Switzerland: Continuation of Services Mobility Agreement with the United Kingdom

• Types of activities allowed under agreement. There are no limitations set by law for the types of activities that can be performed under the agreement.
• Notification procedure. Under the agreement, Switzerland continues to apply the notification procedure to UK nationals who seek to work in Switzerland up to 90 days. These professionals have access to a short-term work authorization through an online portal, under which approvals are available within one to two business day following application submission.

UK-based service providers can continue using the notification procedure to provide services in Switzerland for up to 90 days per calendar year, until December 31, 2025.

• History of agreement. When the United Kingdom left the European Union effective December 31, 2020, without the agreement, UK-based service providers would have lost their ability to benefit from the notification procedure as this is only available for EU- based companies seeking to send staff to Switzerland using a faster process. There was a provisional agreement that applied since January 2021.
• Importance of service trade relations. In 2021, Switzerland was the United Kingdom’s sixth largest trade in services partner, with trade in services amounting to GPB 18.4 billion, accounting for 48% of total UK-Swiss trade. Since 2021, more than 4,000 British service suppliers have used the notification procedure to provide services in the Swiss market under the Services Mobility Agreement.

Now that this Agreement has been extended, Fragomen expects UK-based service providers to use the notification procedure with similar if not increased frequency in Switzerland over the coming years. We will report on related developments.