Living in Switzerland

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Switzerland. Read about how our British Embassy in Berne can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Swiss authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date:

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

If you were living in Switzerland before 1 January 2021

Some parts of this guide only apply if you have been living in Switzerland since before 1 January 2021. You should read these in addition to the rest of the guidance in each section.

You should also read our Living in Europe page for information about citizens’ rights under the UK - Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement and the Swiss government’s FAQs for UK nationals.

Coronavirus

Follow the advice of the Swiss government and your local authority. You should also read the Switzerland travel advice.

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

Visas and residency

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

Check the entry requirements for Switzerland. You should also read the Swiss Government’s guidance for UK nationals coming to Switzerland to work from 1 January 2021. It explains the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (FNIA) requirements you must meet to live or work in Switzerland.

The Federal Court sets quotas for residence permits and short stay permits. The Court releases quotas every 3 months and the cantons manage them. Read the Swiss Embassy guidance on residency permits.

Within 14 days of arriving, you must register at your local office of resident services in your municipality (Einwohnerdienste or Centre du contrôle des habitants).

If you stay in Switzerland for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit with your local cantonal authority (Einwohnerdienste or Centre du contrôle des habitants).

If you are employed by an international organisation

If you have an international permit (cartes(carte de légitimation), you are not covered by the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement. Special provisions apply to international permit holders wishing to retire and remain in Switzerland.

Visas and residency if you were living in Switzerland before 1 January 2021

If you have lived in Switzerland since before 1 January 2021, you and your family members have rights under the UK - Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement. Your current residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung, or Permis de séjour or Permessi di dimora) remains valid. It also shows your right to enter Switzerland, and exempts you from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and visa requirements.

You should apply for a new permit before your short or long stay permit, or frontier worker permit expires.

Read the Swiss government’s FAQs for UK nationals.

Your close family members continue to be able to join you and settle in Switzerland at any point in the future. Read more information on who this applies to in the Living in Europe guidance. They must travel to Switzerland and then apply as your family member. Nationals of certain non-EU countries may need a visa before travel. The Swiss authorities should issue family reunion visas free of charge.

Passports and travel

Coronavirus travel restrictions may affect travel to and from Switzerland.

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Switzerland.

Check the Switzerland travel advice for passport validity requirements.

Always carry your passport when travelling within the Schengen area. If you have citizenship of an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country, in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Switzerland using your EU or EFTA passport.

If you stay in Switzerland with a Swiss residence permit or long stay visa, this time does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

If you visit other Schengen area countries outside Switzerland, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

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

If you were living in Switzerland before 1 January 2021

When you travel, carry your residence document (Aufenthaltsbewilligung/Permis de séjour/Permessi di dimora) or frontier worker permit issued under the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.

You must proactively show your residence document, or other evidence of residence status, if you are asked to show your passport at border control. Other evidence may be your tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020. If you have applied for, but not yet received, your residence document, show your certificate of registration.

If you cannot prove that you are resident in Switzerland, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in the country or countries where you live or work. If a passport is stamped, the stamp is considered null and void when you can show evidence of lawful residence.

If you have rights under the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement, you can enter and exit Switzerland with a valid passport. You do not need any additional validity on the passport beyond the dates on which you are travelling.

Healthcare

Read our guidance on healthcare in Switzerland and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.

Travel insurance is not intended to cover healthcare costs if you live overseas.

Unless you have UK-funded healthcare in Switzerland, you must buy insurance with a Swiss health insurance company within 3 months of arriving in Switzerland.

Read the Swiss government guidance on:

• health insurance for foreigners in Switzerland
• social insurance for foreign nationals
• old-age and survivors’ insurance
• disability insurance

You should also read guidance on:

• finding an English-speaking doctor in Switzerland and Liechtenstein
• travelling with medicines

Working in Switzerland

If you are planning to move to Switzerland and work, you have to get a work permit. There is a work permit quota for UK nationals.

Read the Swiss government’s guidance on working in Switzerland as a foreign national and how to get a visa.

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

To apply for a job you may need to:

• provide a UK police certificate
• get your qualification recognised in Switzerland

Read guidance on:

• on working or providing services in Switzerland

If you plan to work in Switzerland, even if you work for a UK based employer, this may affect where you pay National Insurance-type contributions. Read the National insurance and social security contributions section for more information.

