Living in Switzerland

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Swiss Government and your local authority. You can also read our Switzerland travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Switzerland see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts on living in Switzerland
• follow the UK Embassy in Switzerland on Facebook and Twitter

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.

You can also:

• read the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement and our Explainer
• look through the official Swiss government page for UK nationals living in Switzerland and their FAQs
• watch our explanatory video
• read our guidance on staying safe and healthy abroad

The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement

IfThe youUK werehas legallyreached an agreement with Switzerland, which protects the rights of UK nationals resident in Switzerland beforeby 1the Januaryend 2021,of youthe aretransition coveredperiod by31 theDecember Agreement,2020. andDuring yourthis rightstime, nothing will bechange protected for asUK longnationals aswho youcan remaincontinue resident.to Youlive, continuework and move to haveSwitzerland.

The broadlyagreement theprotects sameUK entitlementsnationals’ right to stay and to work, studyincluding frontier workers, family reunification and access publicto serviceshealthcare. It also protects social security benefits, access to an uprated state pension and benefits.export benefits, and the continued recognition of professional qualifications.

For more information read:

• read the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement
• and our Explainer
• the Swiss government’s FAQs for UK nationals

.

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Switzerland.

Residency

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There contrôleare desno habitants).restrictions for those coming to Switzerland to work for less than 4 months.

International permits (cartes de légitimation)

International permits (cartes de légitimation) arewill not be affected by 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

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If you havecan notcontinue yetto appliedtravel forto acountries residence permit, you should carry evidence that you are resident in Switzerland.the ThisSchengen couldarea include a tenancy agreement or aelsewhere utility bill in yourthe name,EU datingwith fromyour 2020.UK passport.

IfCheck youyour cannotpassport showis thatvalid before you arebook residentyour intrip. Switzerland,Your youpassport mayshould be askedvalid additionalfor questions at the borderproposed toduration enterof the Schengen area, and your passportstay.

You maycan beapply stampedfor onor entryrenew andyour exit.British Thispassport willfrom notSwitzerland.

Passports affectfrom your1 rightsJanuary in Switzerland.

Passports2021

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

From You1 canJanuary apply2021, foryou or renew your British passport from Switzerland.

You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Switzerland, and you are in scope of the Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement.

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 will need to Renewrenew your passport before bookingtravelling your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. You may also have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. YouYour passport may alsobe needstamped tofor showvisits ato returnthese or onward ticket.countries.

Entry requirements

YouFrom can1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stayThis longeris thana 90rolling days180-day inperiod.

To anystay 180-dayfor period,longer, to work or study, or for business travel, you mustwill need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travellingtravelling. to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of timestay authorised byaunder a visa or permit will not count towardsagainst yourthe 90-day visa-free limit. Travel to the UK and the Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area.Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Travel to the UK and Ireland has not changed.

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

Driving in the UK with a Swiss licence

You can use your Swiss licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.

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.

Healthcare

The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement protectswill continue to protect the rights of UK nationals resident in Switzerland beforeby 131 JanuaryDecember 2021,2020, 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:

• 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.

Read our guidance on healthcarewho inis Switzerlandable and make sure you’re correctly registered.

If your UK employer has sent you to Switzerland temporarily, your access to healthcare isin different.Switzerland Findand out how to access healthcare as a posted workerregister.

State healthcare: S1

If you havelive ain registeredSwitzerland S1 form and werereceive livingan inexportable SwitzerlandUK beforepension, 1contribution-based JanuaryEmployment 2021,Support yourAllowance rightsor toanother accessexportable healthcarebenefit, willyou staymay thecurrently samebe ifentitled youto arestate either:

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• receivingthe someUK. otherYou ‘exportablewill benefits’
• aneed frontierto workerapply whofor livesa incertificate Switzerlandof andentitlement commutesknown toas workan inS1 the UK

certificate.

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European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Switzerland, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC forfrom the UK to access healthcare in Switzerland.

