Work Permits for British Citizens in Switzerland

Overview

Following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union on 31 January 2020 and the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) between Switzerland and the EU ceased to apply to UK citizens[1]. Consequently, as of 1 January 2021, British nationals are treated as third-country (non-EU/EFTA) nationals under Swiss immigration law[1]. This change has significant implications for British citizens seeking to live or work in Switzerland.

UK nationals who had already established residence or employment in Switzerland before this date are covered by a separate UK–Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement, which preserves their acquired rights[6]. However, new arrivals from 2021 onward must follow the standard rules for non-EU citizens.

Work Permit Requirements and Eligibility

Work Permit Necessity

In the post-Brexit era, British citizens require a Swiss work permit to take up employment in Switzerland (unless they benefit from pre-2021 acquired rights). Visa-free entry for short stays still applies to UK visitors, but any work (including short-term employment) now mandates a permit authorized by Swiss authorities. The Swiss employer intending to hire a UK national must apply for the work permit with the relevant cantonal immigration office before the individual can begin working[1]. UK nationals remain visa-exempt for entry into Switzerland as visitors, which means they do not need an entry visa for travel purposes[2]. Nonetheless, a work permit approval is required for them to legally work or reside beyond short tourist/business visits.

Admission Criteria

Because UK citizens are now subject to the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (FNIA), Swiss authorities will only approve work permits if certain strict criteria are met[1]. In practice, this policy is intended to admit only those British workers who are considered highly qualified or fill specialist roles that serve Switzerland’s economic interests. Key conditions for obtaining a work permit for a UK national include[1][2]:

• The job is deemed to be in Switzerland’s overall economic interest (e.g. addressing a skilled labor shortage or bringing significant benefit to the economy).
• The foreign candidate is a manager, specialist, or other highly qualified professional with skills or expertise that are required for the role and are not readily available in the local labor market.
• Priority has been given to Swiss citizens and EU/EFTA nationals: the employer must typically demonstrate that no suitable local or EU candidate could be found to fill the position (usually by showing evidence of advertising the job and recruiting efforts as per legal requirements).
• Standard salary and working conditions for the industry, region, and role are met: the employment terms offered to the UK worker must be comparable to what a Swiss worker would receive, ensuring no undercutting of local labor standards.
• If these conditions are not satisfied, Swiss authorities will reject the work permit application. 

In summary, UK nationals moving to Switzerland for work face the same strict admission criteria that apply to other non-EU citizens after Brexit[1].

No Automatic Short-Term Work Allowance

A notable change since Brexit is that the simplified short-term work notification procedure (which allows EU/EFTA nationals to work in Switzerland for up to 90 days without a permit) no longer applies to UK citizens[2]. Before 2021, some short-term business activities could be done by UK citizens through online notification to authorities, but UK nationals can no longer use this route for Swiss-based employment. Any British citizen taking on employment in Switzerland, even for short assignments or internships under 90 days, must go through the full work permit application process.

In practice, this means the Swiss employer must obtain permission in advance from the canton for the Briton’s short-term employment[2] (the only exception being certain service-related assignments, discussed below). This change underscores that UK nationals are fully outside the EU/EFTA free movement regime and must adhere to Switzerland’s third-country work regulations for all lengths of employment.

Quota System for UK Nationals

Switzerland has implemented a dedicated annual quota for work permits issued to British citizens, as part of the arrangements following Brexit. Starting in 2021, the Swiss Federal Council established a separate quota specifically for UK nationals coming to work in Switzerland[1]. This is distinct from the quota for other non-EU/EFTA foreigners and effectively reserves a number of permits exclusively for British workers in addition to the general immigration quota[4].

In 2021, for example, the quota for UK citizens was set at 3,500 permits (comprised of 2,100 long-term residence permits and 1,400 short-stay permits)[1]. These UK-specific permits are distributed across Switzerland and managed by the cantons, with allocations released on a quarterly basis (1/4 of the annual quota each quarter) to ensure an even availability throughout the year[1].

Current Situation 

The Swiss authorities have continued this separate quota system in subsequent years. For 2024 and 2025, the Federal Council maintained the UK nationals’ work permit quota at the same level (3,500 permits per year, split into 2,100 B permits for longer-term work and 1,400 L permits for short-term work)[3]. This continuity signals that Switzerland recognizes the ongoing demand for British talent.

The quota arrangement aims to facilitate the recruitment of UK professionals while controlling overall numbers. Swiss officials have noted that the dedicated quotas underscore the “importance of British specialised manpower” for Switzerland and encourage Swiss companies to plan their hiring in line with the quarterly permit availability[3]. Employers in Switzerland intending to hire from the UK should be mindful of these quota limits each year; once the allocated slots for British nationals are used up in a given period, further work permit applications might be delayed or refused until the next tranche or year.

Future Plans

It’s worth noting that British nationals’ quota is a temporary measure developed post-Brexit and is separate from the standard immigration cap for other third-country nationals. For context, in 2021 Switzerland’s federal quota allowed 8,500 permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals worldwide, to which an additional 3,500 were added exclusively for UK citizens as described[4]. This special quota is expected to remain in place until Switzerland and the UK establish any long-term agreement or until Swiss immigration policy changes.

Short-Term Business Visits and Services

Not all professional visits by British citizens require a work permit. Much depends on the nature and duration of the activity in Switzerland. Short business visits that do not involve entering into the Swiss labor market (i.e. no local employment contract) can be carried out under the standard Schengen visa-waiver rules. In other words, British nationals can travel to Switzerland without a visa and stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for certain business-related activities without needing a work permit[5].

