News

February brings the rain, thaws the frozen lake again. March brings breezes loud and shrill, stirs the dancing daffodil. April brings the primrose sweet, scatters daisies at our feet. Writing that makes me look forward very much to April with the promise of warmer weather! This year Easter Sunday will be on the17th April. I hope by then many of you will be able to book holidays to either visit family or just for enjoyment. Happy Easter to you one and all. I am delighted to announce that Peritus Investment Consultancy AG have become our Lead Sponsor.  Many thanks to their founder and Managing Director, James Day, who is not only a member of the BRA, but also approached us last year with the idea to take on the role of Lead Sponsor. We are looking forward to this new partnership and to welcoming James and his colleagues to our events in the year ahead. As you all know, the Platinum Jubilee of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, will be marked this year in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II on the 6th February 1952. 70 […]

Dear All, With COVID-19 still affecting and dominating our daily lives, and vaccination certificates now being compulsory for most indoor events in Switzerland, we would like to provide some clarification on the use and exchange of COVID-certificates, including such ones that have been issued outside of Switzerland. Additionally, we have some good news to share on a new social security agreement between the UK and Switzerland. COVID certificates If you have been vaccinated abroad, e.g. in the UK and are in possession of a NHS vaccination certificate, you can apply for a Swiss COVID certificate if you were vaccinated with a vaccine that is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This concerns the following vaccines: Pfizer/BioNtech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca. You must be resident in Switzerland, staying in Switzerland, or intend to enter Switzerland (i.e. tourism) in order to exchange your foreign certificate for a Swiss one. You must also be able to provide sufficient evidence of the vaccination performed abroad and your stay in Switzerland, and be able to prove your identity. The cantonal health authorities are responsible for exchanging and issuing Swiss COVID certificates. To be issued with a COVID certificate, you should contact the […]

On the 9 April HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, sadly passed away. What a remarkable man he was. In November 1997 at a lunch at Banqueting House in London the Queen said in her speech honouring her husband “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know”. On behalf of the Members of the British Residents’ Association a message has been sent to the Online Book of Condolence set up by the Royal Family for people to pay their tributes.  The corona vaccination programme is well underway. Have we learnt a lot from this past year? I have learnt, amongst other things, patience and slowing down to adjust to the lifestyle we had to adopt. It has saddened us to hear of local businesses which did not survive the past year, not forgetting for one moment all the deaths of loved ones from the corona virus. One could only watch what has been happening and help out where ever possible and hope that we can slowly get back […]

Dear All, The Consular Section has been answering many of your questions since the end of the Transition Period and throughout the current Corona pandemic. We would like to summarise the most common enquiries relating to both the UK and Switzerland’s current travel restrictions, Covid-19 measures, entry requirements and quarantine rules as we go into spring and hopefully be able to go out more. Entering the UK: If you are planning to travel to the UK, you should check the current regulations regarding entry, quarantine and other measures that might be in place. Please be aware that these rules can change quickly in the current situation. For further Information please check: gov.uk/uk-border-control Leaving the UK/ Entering Switzerland: The UK has taken a number of measures to combat the pandemic. While the “Stay in the UK” restrictions are in place, you are only allowed to leave the UK if you have a reasonable excuse. Check if this applies to you here: gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-declaration-form-for-international-travel. If you are travelling to Switzerland, you should check our travel advice for the latest guidance: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland. For all UK nationals visiting Switzerland, visiting family members or new residents, the entry requirements have changed as well since 1 January 2021. You can […]

Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Jane Owen, and everyone at the Embassy wishes you and your loved ones all the best for the New Year! As the Brexit Transition Period comes to an end on the 31st of December, we will continue to work hard to ensure that you have the information you need about living in Switzerland. We have summarised the most recent information and important links below. As you will be aware, the UK and Switzerland have agreed on the UK-Swiss Citizen’s Rights Agreement, as well as a number of continuity agreements in other areas (which include trade, air services, road transport, insurance and services mobility), which are ready to come into force at the end of the transition period. These agreements provide a high degree of continuity for individuals and businesses in both Switzerland and the UK. For further information see: gov.uk/government/collections/eu-exit-transition-switzerland. What to know about the Citizen’s Rights Agreement? The UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement protects the rights of UK nationals living in Switzerland, those who frontier work into Switzerland, as well as Swiss nationals living in the UK. It means that if you are a legal resident in Switzerland before the 1st of January 2021, you will be able to continue living your […]

