Even if it is not a member of the European Union, Switzerland is a member of the European Economic Area which means that citizens from the Old Continent can move here based on simplified requirements. These also apply to citizens when moving to Switzerland from UK.
The great advantage for UK citizens who plan on leaving their home countries and relocate to Switzerland is that the UK exiting the European Union will not affect them moving here. If you need legal assistance in order to immigrate to Switzerland from UK, our team is at your disposal.
Below, our immigration lawyer in Switzerland explains the main steps and the visas available for UK citizens moving here.
Table of Contents
Visa requirements for UK citizens immigrating to Switzerland
Moving to Switzerland from UK for a short period of time which does not exceed 90 days requires no visa for British citizens who want to stay in Switzerland, however, their passports must have a validity period of at least 6 months.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirements for UK nationals | No visa is required for travels of less than 3 months |
|
Special conditions applicable (YES/NO) |
No, there are no special requirements for persons who immigrate to Switzerland from UK |
|
Relocation options |
L permits can be obtained for short-term stay, B permits are issued for remaining here, C permits imply permanent relocation to Switzerland |
| Temporary residence options |
L and B permits are available when to move to Switzerland from UK on a temporary basis |
| Permanent residence requirements | The C permit is available for those who move to Switzerland from UK permanently |
| Access to investor/citizenship by investment visa |
Yes |
| Timeframe for obtaining a residence permit (approx.) |
It takes approx. 4 to 6 weeks to be issued a |
| Family reunification visa availability (YES/NO) | YES, it is possbile to apply for family reunion visas |
| Investment visa requirements | Business registration and retirement can be used to immigrate to Switzerland from UK |
| Permanent residence timeframe | 5 years of living in Switzerland |
| Citizenship requirements | Living in Switzerland for 10 years |
| Possibility to acquire real estate (YES/NO) | YES, after obtaining a permanent residence card |
| Sweden-UK double tax treaty (YES/NO) | YES |
| Immigration services (YES/NO) | YES, our lawyers are at the service of persons who want to immigrate to Switzerland from UK |
| Post-immigration support (YES/NO) | YES, we offer support in short-term and temporary residency renewal, assistance in applying for permanent residence cards and Swiss citizenship |
| Immigration process affected by Brexit (YES/NO) | No, Brexit does not affect relocation to Switzerland from the UK |
|
Relocation steps |
– Residence visa application; – gathering the papers for immigration; – securing a place to stay; – applying for the entry visa. |
|
Special conditions to respect in terms of short-term residency |
In the case of L and B permits for Switzerland, the duration of the visa is the same as the employment contract |
| Documents required for temporary residency |
– Valid passport; – papers stating the reason for relocation; – proof of self-sufficiency. |
| Documents for permanent residency |
– Valid passport and residence permit; – proof of local address; – clear criminal record. |
| Easiest way to move to Switzerland from UK |
Employment is the easiest way to immigrate to Switzerland from UK |
| Special requirements to secure a work contract (if any) |
The applicant must enter the quota of immigrants allowed to work in Switzerland, qualifications or experience for the sought position |
| Special requirements when moving to Switzerland as a dependent (if any) |
Yes, A1 language proficiency is a main requirement to move to Switzerland from the UK based on a family reunion visa |
| Possibility to retire to Switzerland as a British citizen (YES/NO) |
Yes, retirement is a relocation option for UK citizens |
| Retirement conditions | The applicant must be older than 55, must be financially sound, must live in Switzerland for the most part of the year |
| Support in visa refusal (YES/NO) |
Yes, our lawyers can offer assistance in case of visa refusals |
| Support in renting/buying Swiss properties (YES/NO) |
Yes, our specialists can help with renting/acquiring real estate |
| Support in registering with local authorities (YES/NO) |
Yes, we are at the service of British citizens in this sense |
| Tax benefits for British citizens (if any) |
Once securing residence permits, British citizens can obtain various tax deductions and reductions |
| Why move to Switzerland from UK |
– Competitive labor and business markets; – access to well-paid jobs; – Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world. |
When British citizens want to move to Switzerland for extensive periods, they need to apply for one of the following types of visas:
- an L short-term residence permit which has a validity period of maximum 1 year;
- a B residence permit which can be obtained based on a work contract with a duration of more than 12 months;
- a C long-term or settlement permit which allows for an indefinite stay and which must be renewed every 5 years;
- a Ci residence permit which is issued for EU/EEA citizens working for governmental organizations.
The following two steps must be followed in order to move to Switzerland: apply for a family visa, study visa, or work visa and obtain the necessary residency permit. Our immigration lawyers can help you apply for the type of visa you need depending on your country of origin. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us for detailed information on our services.
The important aspect to consider when moving to Switzerland from UK is that when applying for the L and B short-term residence permits, these will have the same validity period as the employment contract. The B residence permit is a suitable option for those who want to start small businesses in Switzerland and act as self-employed.
If you are interested in immigration to Switzerland and need information on the types of residence permits you qualify for, our lawyers can guide you. We can provide full assistance for relocating to Switzerland from UK.
Documents for moving to Switzerland from UK
The documents that need to be filed upon immigrating to Switzerland as a UK citizen depend mainly on the relocation reason, however, the following need to be prepared and filed with the Swiss Embassy in the UK:
- the valid passport (as mentioned above, it is recommended for this to be valid for at least 6 months at the time of the application);
- proof of rental agreement (for this, the applicant will need to secure a place to stay before moving to Switzerland);
- a recent passport-sized photograph;
- supporting documents proving the relocation reason (work contract, business plan, etc.).
