Services Trade Boost
UK and Switzerland Seal Major Services Trade Agreement, Expanding Professional Access and Digital Commerce
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Key Points
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Switzerland is the UK's sixth-largest services export market, with bilateral services trade topping £30 billion in 2025.
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In the long run, total bilateral trade is projected to rise by about 7.9 billion Swiss francs per year, roughly a 25% uplift.
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Relocating staff for up to five years can occur without Swiss economic tests, while salary thresholds for those postings remain unchanged.
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UK travellers will gain automated e-gates in Swiss airports, with Zurich and Geneva first and Basel to follow; launch date not yet set.
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The deal also eases opportunities for UK graduates seeking Swiss work permits in fields like finance and consultancy.
Britain and Switzerland have sealed a landmark services trade deal expected to boost UK exports by £5.2 billion a year, according to Reuters. The agreement covers professional services, digital trade, and travel perks — marking one of the most significant post-Brexit trade wins for the UK.
Switzerland is already the UK's sixth-largest services export market. Bilateral services trade topped £30 billion in 2025, per Business News Wales. The new deal sets a high bar for future UK trade agreements with other partners.
Visa-Free Work Access Opens for Key Professionals
Under the deal, lawyers, accountants, and finance workers can move between the UK and Switzerland for up to 90 days a year without a visa, Reuters reported. That removes a major barrier for service firms that regularly post staff across borders.
Companies can also relocate staff for up to five years without Switzerland running economic need tests. Those tests previously slowed down or blocked transfers. Salary thresholds for those postings stay unchanged, according to Business News Wales. UK graduates in fields like finance and consultancy also gain easier access to Swiss work permits.
£7.9 Billion Bilateral Trade Boost Projected Over Time
Total bilateral trade is projected to rise by about 7.9 billion Swiss francs per year. That is roughly a 25% increase, according to Tipp Insights. The gains are expected to build over the next decade as new rules take full effect.
The UK government estimates the deal adds £5.2 billion annually to UK services exports alone. Morning Chronicle noted that the agreement covers digital trade and intellectual property protections too. Both governments framed this as a long-term economic partnership, not just a short-term fix.
UK Travellers Get E-Gates and Roaming-Free Mobile Use
UK passport holders will soon use automated e-gates at Swiss airports. Zurich and Geneva go first, with Basel to follow, per Tipp Insights. No launch date has been set yet. The gates cut border wait times and bring UK travellers closer to the access EU citizens already enjoy.
The deal also aims to remove mobile roaming charges between the two countries. That means UK travellers in Switzerland could use their phones without extra fees — and Swiss visitors to the UK would get the same, according to Head Topics. The move mirrors benefits Britain lost when it left the EU.
Deal Cements Post-Brexit Ties and Sets a New Template
The UK left the EU in 2021. Since then, it has worked to rebuild trade ties on its own terms. This deal with Switzerland shows that model can work, Morning Chronicle reported. Switzerland is not in the EU either, which made talks easier to structure.
Head Topics noted both sides called the agreement a step toward broader economic ties. UK officials said the deal could serve as a blueprint for similar agreements with other top trading partners. For now, the focus turns to implementation — and when those e-gates actually open.
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