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Confirmed: Swiss companies can still hire Brits after no-deal Brexit

Swiss justice and police minister Karin Keller-Sutter was in London on Wednesday to sign a fall-back agreement on admission to the labour market which aims to secure existing mutual rights and obligations for UK and Swiss workers in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Published: 11 July 2019 11:45 CEST
Confirmed: Swiss companies can still hire Brits after no-deal Brexit
File photo: Depositphotos
Switzerland and UK have already signed an agreement securing existing citizens’ rights to residency post-Brexit, but the new agreement safeguards the future access of new Swiss workers to the UK labour market and guarantees the interests of Swiss companies wanting to hire new British workers.
 
The agreement will only apply should Britain leave the EU without a deal and is temporary, applicable until the end of 2020 only. If the UK does secure a deal, the current agreement on free movement will continue to apply, said the statement.
 
In March Switzerland confirmed that UK nationals will not require a visa to enter the country post-Brexit, even for lengthy stays. 
 
The alpine country also created a separate quotas of permits for British citizens hoping to work in Switzerland after the end of March 2019, the original deadline for the UK’s exit from the EU.
 
During her visit to the UK capital this week Keller-Sutter also signed a declaration stating the two countries’ intention to collaborate on fighting terrorism and crime after Britain leaves the EU.
 
The memorandum of understanding aims to reinforce police cooperation between Switzerland and the UK, regardless of the outcome of Brexit.
 
The agreement will become particularly important should Britain leave the European Union without a deal, since in that case all information from British security services would be deleted from key EU databases, which Switzerland has access to as part of its bilateral arrangements with the bloc.
 
In a statement, the Swiss federal department of justice and police said the two countries “want to reinforce their already good cooperation on police matters” and “have reaffirmed their intention to work together even more closely in the future, especially in cases of organised crime and terrorism”.
 
The new declaration is part of Switzerland’s strategy of bilateral police cooperation with other European partners. To date the country has signed agreements with 16 European countries.
 

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WORK PERMITS

What happens to Brits in Switzerland when their work permits expire?

Ever since the UK ‘Brexited’ from the EU, its citizens have faced various restrictions in Switzerland (as elsewhere in Europe). But what happens to those already living here?

Published: 15 April 2024 14:19 CEST
What happens to Brits in Switzerland when their work permits expire?

Since January 1st, 2021, Brits fall under the category of “third-country” nationals, a term used to describe people who are not citizens of either the EU or EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein).

This means that they have lost their pre-Brexit right to an almost limitless access to Swiss jobs and residency granted to EU / EFTA nationals.

So what hurdles can UK nationals already in the country expect when time comes to renew their permits?

Much depends on when they arrived in Switzerland.

If they moved here before January 1st, 2021, they are in luck.

That’s because according to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), they benefit from “acquired rights” – the ones they obtained pre-Brexit.

In other words, if you are a longtime resident, and have either a residence permit B or – even better – C, then you are in the clear.

For all intents and purposes, these Switzerland-based Brits are still free to enjoy the same perks as their EU / EFTA counterparts, including being able to work in Switzerland for the duration of the validity of their permit, as well as freedom to change jobs and move from one canton to another. 

Also, in case of a job loss, a pre-Brexit UK citizen doesn’t have to leave Switzerland immediately.

Instead, they may stay in the country for at least six months to seek new employment. 

However, they will have to apply for a permit as a job-seeker with the cantonal migration authorities while looking for a new position. 

Another perk is that if you are living in Switzerland as an EU / EFTA citizen, you can purchase property – indeed, you have the same rights in this regard as Swiss citizens do.

What happens to Brits who came to Switzerland after their country left the EU?

They are now considered to be third-country nationals, and must comply with all the restrictions imposed by this status.

They will likely “feel” these limits when time comes to renew their permit.

If their permits are “tied” to their jobs – as is often the case with non-EU nationals – and their employer no longer needs them, then in all probability they will have to leave the country.

One exception would be if the person in question has some specialised skills that Switzerland’s labour market badly needs but can’t find in a Swiss or EU / EFTA candidate.

In such a case, the permit might be extended, provided that there is a sufficient number of third-county permit quotas left at a given time.

Out of the total of 12,000 permits set aside each year for citizens of third countries, Brits benefit from 3,500: 2,100 B and 1,400 L permits are set aside just for them.

READ ALSO: How UK citizens can obtain a Swiss work permit set aside for Brits 

And there is another exemption as well…

If you arrived in Switzerland post-Brexit but are a dual citizen of the UK and an EU / EFTA country, then the latter passport will take precedence for the purpose of employment.

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