IfWhen you weretravel livingfrom in Switzerland beforefor 1a Januarytemporary 2021,stay youin maya beEuropean eligibleEconomic forArea a(EEA) newcountry, UK-issuedyou can use an EHIC ifto you’re:

• aaccess UKstate-provided studenthealthcare in Switzerland
• athat UKcountry. StateDuring Pensionerthat withshort a registered S1
stay:
• athe frontierEHIC workercovers withtreatment athat registeredis S1

Applymedically nownecessary foruntil ayour newplanned UKreturn EHIC.

Anhome

• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

  Forinsurance

• for more information read our guidancetravel onadvice healthcare when travelling in Europepages and advice on foreign travel insurance.

You should also read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad
• finding an English-speaking doctor in Switzerland and Liechtenstein
• checking if your prescriptions are legal in Switzerland

Working in Switzerland

IfRead youour wereguidance legallyon residentworking in Switzerlandthe beforeEU, 1EEA Januaryand 2021,Switzerland. youYou havewill theneed right to work,register asyour longresidence asfor youwork remainpurposes legallyin resident.Switzerland.

If you arelive planningabroad toand moverequire to Switzerland you have to obtain a workpolice permitcertificate andfrom arethe subjectUK, apply to a quota for UK nationals. Read the SwissACRO EmbassyCriminal guidanceRecord on residency permitsOffice.

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

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

Frontier workers

If you live in Switzerland andon were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 131 JanuaryDecember 2021,2020, youyour mayright need a permit to showwork thatwill younot arechange aas frontierlong worker.

Ifas you liveremain inresident the UK or another EU or EFTA country and commute to work in Switzerland you need a permit. Read the Swiss government’s guidance on the Swiss cross-border commuter permit (Permit G).Switzerland.

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. 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:

• 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.

You should obtain professional advice on paying tax in Switzerland. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Switzerland.

National Insuranceinsurance

Find out if you needcan to pay National Insurance inwhile theabroad UKso orthat socialyou securitycan contributionsprotect inyour Switzerland.

Pensions

Readstate ourpension guidanceand on entitlement to UKother benefits and pensionsallowances.

National whileinsurance for UK employed and self-employed workers after 31 January 2020

If you arewere living in Switzerland.Switzerland before 31 January 2020 or you move from the UK to work in Switzerland during the transition period, your position will not change before 31 December 2020. You and your employer will not need to do anything differently.

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 State Pensions

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.

Benefits

Pensions after 31 January 2020

ReadThe ourUK guidancegovernment onwill entitlementcontinue to pay an annually uprated UK benefitsState andPension pensionsin whileSwitzerland youfor areUK nationals living in Switzerland.Switzerland by the end of the transition period, for as long as they remain covered by the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement.

Benefits

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

CheckYou whichmay 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 whileif you live abroad
• use andour howtool to check which benefits you can claim them.
  while you’re abroad

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.

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, read the guidance on social security benefits and social insurances.

Voting

Benefits after 31 January 2020

AlthoughThe foreignUK nationalsgovernment cannotwill votecontinue into Switzerlandpay atan federaluprated level,State severalPension, cantonschild benefits, and communesdisability givebenefits foreignto nationalseligible votingUK rights.nationals Readliving thein SwissSwitzerland governmentafter guidance31 onJanuary voting2020. These rights ofare foreignprotected nationals.under the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement for those in scope.

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 must check the requirements of their destination country. Read the Swiss government guidance on travelling with pets.

AIf GB-issuedyou’re EUtravelling petwith passportyour ispet not valid for travel to the EUfirst ortime Northernyou’ll Ireland.have You should speak to visit your vet before you travel to get thea necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.passport.

Read guidance on:

• bringingon returning your petcat, todog GB
• travellingor ferret to Northernthe Ireland with your petUK

.

CheckFor themoving rulespet ofhorses theand countryother you’reequines travellingread toguidance foron anyexport additionalhorses restrictionsand orponies: requirementsspecial before you travel.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

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.

Disclaimer

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