The BRA Council thought it would be useful to publish the following extracts from the UK government’s website gov.uk. They concern the UK State Pension and Benefits payable to UK expats living in Switzerland.  ““Living in the EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 If you are a UK national living in an EEA state or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. You will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions. If you are working in the EEA or Switzerland, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension. You will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive in the EEA or Switzerland for as long as you continue to live there, and continue to meet all other eligibility requirements.”” The full text can be found by googling “Benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EEA or Switzerland”. Pension boost protected by new bill The Government has moved to avoid a State Pension freeze. (Press release […]

Dear BRA Members,  I regret that personal circumstances have led me to resign from the BRA Council and as your Chairman. Although I was working towards retiring some time next year, I have had to bring my plans forward. Let me assure you that this in no way results from any reduction in my continuing regard for the BRA or by ill health. Simply stated, over the last few years I have pushed back non-BRA matters which now require my time to implement them without further delay. In leaving the Council, I would like to put on record that I have felt honoured and pleased that you allowed me to be your Chairman for so many years. I am grateful for the kindness, guidance and support afforded me by the BRA membership and by your hard-working Councillors. I must pay especial tribute to the honorary officers and the editors of the BRA who have done so much over the recent difficult period to keep the BRA alive. Although disappointed at leaving prematurely, I go remembering the old dictum that we are each just like a hand in a bucket of water: When the hand is removed the water finds its […]

Regrettably, the continuing COVID-19 saga has forced us to cancel the BRA AGM and Lunch due to be held in the Kreuz Hotel, Bern on 23 May 2020. It is unlikely that we will be able to come together for an AGM within the next few months. Various options are being considered to provide BRA members with the information required to ensure that the management of their association meets their needs. Our proposal will be made known once the details are finalised. Until then, stay safe!   Graham Robertson, BRA Chairman. 15 April 2020

Noreen Marie Lucas 2nd May 1973 — 21st November 2019 (Noreen’s family asked me to prepare some words to say at her funeral on 27th November. Although I did not speak, here is what I would have said on your behalf.) I first met Noreen when she was manning the Welcome Desk at the 2012 Jubilee Concert in Geneva. I have a picture of a swarming, seething throng of people wanting tickets. Alone behind the desk was this calm, competent and utterly charming Irish woman, doling out their tickets with a smile and a joke, whipping them all into line, and making them happy. I was not a member of the BRA then and had only intermittent contact with Noreen for some years after. When I joined the Council, I discovered just how powerful Noreen was in running the association. She was recruited as the BRA Secretary by Joanna Koch in 2002. In Joanna’s words ”Noreen modernised the administration, worked hard on the finances, improved the Bulletin, brought in new members, and so on. Her presence and dedication with the BRA have been wonderful.” Presence and Dedication; Those 2 words sum up what Noreen’s gave to the BRA. Technically she […]

Dear friends, Following the decision by the European Council to extend the date the UK will leave the EU to 31 October 2019, I wanted to write to you to provide some further information on your citizens’ rights here in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The UK and Switzerland are closely connected, with around 40,000 UK nationals living in Switzerland and 2,600 British frontier workers. The movement of people and business is also significant, with 150 flights between our countries every day enabling this. We appreciate that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect the lives of UK nationals resident in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, or those planning to move here after free movement ceases to apply, but I would like to reassure you that your rights as residents in Switzerland and Liechtenstein are protected in any Brexit scenario. For now, nothing changes. The UK will remain a member of the EU until 31 October, unless the Withdrawal Agreement is passed by Parliament before then, in which case we will leave on the first day of the calendar month following that decision. We retain all of our rights and obligations as an EU member state during this time. The Prime Minister is […]

