Protection of acquired rights of British nationals after Brexit.
Last reviewed
03.06.2026
Statute as of
01.01.2021 (Citizens'' Rights Agreement in Kraft); current consolidation 2024
Statute citations
5 linked
Reading time
27 min read
As of: 01.06.2026 · Snapshot
UK Citizens' Rights Agreement — Protection of acquired rights and permit regime for British nationals in Switzerland after Brexit
Frequently asked
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Concrete questions people ask about United Kingdom — Citizens' Rights.
Anyone who was already resident in Switzerland on 31 December 2020 is protected by the Citizens’ Rights Agreement (CRA). Existing permits remain valid, and the rights under the AFMP (rights of residence, right to work, and right to family reunification) are maintained for this group of people. New arrivals from the UK since 2021 fall under the third-country regime.
Statute citations
5 statute citations, each linked directly.
01Reviewed: Tier A · Info
Citizens'' Rights Agreement Schweiz-UK (SR 0.142.113.672) — VERIFY exact ELI URI
: in force since 1 January 2021; takes into account the SEM guidelines and cantonal practice up to the consolidation phase 2024, as well as the ongoing renewal cycles 2026-2031.
Status
: AI draft, pending review by the supervising lawyer of record (CLR — Lawyer-of-Record).
This post explains the immigration law situation for British nationals in Switzerland following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. With the termination of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) for UK nationals on 1 January 2021, a two-track system has emerged: transitional arrangements for persons residing in Switzerland before that date, and the standard third-country AIG regime for new arrivals after Brexit. The first renewal cycles for the permits issued under the transitional arrangements will begin in 2026, which means that there is an urgent need for advice for approximately 50,000 to 70,000 people affected.
1. Overview — What Brexit means for UK nationals in Switzerland
The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union with effect from 31 January 2020. During the transitional period provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU, which lasted until 31 December 2020, EU law – and therefore also the AFMP between Switzerland and the EU – continued to apply to British nationals. With the end of the transitional period on 1 January 2021, the UK ceased to be covered by the AFMP.
In order to protect the rights already acquired by UK nationals residing in Switzerland – and, reciprocally, the rights of Swiss nationals residing in the UK – Switzerland and the United Kingdom signed the Agreement on the rights of citizens following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union and the termination of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons on 25 February 2019. It is referred to in short as the Citizens' Rights Agreement Switzerland-UK (CRA), the Acquired Rights Agreement or the Withdrawal Agreement Citizens' Rights (Systematic Compilation of Federal Law: SR 0.142.113.672 – the exact ELI-URI must be verified before productive use).
The CRA came into force together with the definitive withdrawal of the UK from the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons on 1 January 2021. In substance, it is a transitional agreement: it fixes the existing legal situation for a clearly defined group of people – as of 31 December 2020 – while for all British nationals arriving after that date, the ordinary third-country regime under the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (SR 142.20) applies.
For the purposes of classification under Swiss immigration law, the fundamental concept of the AFMP and its permit types must be understood. A systematic presentation can be found in framework/fw_fza_vfp_glossary.md; the third-country FNIA regulations are covered in framework/fw_aig_vzae_glossary.md and permits/permit_b_resident.md (section on third-country nationals holding a B permit).
2. Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons — Main Provisions
The CRA essentially adopts the AFMP architecture for a frozen group of individuals. The main provisions can be summarised as follows:
Personal scope: British nationals (and their family members, see section 6) who were resident in Switzerland under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons before 31 December 2020. The agreement also covers Swiss nationals who were resident in the United Kingdom before the cut-off date, but this contribution focuses on the application from the Swiss side.
Material scope: Right of residence, right to work (employed and self-employed), family reunification, coordination of social security, recognition of professional qualifications.
New permit type: Persons who fall under the protection of the CRA will receive the Ci EU-WA permit (for Withdrawal Agreement or UK-WA, depending on the designation used in cantonal practice – see section 4). This is legally and visually distinct from the previous FZA EU/EFTA permit.
Principle of equal treatment: Within the personal scope of application of the CRA, the same principles apply as under the FZA — treatment of nationals in relation to living, working and employment conditions, no preference for nationals, no quotas.
Duration of existing rights protection: The right of residence is not limited in time. However, the residence permits must be renewed periodically (see section 5 on the renewal cycle 2026-2031).
It is important to note the strict deadline logic: anyone who was resident in Switzerland before 1 January 2021 and held an AFMP permit (or had applied for one and received it during the transitional period) belongs to the protected group of persons. Anyone who takes up residence in Switzerland on or after 1 January 2021 falls entirely under the third-country regime of the FNIA.
3. Three categories of British nationals after Brexit
The dual-track system gives rise to three main categories in advisory practice, the legal status and procedural logic of which differ fundamentally.
