Dear friends,
As we all turn our eyes to the festive season, I wanted to wish all members of the British Residents’ Association a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year. I hope you have the chance to enjoy some time – either in person or virtually – with your families and friends, and continue to keep the bonds between Switzerland and the United Kingdom strong.
I know that many of you will also be thinking about the end of the year, which also marks the end of the UK’s Transition Period with the EU on 31 December. The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement comes into force on 1 January 2021, and protects the rights of all UK nationals resident in Switzerland by the end of this year. This means that you will be able to continue to live and work in Switzerland broadly as you do now. I would urge you to check our “Living in Switzerland” guide on gov.uk/livinginswitzerland, to make sure you have all the information you need.
Several other bilateral agreements will also enter into force on 1 January, including our Trade Continuity Agreement – you can find more detail on this, and on how to prepare for our new customs arrangements, if you go to: gov.uk/transition and gov.uk/guidance/summary-of-the-uk-switzerland-trade-agreement.
As ever, my team and I are here to help, so if you have questions, please ask.
Although Christmas will feel a bit different to all of us this year, I still hope that you can enjoy this magical time of the year. Best wishes from everyone here at the British Embassy in Berne.
Jane Owen