Our immigration lawyer in Switzerland can help you with various information with respect to the cheapest cantons to move to. We can also assist with the preparation of applying for a residence permit in Switzerland. Here is also an infographic on how to move to Switzerland from UK:
Obtaining a work permit as British citizen
The high living standards and good salaries make many people choose to move to Switzerland based on employment.
An employment permit is necessary if you intend to work in Switzerland for more than 8 days each year. All non-Swiss people generally need some kind of immigration authorization to work in Switzerland; this authorization usually takes the form of a work permit or a work and residency permit.
The Swiss work visa is the main requirement when seeking to move to Switzerland from the United Kingdom. One of the long-stay visas is the Swiss work visa (also known as national or D-visa). For as long as the visa is valid, it entitles the holder to employment in Switzerland.
If you fit the following criteria, you can apply for a work visa in Switzerland:
- you are an experienced professional, have worked for a number of years, and have a particular area of competence;
- you were already offered a job in a Swiss company;
- you enter the quota on Swiss work permits.
If you satisfy these conditions and your employer is requesting your residence permit, you may submit an application for a work visa in Switzerland.
Employment is one of the main ways to immigrate to Switzerland from the United Kingdom, and if you need support with the application, our specialists can help you.
The possibility of acquiring a residence permit in Switzerland will most likely be based on your nationality in most cases. The main distinction made by the Swiss government in this regard is between citizens of the EU/EFTA and so-called third-state nationals, who are referred to as residents of all nations outside of the EU/EFTA.
By comparison, the process for requesting a B permit for Switzerland from a country that is a member of the EU or EFTA is quite simple. For a maximum of 90 days, candidates may initially travel to Switzerland to look for work. They can apply for a B permit if suitable employment is obtained throughout this period of one year or more.
Relocating to Switzerland from the United Kingdom through family reunion
Depending on your residency status, you might be able to invite family members to live with you if you reside in Switzerland. A family reunion visa can be obtained in this sense.
The following papers must be submitted when applying for a family reunion visa:
- the application form;
- a valid passport;
- 4 passport-sized biometric photos not older than 6 months;
- Form B of an international marriage certificate in original and copies for the spouse;
- birth certificates that have been translated and notarized in original and copy for children;
- three copies of the spouse’s or partner’s Swiss identity card, passport, or residency permit.
- an excerpt from the personal registration certificate in original and copy;
- the Swiss resident’s clean criminal record;
- a domicile certificate in original and copy.
According to new regulations set forth in 2019 incoming family members will need to demonstrate a particular level of language proficiency when they apply for a Swiss residency permit.
The applicants may be required to demonstrate that they have level A1 language proficiency in order to facilitate family reunion. If not, they must demonstrate that they have enrolled in a language course that will enable them to do so. The family members of L permit holders are not subject to these requirements.
Should you decide to reunite with your family here, you can address our immigration lawyers in Switzerland for details the application procedure.
Retiring to Switzerland from the UK
Switzerland makes a great choice for those who decide to retire here, and British citizens will find here a great quality of life. It is worth noting that the Central European country has a specific visa – the retirement visa – for those interested in it.
To qualify for a Swiss retirement visa, British nationals must fulfill the following requirements:
- they are older than 55.
- they have the financial means to support themselves;
- they must spend the majority of the year in Switzerland;
- they must acquire health insurance.
With respect to the documents to be filed to obtain the visa, these are:
- the application for the retirement visa;
- the valid passport;
- proof of sufficient finances under the form of a bank statement;
- the health insurance policy.
Permanent residence for UK citizens in Switzerland
Moving to Switzerland from UK can be a definitive decision that can be doubled by applying for a permanent residence permit. This is the equivalent of the C settlement permit which can be obtained by British citizens after living in Switzerland for 5 uninterrupted years. The documents required to obtain such a permit are not different from those required when applying for a short-term residence visa, and our lawyers can help in this regard.
After 10 years of residence and successful integration, individuals with a C permit for Switzerland are eligible to seek Swiss citizenship. If you need support in applying for any of them, you can rely on our immigration lawyer. We are also at your service if you want to bring family members to Switzerland with you.
Assistance in moving to Switzerland from UK
UK citizens who want to relocate to Switzerland can benefit from extensive support from our immigration lawyers who can:
- explain the regulations applicable to their particular cases when moving to Switzerland;
- assistance in reviewing employment contracts related to relocation;
- advice on the preparation of immigration documents in accordance with the type of residence permit sought;
- guidance in registering with the cantonal authorities upon arrival in Switzerland;
- assistance in applying for long-term residency and renewal of temporary residence permits.
It is important to note that those moving to Switzerland from UK must register with the migration and employment authorities in the canton they will live within 14 days after entering the country.
If you want to immigrate to Switzerland from UK or from any other country, you can ask our lawyers about your options. We can also assist in obtaining Swiss citizenship by investment. Here is also our video on this subject:
Foreign citizens living in Switzerland
According to a report published by SwissInfo.ch, 25% of the Swiss population was made of foreigners at the end of 2015 and 2016, as it follows:
- out of the country’s 8,3 million citizens, 2 million were foreigners;
- 80% of the immigrants came from EU countries, such as Germany, France, and Italy;
- 7% of the foreigners in Switzerland lived in Bern in 2016;
- approximately 396,000 foreign citizens were born in Switzerland in 2016.
If you want to move to Switzerland from UK and need assistance, please contact our lawyers.
