UK‑Switzerland Trade Deal Cuts Roaming Fees and Unlocks E‑Gate Access
British travellers will soon be able to pass through Swiss airport immigration using automated e‑gates, a first for UK citizens, while also stepping free of mobile roaming charges when visiting Switzerland. The new agreement, described by Trade Secretary Peter Kyle as the "most significant services trade deal the UK has ever negotiated", shifts the previous temporary stance on service‑mobility into a permanent framework.
Key components:
- Elimination of mobile roaming fees for tourists and business visitors.
- Permanent services‑mobility provision that lets UK companies offer services in Switzerland for up to 90 days without a work permit.
- UK passport holders can use e‑gates at Zurich airports from the end of the year, with Geneva and Basel likely to follow soon.
- UK employees allowed to work in Switzerland for up to five years without needing strict economic tests.
- Benefits extend to lawyers, accountants, architects and other professionals.
This pact arrives as Switzerland remains the UK's sixth‑largest services export market, with services trade reaching over £30 bn in 2025. Current data show around 800,000 Britons travel to Switzerland annually. Swiss citizens already use e‑gates at UK airports, reinforcing reciprocal trust.
The deal follows earlier trade agreements with the US, India, GCC states, South Korea and the EU, and comes amid a leadership transition at the UK government. "This agreement eases business and travel and opens new opportunities for UK firms," said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"It means British firms will find it easier to sell their expertise in one of our most important markets in Europe, supporting jobs and investment here at home." – PM Sir Keir Starmer