If you were living in Switzerland before 1 January 2021

You have the right to work under the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement if you have an Aufenthaltsbewilligung or Permis de séjour or Permessi di dimora, or have applied for one.

If you live in Switzerland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Professional qualifications

You may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Switzerland.

Read guidance on:

• recognition of professional qualifications
• how to get your qualification recognised in Switzerland

If you were living in Switzerland before 1 January 2021

If the relevant regulator in Switzerland officially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January 2021, or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your decision. You should get advice from the relevant regulator.

Studying in Switzerland

If you plan to study in Switzerland, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

Contact the relevant higher education provider in Switzerland to check what fees you may have to pay.

Read guidance on healthcare for students in Switzerland.

If you were living in Switzerland before 1 January 2021

You continue to be eligible for broadly the same student support as under FMOPA (EU – Swiss Free Movement of Persons Agreement), if you meet the eligibility criteria. Read the UK – Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement and the explainer for more information.

Tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Switzerland so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

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

Read guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• tax if you get a pension and live abroad
• Swiss government’s information on paying tax
• paying income tax in Switzerland

National insurance and social security contributions

National Insurance-type contributions (NIC) are called ‘social security contributions’ (SSC) in Switzerland. Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Switzerland.

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Benefits

UK benefits

Read guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Switzerland.

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

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.

Pensions

Read guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Switzerland.

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Switzerland, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pensions Centre for further information
• your Swiss retirement income, if you worked in Switzerland
• pensions if you’ve worked in EU countries

Read the Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on pension and retirement for more information on cross-border pensions.

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 do not.

Money and banking

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA depends on local laws and regulation.

Read the Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on pension and retirement for more information on cross-border pensions.

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.

Driving in Switzerland

You cannot renew or replace your UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence if you live in Switzerland. Read the guidance on what you must do to drive legally in Switzerland:

• what you need to drive in the EU including information for Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
• driving licence rules in Switzerland if you live there
• road travel in Switzerland

Exchanging your UK licence

If you live in Switzerland, you must exchange your UK licence for a Swiss one at your local cantonal authority within 12 months of moving. You do not need to take a driving test. You cannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of exchanging your licence.

Exchanging your Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man licence

If you have a licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need to take a driving test. You cannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of getting a Swiss licence.

Disabled drivers

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Switzerland, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority. You can apply for a new Swiss disabled parking card at your canton’s road traffic office. (in German).

Read the EU guidance on the EU parking card for people with disabilities.

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 must declare it to customs. Read the Swiss government’s guidance on entering Switzerland with a motor vehicle.

Driving outside Switzerland with a Swiss licence

You can use your Swiss licence when visiting the UK. Keep up-to-date with the UK Highway Code.

If you go to live in the UK, you can exchange your Swiss licence for a UK one without taking a test.

To drive in another country, in addition to your Swiss licence you may need to apply for an IDP at your canton’s road traffic office. (in German).

Voting

Although foreign nationals cannot vote in Switzerland at federal level, several cantons and communes give foreign nationals voting rights. Read the Swiss government guidance on voting rights of foreign nationals.

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

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

Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnerships

If your child is born in Switzerland, you can register the birth with the UK authorities in addition to registering locally. If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

If someone dies in Switzerland read our guidance on:

• what to do after someone dies abroad
• bereavement in Switzerland
• Findingfinding English-speaking funeral directors in Switzerland

Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

You may also need:

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

Pets

If you’re moving to Switzerland with your pet, read the guidance and ensure you comply with the regulations:

• taking your pet abroad
• taking dogs, cats and ferrets to Switzerland

To visit other countries with your pet, check the rules for the country you’re travelling to. Contact your vet to get the travel documents your pet needs.

Read guidance on:

• bringing your pet to Great Britain. Check that your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date. Vets in Great Britain cannot enter rabies vaccination details in non-UK issued pet passports
• travelling to Ireland with your pet
• travelling with your pet in the EU

Emergencies

Dial the European emergency number 112 in Switzerland for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or dial:

• 117 for police
• 118 for fire
• 144 for ambulance
• 1414 for Swiss air-rescue
• 116 000 for missing children

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Returning to the UK

Check the COVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK.

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

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.

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

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, bringing family members, tax and access to services.

Useful information

Support for British nationals abroad: a guide sets out how to stay safe abroad, and explains how the FCDO can support you if you get into difficulty.