Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-switzerland
Change description : 2020-09-08 09:40:00: Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021 [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2020-01-23 11:07:43 +00:00..2020-09-08 08:42:42 +00:00
Guidance
Official information for UK nationals moving to or living in Switzerland, including guidance on Brexit, residency, passports and driving.
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The British Embassy regularly holds events across Switzerland as well as online (Facebook) for UK nationals. To keep up to date on working and living in Switzerland after Brexit,Switzerland.
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The UK has reached an agreement with Switzerland, which protects the rights of UK nationals resident in Switzerland by the end of the implementationtransition period 31 December 2020. AfterDuring Brexitthis andtime, until the end of the implementation period, nothing will change for UK nationals who can continue to live, work and move to Switzerland as they do now.Switzerland.
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 information read the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement and our Explainer.
Check the entry requirements for Switzerland.
The UK-Swiss Citizens´ Rights Agreement will protect UK nationals resident in Switzerland at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. If you are in the scope of the Agreement, you will not need to take any special action to benefit from it.
If you move to Switzerland, you must register at your local office of resident services (Einwohnerdienste or Centre du contrôle des habitants) within 14 days of arriving. Read the guidance by the Swiss government on notification of departure and registration.
If you stay and are employed for more than three 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.
The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement will protect UK nationals resident in Switzerland at the end of the implementation period on 31 December 2020. 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.
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There are no restrictions for those coming to Switzerland to work for less than 4 months.
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.
YouThe rules on travel will stay the same until the end of the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. During this time you can applycontinue forto travel to countries in the Schengen area or renewelsewhere yourin Britishthe passportEU fromwith Switzerland.your UK passport.
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Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.
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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 beyondover this.10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
You’llYou will need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
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From 1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in theany Schengen180-day areaperiod without a visa for purposes such as tourism. This is a rolling 180-day period.
To stay for longer, to work or elsewherestudy, inor for business travel, you will need to meet the EUentry withrequirements set out by the country to which you are travelling. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your UKvisit passport.would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.
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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:
When driving in Switzerland, you should always have your:
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.
The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement will continue to protect the rights of UK nationals resident in Switzerland by 31 December 2020, for as long as they remain in scope. Your access to healthcare in Switzerland will not change, as long as you are covered by the agreement.
You must take out compulsory insurance with a Swiss health insurance company no later than 3 months after arriving or beginning to work in Switzerland. You can look at the Swiss government’s website for information on:
If you are living or working in Switzerland, you need to have old-age and survivors’ insurance and disability insurance.
Read our guidance on who is able to access healthcare in Switzerland and how to register
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.
You can apply for an S1 certificate through the Business Services Authority.
If you are resident in Switzerland, you must not use your EHIC from the UK to access healthcare in Switzerland.
When you travel from Switzerland for a temporary stay in a European Economic Area (EEA) country, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:
IfYou youshould arealso a student, read the NHS guidance on on:
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The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement will continue to protect the rights of UK nationals resident in Switzerland by the end of the implementation period, for as long as they remain in scope. Your access to healthcare in Switzerland will not change, as long as you are covered by the agreement.
Read our guidance on working in the EU, EEA and Switzerland. 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.
If you are resident in Switzerland afteron Brexit
Youror before 31 December 2020, your right to work will staynot thechange sameas untillong theas endyou ofremain theresident implementationin period.Switzerland.
The UK has a double-taxationdouble taxation agreement with Switzerland to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.
Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Switzerland have not changed.
Read guidance about:
See the Swiss government’s detailed information on paying tax.
You should obtain professional advice on paying tax in Switzerland. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Switzerland.
Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad so that you can protect your state pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
If you arewere living in Switzerland priorbefore to31 BrexitJanuary 2020 or movingyou move from the UK to work in Switzerland afterduring Brexit,the transition period, your position will not change before 31 December 2020. You and your employer will not need to do anything differently.
Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.
The UK leaving the EU will not change existing double-taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Switzerland. You should send your taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.
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:
For more information on your Swiss retirement provision, you can read the Swiss government’s guidance on:
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.
The UK government will continue to pay an annually uprated UK State Pension in Switzerland for UK nationals living in Switzerland by exitthe day,end of the transition period, for as long as they remainedremain covered by the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Switzerland. You should:
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 can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
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, read the guidance on social security benefits and social insurances.
The UK government will continue to pay an uprated State Pension, child benefits, and disability benefits to eligible UK nationals living in Switzerland after Brexit.31 January 2020. These rights are protected under the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement for those in scope.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
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.
If your child is born in Switzerland, you will need to register a birth abroad
If someone dies in Switzerland you can:
Find out about how to get married abroad
You may need:
For travel to EEA EFTA countries from the UK, pet owners must check the requirements of their destination country. Read the Swiss government guidance on travelling 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.
You can dial the European emergency number 112 or you can dial in Switzerland:
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Berne.
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.
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.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Swiss authorities. The ForeignForeign, and Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
EU Exit update: Latest information on passports, heatlhcare and return to UK
We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
EU Exit update: We included a summary of the citizens' rights agreement reached with Switzerland, and more information on the implications of EU exit on healthcare and residency.
Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip
Information on the double-taxation agreement with Switzerland. The UK’s exit from the European Union will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Switzerland.
EU Exit update: updated information on access to healthcare
EU exit update - updated information on pensions and driving
EU Exit update: added information about the UK-Swiss Citizens Rights Agreement in the EU Exit section
EU Exit update: Link added to Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement
We have included links to our upcoming outreach events for UK nationals in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
EU exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.
Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
Life certificates for UK state pensions updated
First published.
2025-12-24 11:36
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK (‘Passports and travel’ section).
2023-08-02 15:04
Removed Covid information
2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the Working in Switzerland, and National insurance sections if you work in Switzerland, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2022-01-10 19:15
Guidance reviewed and updated with new information, including in the driving section.
2021-02-17 11:14
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.
2020-09-08 09:40
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-01-23 11:03
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-09-03 16:17
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-04-16 13:53
EU Exit update: Latest information on passports, heatlhcare and return to UK