Switzerland and the United Kingdom have officially concluded negotiations for a new, extensive free trade agreement (FTA), according to an announcement from Bern on Monday. As two nations outside the European Union that maintain strong ties to the bloc, the agreement is designed to place their bilateral economic relationship on a modern and comprehensive foundation. Projections suggest the deal could generate approximately £5.2 billion, or roughly 5.64 billion francs, in additional annual UK services exports to Switzerland.
The Swiss economic affairs ministry emphasized that the agreement goes well beyond the existing status quo. It aims to modernize the legal framework governing bilateral relations, with a specific focus on investment, digital trade, the movement of service providers, and trade in services. A key component of the deal involves facilitating easier movement for business professionals. Under the new terms, UK service professionals will be permitted to provide services in Switzerland visa-free for up to 90 days annually. Furthermore, UK businesses will gain the ability to transfer staff to their Swiss offices for up to five years without being subjected to stringent economic needs tests.
Despite these updates, reports from the Guardian indicate that a youth mobility scheme was not included in the final discussions of the agreement. For tourists and business travelers alike, the deal includes a commitment to remove mobile roaming costs. The UK government noted that both nations intend to implement surcharge-free international mobile roaming, allowing travelers to use their regular phone contracts without incurring additional fees while in Switzerland.
Travel logistics are also set to improve, as the UK government confirmed that Switzerland plans to allow UK nationals to use eGates at its borders in alignment with Schengen requirements. Zurich Airport is expected to offer eGate exits for UK citizens by the end of 2026. Authorities are currently working toward expanding this access to entry points at Zurich, Geneva, and Basel airports, with a formal timetable for these installations to be announced in the near future.
Here are the main takeaways to know about.
Crucially for UK travellers visiting Switzerland, expensive roaming costs for mobile use abroad will be removed.
