Preparing for Brexit: Switzerland
This page brings together guidance and information relating to Switzerland, to help people and businesses prepare for our exit from the EU in all scenarios.
The UK’s current relationship with Switzerland is based on more than 120 EU-Swiss Bilateral agreements. These form the primary basis for the UK’s economic relations and cooperation with Switzerland in a number of important areas, including trade and citizens’ rights. These will cease to apply to the UK after the UK leaves the EU in any scenario.
If the UK leaves with a deal, the EU has agreed that it will notify treaty partners and third countries that the UK is treated as an EU Member State for the purposes of its international agreements during the implementation period up until 31 December 2020. This includes the EU-Swiss Agreements. This would provide a basis for continuity until the end of this period. Once the implementation period ends, the UK will no longer be covered by these agreements.
Continuity of UK-Swiss international agreements after Brexit
The Government has been undertaking a significant programme of work to identify which international agreements need to be retained on exit, and to put in place arrangements with international partners to replicate the effects of the current agreements.
The UK is seeking to maintain the relationship and cooperation we currently enjoy with Switzerland as we exit the EU. We have been working with the Swiss to put in place new arrangements across a range of issues. These seek to maintain continuity of effect as far as possible, including in a no deal scenario.
We have successfully concluded and signed agreements in the areas of:
- Trade
- Air services
- Road transport
- Insurance
- Citizens’ rights
- Transitional migration
- Transitional social security
You can view further information on the status of international agreements that the Government is seeking to transition here.
Other steps relevant to no deal
We have published guidance on the steps businesses and citizens may need to take to prepare for our exit from the EU. A number of these publications are relevant to Switzerland. These are listed below.
In some cases, these publications also set out measures the UK is taking unilaterally to safeguard our relationships with the EU, the EEA EFTA states and Switzerland, in the event that the UK leaves without a deal.
Please note that this is a collection of guidance and may therefore not be an exhaustive list of all guidance relevant to you. You should refer to gov.uk/euexit for further information relating to Brexit.
Citizens’ Rights and Migration
Guidance on the Settlement Scheme for EU, EEA EFTA and Swiss nationals
Staying in the UK for longer than 3 months if there’s no Brexit deal
Passport rules for travel to Europe after Brexit*
No deal preparations for schools in England
No deal preparations for further education and apprenticeship providers
No deal preparations for higher education institutions
No deal preparations for local authority children’s services in England
Regulations and Standards
Merger review and anti-competitive activity
Exhaustion of intellectual property rights
Protecting food and drink names
Registration of veterinary medicine
Accessing animal medicine IT systems
How medicines, medical devices and clinical trials would be regulated
Ensuring blood and blood products are safe
Quality and safety of organs, tissues and cells
Labelling tobacco products and e-cigarettes
Maintaining the continuity of waste shipments
Placing manufactured goods on the UK market
Placing manufactured goods on the EU internal market
Travelling with a European Firearms Pass
How to comply with REACH chemical regulations
Transport
Prepare to work and operate in the European aviation sector
Prepare to drive in the EU and EEA after Brexit
Prepare to drive in the EU and EEA after Brexit: lorry and goods vehicle drivers
Prepare to drive in the EU and EEA after Brexit: bus and coach drivers
Rail transport, safety and technical standards
Run international bus or coach services and tours
Driving in the EU after Brexit: driving licence exchange
Trade
Accounting for UK companies after Brexit
Auditing for UK auditors and audit firms operating in the EEA after Brexit
Providing services including those of a qualified professional
Exporting animals, animal products, fish and fishery products to the EU
Importing animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin
Export horses and ponies: special rules
Importing and exporting plants and plant products
Developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Trading and labelling organic food
Trading timber: imports and exports
Exporting objects of cultural interest
UK trade agreements with non-EU countries
Financial Services
Banking, insurance, and other financial services
Civil and Judicial Cooperation
Handling civil legal cases that involve EU countries if there’s no Brexit deal
Communications and Telecoms
What telecoms businesses should do if there’s no Brexit deal
Data
Broadcasting and video on demand
*Guidance, advice and measures in this publication are only partly relevant to Switzerland.