3.1 Pre-Brexit Residents with C EU Settlement Permit
Persons who established their residence in Switzerland before 31.12.2020 and held an AFMP permit (typically B EU/EFTA, C EU/EFTA, L EU/EFTA or G EU/EFTA) retain their rights under the CRA. They will receive:
Either a Ci EU-WA permit (new permit type, issued from January 2021) — or, depending on the cantonal implementation, the continuation of the existing EU/EFTA card with an endorsement relating to the Withdrawal Agreement.
In practice, during the period 2021-2023, a migration of the cards to the new Ci EU-WA type has become established, without any loss of substantive rights. Verification of the current practice in 2026 before the live launch of this article is necessary, as the cantonal implementation (in particular, Geneva, Zurich, and Vaud, which have higher proportions of UK residents) has developed differently.
The rights under the CRA include:
Right of residence in Switzerland.
Right to work without priority for Swiss nationals, without quotas, and without wage compliance checks in the sense of the LEI/LStrI/FNIA.
Family reunification within the broad scope of Annex I, Article 3 of the FZA (see section 6).
Coordination of social security via the EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 adopted in the CRA (see section 11).
Recognition of professional qualifications in application of EU Directive 2005/36/EC (see section 12).
Clear distinction between Ci EU-WA and Ci-IO: The permit designation Ci appears in Swiss migration law in two completely different legal regimes:
Ci EU-WA — Withdrawal Agreement Ci permit under the CRA (subject of this contribution); legal basis CRA in conjunction with the supplementary LEI/LStrI/FNIA; concerns UK nationals who were resident before Brexit.
Ci-IO — Accompanying person of an employee of an international organisation; legal basis: Host State Act (GSG, SR 192.12) and Ordinance on the Host State Act (V-GSG, SR 192.121); applies to family members of diplomatic staff and staff of international organisations, regardless of their nationality (see permits/permit_ci_io_dependents.md).
The two C permit types should never be mixed in advisory practice or in database classifications. They have different renewal mechanisms, different acquisition rights, different family reunification rules and different appeal procedures.
3.2 Post-Brexit new arrivals (arrival from 1 January 2021)
British nationals who take up residence in Switzerland for the first time on or after 1 January 2021 are fully subject to the third-country AIG regime. Specifically, this means:
Priority for nationals under Fedlex·Art. 21 AIG: The employer must demonstrate that no person from the domestic labour market (Swiss nationals, EU/EFTA citizens, third-country nationals residing in Switzerland with access to the labour market) is available for the position.
Contingency obligation: The Federal Council determines the annual quotas for first-time residence permits for nationals of third countries (Fedlex·Art. 20 AIG; detailed regulations of the OASA).
Qualification requirements: Initial work permits generally require qualified employment (university degree or equivalent qualification and professional experience), Art. 23 FNIA.
Compliance with wage and working conditions: The locally, professionally and sector-specific customary wage and working conditions must be observed (Art. 22 FNIA).
Family reunification under AIG Art. 43-44: a narrower group of people than under the FZA (in particular, no parents/grandparents; adult children only in exceptional cases — see permits/permit_b_resident.md section on third-country nationals).
In practice: UK nationals, since Brexit, fall under the same application logic as, for example, US, Canadian, Australian or Indian applicants. The often difficult hurdle of quotas and priority for domestic workers has, in day-to-day consulting work – especially in the tech hubs of Zurich and Geneva, as well as the financial services sector – led to a noticeable increase in the effort required for internal transfers and the recruitment of British skilled workers.
3.3 Pre-Brexit residents with a break in residence and return from 2021.
A legally complex special situation concerns UK nationals who were resident in Switzerland before 31.12.2020, but who abandoned their residence before that date (returning to the UK in 2018, 2019 or during 2020) and who now wish to re-enter Switzerland after 1.1.2021.
The detailed application of the CRA depends on:
Whether a continuous right of residence within the meaning of the FZA existed on the relevant date (i.e. whether the departing person, with the intention of returning, retained their right of residence – analogous to FZA Annex I Art. 6 ff., in particular the six-month absence rule in Annex I Art. 6 para. 5).
Whether the interrupting absence abroad, according to the criteria of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, had led to the expiry of the permit.
The answer is highly case-specific and does not belong on a self-service portal in legal advisory practice: a detailed review by a migration lawyer with AFMP and CRA expertise is required. Cantonal practice is not uniform everywhere; the SEM guidelines on the treatment of these special cases must be verified before use.
4. Ci permit for EU/EFTA nationals — content, validity period, extension
The Ci EU-WA permit was introduced in January 2021 for UK nationals eligible for the CRA. Its main features are:
Validity: typically 5 years for persons with B permit status; unlimited for persons with C permit status (similar to AFMP C EU/EFTA), although the card itself must be renewed every 5 years.
Right to work: unrestricted, without any preference for nationals or quotas, covering all areas of activity (both employed and self-employed).
Geographical scope: entire Switzerland; change of residence between cantons possible without the need for a new permit (inter-cantonal mobility similar to AFMP).
Family reunification: according to the CRA rules (see section 6).
Right of return: the usual regulations apply for re-entry into Switzerland; prolonged stays abroad may result in the loss of the permit (see section 10).