Invitation to the UK Nationals Roadshows 2019 The British Embassy in Berne cordially invites you to attend our Roadshows across Switzerland and Liechtenstein. We will update you on how the UK’s exit from the EU will affect your citizens’ rights as a UK national living in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, what steps should you take before 29 March 2019, and how can you stay informed about the latest developments. The events will begin with an introduction and then the floor will be open for your questions. We look forward to welcoming you soon,  Kind regards, The British Embassy Berne If you would like to attend one of these events, please sign up using the relevant link below. If you know any UK nationals who might be interested in attending, please share this page with them. The Venue for each event will be announced to registered attendees a few days before that event . UK Nationals Roadshow – Places & Dates   Berne: Thursday, 10 January 2019, 18:00 – 20:00 Register for the event here.   Lugano: Monday, 14 January 2019, 18:00 – 20:00 Register for the event here. Zug: Tuesday, 15 January 2019, 18:00 – 20:00 Register for the event here. Zurich: Thursday, 17 January 2019, 18:00 – […]

Recently the Western world has had a flurry of activity caused by the introduction of the E.U.’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), with threats of €20 million fines if we all do not strictly comply with this one-size-fits-all law. Although the BRA is based in Switzerland and is regulated by the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection, we cannot ignore the GDPR if only because some members (like me) live in France. Consequently, like other organisations whether the size of Airbus or the local croquet team, we have had a look at how we handle personal information and how we will need to adapt some of our procedures. In essence, we are writing down and publishing in the form below what has been an implicit BRA privacy policy; spelling-out the means that we use to contact you; and making all of that obvious on the application form for those joining in future. If you are happy with the way BRA looks after your personal data and communicates with you, you need do nothing. If you have queries about the information about you we hold, ask Noreen or myself.  If you want to restrict some or all of your personal data […]

Jane Owen replaced David Moran in the post of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and non-resident Ambassador to Liechtenstein in late December 2017.  On 12 January, I was fortunate to be given a meeting with her to introduce the BRA and to request that she took on the rôle of BRA Patron. She readily accepted the task and expressed a willingness to get to know UK residents in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. We had a good discussion on matters of concern to our members and how the BRA and the Embassy can work together to meet these concerns.    After the meeting the following appeared on Ms Owen’s Twitter feed (@JaneOwenFCO . Jan 12).   “Delighted to meet Graham Robertson, Chairman of the British Residents’ Association of Switzerland this morning. It’s an honour to be their patron and look forward to working together to support our large and influential community across the country.”      Graham Robertson National Chairman, BRA

“The BRA NEEDS YOU to do your bit” At the 2017 AGM there was a discussion as to the merits of offering one year’s free membership to those members who successfully introduced a new BRA member. Your Council has decided to continue this incentive until December 2018. WE NEED NEW MEMBERS. Go out into the valleys, rolling meadows, towns, villages, and uplands of Switzerland and seek new members. The BRA will not survive without new ” blood “. Don’t rely on your Council. You must play your part too, so as to ensure that the BRA prospers for the foreseeable future. Succeed, and your 2019 annual subscription will be ZERO. Lord Kitchener in World War One said ” Your country needs you “. Similarly,  the BRA needs you to do your ” bit ” so that it can survive and flourish.           

Below is a summary of recent BREXIT-related actions and events of interest to BRA members. The BRA is not a campaigning organisation but we will continue to keep our members informed of relevant actions and events as they arise. We are fortunate in having an Ambassador whose Embassy in Bern takes an interest in supporting UK citizens living in Switzerland. Through our close relations with the Embassy, the BRA will continue to make known the concerns and views of its members to the UK authorities. 31 January. BSCC Lunch in Geneva, On 31 January , a number of BRA members took up The British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce Geneva Chapter’s kind invitation to join them for lunch at the Warwick Hotel to hear Swiss Ambassador Henri Gétaz talk about BREXIT: implications for Switzerland and Swiss-EU relations. As the leader of the team in the Swiss Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated to finding a satisfactory outcome to negotiations, Ambassador Gétaz explained the Swiss approach to negotiating with the UK and the EU about Brexit and the Swiss referendum on “free movement”. He described the Swiss aims as to “preserve rights and obligations based on CH-EU agreements also after Brexit and to extend relations […]

A new version of this legislation is in the pipeline which will permit application for British citizenship for children born here of British parents also born here. The requirement for the parent to have spent 3 years in the UK before the child was born remains, but the application will be able to be made as long as the child is a minor, rather than before the child’s first birthday as is the case at present. Caveat: This statement has not been verified by the Embassy