Trade in services

In addition to the trade agreement, Switzerland has concluded sectoral agreements with the United Kingdom in the area of services, particularly in the fields of air transport, road transport, insurance, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, recognition of supervisory arrangements for financial services, a social security agreement and a temporary agreement on the mobility of service providers.

Switzerland–UK relations post Brexit

Mobility of service providers

The Agreement on Services Mobility (SMA) between Switzerland and the United Kingdom ensures ease of access for services providers since the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU (AFMP) no longer applies in relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom (1 January 2021).

The SMA regulates access and temporary stay of services suppliers in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Switzerland applies the notification procedure for service suppliers from the United Kingdom seeking to work in the country for up to 90 days per year. The United Kingdom grants sectoral market access commitments to contractual service suppliers and independent professionals (see list of sectors below), as well as further preferential conditions to Swiss services suppliers (nationals and permanent residents). Furthermore, Swiss services suppliers are not subject to an economic needs test for access in the covered sectors and are not required to provide evidence of English language skills. Swiss services suppliers may be granted access to the United Kingdom for 12 months.

A declaration from the UK authorities describes access conditions for services suppliers from Switzerland.

With the SMA, service suppliers from Switzerland continue to have extensive access to the United Kingdom for the supply of contract-based services by natural persons. Swiss businesses may resort to short-term services from United Kingdom companies more timely.

Market access to the United Kingdom under the SMA is limited to persons with a university degree or equivalent qualifications, including certain Swiss qualifications (Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education delivered by Colleges of Higher Education or awarded after an Advanced Federal Professional Examination).

The SMA shall cease to apply on 31 December 2029.

SR 0.946.293.671.2 - Befristetes Abkommen vom 14. Dezember 2020 zwischen der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft und dem Vereinigten Königreich von Grossbritannien und Nordirland über die Mobilität von Dienstleistungserbringern (mit Anhängen und Briefwechsel)

Market access in the UK (PDF, 115 kB, 24.11.2022)

Political declaration from the UK authorities: clarifications on UK entry routes for Swiss service providers (PDF, 198 kB, 21.11.2022)

Updated list of recognised qualifications (PDF, 49 kB, 31.07.2023)

Detailed practice of the British authorities– Services supplier Visa (UK Home office)

If you have any questions about this topic, please contact:

WBF/SECO, Special Foreign Economic Services, Services
afdl@seco.admin.ch
+41 58 464 08 67