonal authority. Your UK licence will be accepted in Switzerland for up to 12 months. This will not be affected by the UK leaving the EU.

For information on driving in Switzerland, read the guidance on:

• driving licence exchange and renewal
• what you need to drive abroad
• road travel in Switzerland

When driving in Switzerland, you should always have your:

• driving licence
• car papers
• insurance paper
• MOT/Control technique certificate
• passport or ID and those of your passengers

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Switzerland

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

If you use your vehicle in Switzerland for more than one year, you need to declare it to customs. You can read the Swiss government’s guidance on entering Switzerland with a motor vehicle.

Driving after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

If there’sthe UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the transition period. ReadPlease read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

Although foreign nationals can’t vote in Switzerland at federal level, several cantons and communes give foreign nationals voting rights. You can find information on the voting rights of foreign nationals in Switzerland on the Swiss government website.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Switzerland, you will need to register a birth abroad

If someone dies in Switzerland you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies
• read our guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Switzerland
• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Switzerland

Find out about how to get married abroad

You may need:

• notarial and documentary services
• English-speaking lawyers and notaries in Switzerland
• English-speaking translators and interpreters in Switzerland

Pets

For travel to EEA EFTA countries from the UK, pet owners mustshould check the requirements of their destination country. ReadPlease read the Swiss government guidance on travellingtraveling with pets.

If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number 112 or you can dial in Switzerland:

• 117 for police
• 118 for fire
• 144 for ambulance
• 1414 for Swiss air-rescue

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Berne.

Accommodation and buying property

Read the guidance on buying a property abroad. If you already own a property, property rights are protected under the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement.

Returning to the UK

ReadYou should read our guidance on:

• accessreturning to benefitslive andin servicesthe UK
• returning to live in the UK ifin therethe iscase noof dealno-deal
• bringing your family to the UK
• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding
• importing vehicles back to the UK
• bringing your pet back to the UK
• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

Tell the UK and Swiss authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

If you get healthcare in Switzerland through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Swiss authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.