What you should do
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:
The British Embassy regularly holds events across Switzerland as well as online (Facebook) for UK nationals.
You can also:
The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement
If you were legally resident in Switzerland before 1 January 2021, you are covered by the Agreement, and your rights will be protected for as long as you remain resident. You continue to have broadly the same entitlements to work, study and access public services and benefits.
For more information read:
Visas and residency
Check the entry requirements for Switzerland.
Residency
If you were legally resident in Switzerland before 1 January 2021, you can stay and your current residence permit remains valid.
You should reapply for a new permit before your existing one expires. This applies whether you hold a short or long stay permit, or a frontier worker permit.
Read the Swiss government’s FAQs for UK nationals.
Moving to Switzerland
You have to meet the terms of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act. If you are planning to move to Switzerland you have to obtain a work permit and are subject to a quota for UK nationals.
Read the Swiss Embassy guidance on residency permits.
Within 14 days of arriving you must register at the local office of resident services in the municipality where you are staying (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 in the municipality where you live (Einwohnerdienste or Centre du contrôle des habitants).
International permits (cartes de légitimation)
International permits (cartes de légitimation) are not affected by the UK leaving the EU. Special provisions 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 should carry your residence permit, as well as your valid passport when you travel. If you have applied but not yet received your card, carry your certificate of application.
If you have not yet applied for a residence permit, you should carry evidence that you are resident in Switzerland. This could include a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020.
If you cannot show that you are resident in Switzerland, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Switzerland.
Passports
Check the Switzerland travel advice for passport validity requirements. You can apply for or renew your British passport from Switzerland.
As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket.
Entry requirements
You can 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 stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period, to work or study, or for business travel, you must meet the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit.
If you stay in Switzerland with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.
Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen 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.
For information on driving in Switzerland, read the guidance on:
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 protects the rights of UK nationals resident in Switzerland before 1 January 2021, 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 healthcare in Switzerland and make sure you’re correctly registered for your circumstances.
State healthcare: S1
If you have a registered S1 form and were living in Switzerland before 1 January 2021, your rights to access healthcare remain unchanged if you either:
- receive a UK State Pension
- receive some other ‘exportable benefits’
- are a frontier worker who lives in Switzerland and commutes to work in the UK
- are a ‘posted’ worker: you have been sent to Switzerland temporarily by your UK employer
Read our guidance on using an S1 form in Switzerland to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
If you are resident in Switzerland, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC for healthcare in Switzerland, unless you are a student or a detached (posted) worker.
Who needs to apply for a new EHIC
If you were living in Switzerland before 1 January 2021 you may be eligible for a new UK-issued EHIC if you are:
- a UK student in Switzerland
- a UK State Pensioner with a registered S1
- a frontier worker with a registered S1
- a posted worker, that is you have been sent to Switzerland temporarily by your UK employer
Old UK-issued EHICs and UK-issued GHICs are not valid for healthcare in Switzerland.
An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.
For more information read our guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe and advice on foreign travel insurance.
You should also read guidance on:
Working in Switzerland
If you were legally resident in Switzerland before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remain legally resident.
Read the Department for International Trade’s guidance on:
and sign up for their updates.
If you are planning to move to Switzerland you have to obtain a work permit and are subject to a quota for UK nationals. Read the Swiss Embassy guidance on residency permits.
If you work 8 hours or more a week, you’re covered against occupational and non-occupational accidents by your employer.
If you live abroad and require a police certificate from the UK, apply to the ACRO Criminal Record Office.
Frontier workers
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. 
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:
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 Insurance
Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Switzerland.
Pensions
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Switzerland.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
Read our 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:
For more information on your Swiss retirement provision, you can read the Swiss government’s guidance on:
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
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Switzerland.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
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 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
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:
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:
Find out about how to get married abroad
You may need:
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.
A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
Read guidance on:
Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.
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.
