British Residents’ Association of Switzerland

The British Embassy Berne wishes you a happy New Year!

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Welcome / Older News / The British Embassy Berne wishes you a happy New Year!

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 UK leaves the EU, we will continue to work hard to ensure that you have the information you need about living in Switzerland after Brexit. We have summarised the most recent information and important links below.

As you will be aware, a Brexit deal has been agreed in principle with the EU.  Both the UK and the EU now need to approve and sign the withdrawal agreement.  The intention on both sides is for this to be completed before 31 January 2020. 

Negotiations will then start on a new relationship between the UK and EU.  There will be a transition period while this takes place.  This is scheduled to last until 31 December 2020.  During this period the UK will continue to follow EU law.  There will be no change to the current arrangements that apply between the UK and Switzerland, and nothing will change for you in how you live your life.

The UK and Switzerland have concluded seven continuity agreements, which are ready to come into force at the end of the transition period.  These cover  trade, non-life insurance, air services, road transport, as well as citizens’ rights, transitional migration and social security coordination. These agreements provide a high degree of continuity for individuals and businesses in both Switzerland and the UK.  During the Implementation Period, nothing will change for you.

The 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 you will be able to continue living your life in Switzerland broadly as you do now. The deal protects your residence permit, your right to stay and to work, family reunification, access to healthcare, your social security benefits and lifelong access to an uprated state pension. Your professional qualifications will continue to be recognised.

 

Want to know more?

For the latest news on Brexit and information related to living in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, see our Living in Guides for Switzerland and Liechtenstein on GOV.UK, where you can sign up for email alerts.  You can also ask us your question about Brexit at our next Facebook Live Q&A, which takes place on 14 January 2020.

You can also:

ü  read the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement and our Explainer

ü  look through the official Swiss government page on Brexit and their questions and answers

ü  read our readouts from our Facebook Live Q&A sessions on 24 September 2019 and 22 October 2019

ü  find more detailed guidance on GOV.UK on Brexit

 

Want to stay in touch?

ü  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

ü  Use our contact form for consular questions, including Brexit guidance

ü  Email us at trade.berne@fco.gov.uk if you have specific questions related to business, trade and investment

 

With this, we hope that you have all the information you need. 

Best wishes

British Embassy Berne