These permitted activities are generally limited to things like attending meetings or consultations, visiting conferences or trade fairs (without presenting or performing work for a Swiss entity), conducting fact-finding missions, negotiating contracts, or interviewing for jobs[5]. Such activities are considered business visits rather than employment. During these short visits, the individual remains an employee of a UK company (or is visiting for business purposes) and is not taking up a position in Switzerland, hence no permit is required. However, the 90-day limit is strictly enforced, and visitors may need to show documentation at the border (such as proof of onward travel, travel health insurance, and an invitation letter explaining the purpose of the trip) to confirm the nature of their stay.

Short-Term Provision of Services in Switzerland

For short-term work assignments and provision of services, Switzerland and the UK have a special agreement in place to bridge the gap left by the end of free movement. Under the Services Mobility Agreement between Switzerland and the UK, certain service providers can work in Switzerland on a temporary basis (up to 90 working days per calendar year) without a work permit, provided they follow a notification procedure[1][2].

This arrangement applies to British-based companies sending their employees to Switzerland for short projects or assignments, as well as to self-employed professionals from the UK offering services in Switzerland. For example, a UK-based IT consultant, engineer, or other specialist can be sent to Switzerland for a few weeks or months to fulfill a contract, without going through the full work permit process, as long as the total stay does not exceed 90 days in a year.

Instead of a permit, the employer or self-employed individual must notify the Swiss authorities online before the work commences[5]. The notification (registration) must typically be submitted at least 8 days in advance to the cantonal labor market authorities, providing details of the worker and the assignment[5]. No labor market test (e.g. no requirement to prove lack of local candidates) is needed for these short-term service postings[2].

Limitations

It is important to understand the limits of this scheme. The 90-day service provision allowance is generally calculated per company or service provider, not per individual employee: a UK company cannot rotate multiple employees into the same position serially to exceed the 90-day total without a permit. If the work will last longer than 90 days or falls outside the scope of the allowed service sectors, a full work permit would be required.

Additionally, this Services Mobility Agreement was originally established as a temporary measure (initially for a two-year period from 2021) and may be subject to extensions or revisions. Currently, the 90-day notification-based system remains in effect[5]. However, British service providers should always check current Swiss rules and ensure they comply with notification requirements before beginning any short-term work assignment in Switzerland.

British Nationals with Pre-2021 Acquired Rights

British nationals who were already residing or working in Switzerland prior to 1 January 2021 benefit from protected rights under the Agreement on Citizens’ Rights between the UK and Switzerland (often referred to as the bilateral citizens’ rights agreement). These individuals are not subject to the new third-country national rules for their existing status.

In practice, this means that a UK citizen who obtained a Swiss residence permit (whether L (short stay), B (resident), C (permanent resident) or G (cross-border commuter)) under the EU/EFTA free movement framework before the end of 2020 can continue to live and work in Switzerland on essentially the same terms as before[2]. Their current permit remains valid and they do not need to take any immediate action to renew or change it due to Brexit. The Swiss authorities have confirmed that the residency rights acquired in Switzerland by British citizens and their family members before 1 January 2021 remain preserved[6].

Administrative Updates

While the rights remain the same, there have been some administrative updates for this group. Many Britons with EU/EFTA permits have been (or will be) asked to exchange their permit card for a new biometric residence card that notes the permit is issued in accordance with the CH-UK agreement of 25.02.2020.[2] This exchange is largely a formality to reflect the new legal basis of their status; it does not alter any actual rights to live or work in Switzerland. If a permit was not proactively exchanged, it will simply be updated to the new format at the time of next renewal.

Importantly, UK nationals holding these acquired rights are not subject to the new quotas or labor market test requirements when continuing their existing residency and employment in Switzerland. They can renew their permits under the same conditions that applied before Brexit, without needing to meet additional integration criteria. 

References

1. State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), Switzerland. “UK nationals coming to Switzerland to work from 1 January 2021.” Available at: https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/arbeit/uk/zulassung.html
2. BDO Global. “Switzerland – News and current developments on work and residence permits (Brexit).” GES News, February 2021. Available at: https://www.bdo.global/en-gb/microsites/tax-newsletters/ges-news/february-2021-issue/switzerland-news-and-current-developments-on-work-and-residence-permits
3. Charles Russell Speechlys. “Swiss Federal Council Maintains Work Permit Quota for British Citizens in 2025.” (Insight article, 28 November 2024). Available at: https://www.charlesrussellspeechlys.com/en/insights/quick-reads/102jpvc-swiss-federal-council-maintains-work-permit-quota-for-british-citizens-in-2025/
4. Expatica. “Work visas and permits in Switzerland.” Available at: https://www.expatica.com/ch/moving/visas/switzerland-work-visa-102462/
5. UK Government (Department for Business and Trade). “Travel to Switzerland for work: Guidance for British citizens.” (Published 30 April 2021, Last updated 27 September 2023). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-switzerland-for-work
6. Legal Expat Switzerland. “Brexit: Update and impact on Swiss permit applications for UK citizens.” (Blog article, 6 December 2023). Available at: https://www.legalexpat.ch/brexit-update-and-impact-on-swiss-permit-applications-for-uk-citizens/

Note: This document is for information purposes only. Important decisions should not be made without seeking professional advice.