The United Kingdom has finalized a new trade agreement with Switzerland that will eliminate mobile roaming charges for travelers and allow British citizens to use e-gates at Swiss airports for expedited passage. The deal, characterized by UK Trade Secretary Peter Kyle as "the most significant services trade deal the UK has ever negotiated," is poised to increase UK exports to Switzerland by an estimated £5.2 billion annually in the long term.
Under the new accord, UK passport holders will gain access to e-gates at Zurich Airport starting by the end of the year, with Geneva and Basel airports expected to follow. This development is separate from the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) that will enable UK citizens to use EU e-gates. The agreement also makes permanent a services mobility deal that had been set to expire in 2029. This provision allows businesses to offer services for up to 90 days without requiring a work permit, benefiting professionals such as lawyers, accountants, and architects.
Furthermore, UK employees will be permitted to transfer to work in Switzerland for up to five years without facing stringent economic needs tests. Approximately 800,000 Britons visit Switzerland each year. Switzerland represents the UK's sixth-largest market for services exports, with bilateral services trade exceeding £30 billion in 2025. Swiss citizens already have the ability to use e-gates at UK airports.
Sir Keir Starmer, in his final weeks as prime minister, stated that the agreement is designed to "make life easier and creating more opportunity for people across the UK," enabling British firms to more readily sell their expertise in a key European market, thereby supporting domestic jobs and investment.
In a related development, the transport secretary has engaged with the European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism regarding the EU's new EES border system. Both parties have committed to collaborating to ensure the smoothest possible EES checks in preparation for the upcoming summer travel season.