The exact wording on the card (Ci EU-WA vs. Ci UK-WA vs. other endorsements) has not been entirely consistent between 2021 and 2024, depending on the cantonal implementation. However, there is no material difference in terms of substantive law – what matters is membership of the CRA protected group, not the exact wording on the card. Verification of the current 2026 practice is required before going live.
5. Renewal Cycle 2026-2031
The protection afforded under the CRA is substantively permanent, but the cards must be renewed periodically. As the first Ci-EU-WA cards were issued from January 2021, the first comprehensive renewal cycle falls in the years 2026 to 2031 — with a typical renewal rhythm of 5 years.
Estimated number of affected individuals: approximately 50,000 to 70,000 UK nationals with pre-Brexit status currently reside in Switzerland. (Source: Population statistics, Federal Statistical Office [FSO] and SEM foreign national statistics; exact figures should be verified depending on the sample and reference date.)
Operational procedural logic:
The cantonal migration office typically informs the person concerned 2 to 3 months before the card expires about the renewal procedure.
The renewal is not a new decision on residence: it merely checks whether the acquired rights under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons continue to exist (in particular, whether the person concerned has not permanently moved their centre of interests outside Switzerland).
The standard renewal process involves submitting a current identity document, proof of address and, if applicable, any other supporting documents (proof of employment or proof of residence).
Renewal risks:
Extended absence from Switzerland: if the absence lasts for more than 6 months continuously (similar to AFMP Annex I, Art. 6 para. 5, and Art. 61 para. 2 LEI/LStrI/FNIA for a C permit equivalent), the right to permanent residence may lapse. Exceptions apply to clearly justified interruptions of stay (illness, pregnancy, temporary assignment, education abroad).
Inconsistent address notifications: failure to report changes of address between cantons may lead to queries when renewing a permit.
Receipt of social welfare: for the C-equivalent status, increased and prolonged receipt of social welfare is a potential ground for revocation (analogous to the revocation of a C permit under Fedlex·Art. 63 AIG). For the B-equivalent worker status, receipt of social welfare is generally not an automatic ground for revocation, provided that the worker status within the meaning of the FZA is maintained.
The SEM’s practice regarding the renewal decisions to be issued from 2026 onwards should be verified before using this information: as of the draft’s current status, no comprehensive renewal waves have yet taken place, and the cantonal migration offices may adopt a more restrictive approach in the first renewal wave than is strictly dictated by the CRA logic.
6. Family reunification for pre-Brexit residents (CRA Art. 10 ff., Annex I AFMP by analogy)
For UK nationals eligible for the CRA, family reunification is governed by the extended rules of Annex I, Article 3 of the FZA, which have been incorporated into the CRA for the protected group. Specifically:
Spouses and registered partners: eligible for family reunification regardless of nationality.
Children under 21 years of age or adult children who are entitled to maintenance: eligible for family reunification.
Relatives in the direct ascending line (parents, grandparents): eligible for family reunification, provided they are entitled to financial support.
Family members who are nationals of third countries: the derived right of residence applies regardless of nationality. A UK national who was resident before Brexit, with a US national spouse, can bring that spouse to Switzerland under the CRA family reunification rules, without the spouse having previously resided in an EU/EFTA state or in the UK.
Right to work for family members: according to AFMP Annex I, Art. 3 para. 5, by analogy.
Important limitation: This extended family reunification logic applies exclusively to UK nationals who are eligible for the CRA and were resident in Switzerland before Brexit. New arrivals after Brexit (category 3.2) are fully subject to the stricter family reunification rules under Art. 43-44 of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA).
Material requirements analogous to the FZA: adequate accommodation, no dependence on social welfare, no revocation due to violation of public order.
7. Naturalisation of British nationals
Important clarification: The CRA does not regulate the acquisition of Swiss citizenship. The naturalisation of British nationals is governed entirely by the Swiss Citizenship Act (SCA, SR 141.0) and is subject to the same requirements as for all third-country nationals – the protection of acquired rights under the CRA does not create a privileged position for naturalisation.
Specifically, this means:
Ordinary naturalisation: 10 years of residence in Switzerland (Art. 9 SCA), including at least 3 years of the last 5 years before the application. Years between the ages of 8 and 18 count double (Art. 9 para. 2 SCA). Further requirements are successful integration (Art. 11 SCA), familiarity with Swiss conditions (Art. 11 lit. b SCA) and no threat to internal or external security (Art. 11 lit. c SCA).
Facilitated naturalisation for spouses of Swiss nationals: 5 years of residence in Switzerland + 3 years of marriage (Art. 21 para. 1 SCA); or 6 years of marriage with residence abroad (Art. 21 para. 2 SCA).
Material requirements (oral language skills at level A2/B1, written tests, criminal record extract, tax compliance, maintenance compliance): identical to those for all nationals of third countries.
A systematic overview of the naturalisation process and the requirements can be found in framework/fw_bug_2018_glossary.md and in permits/permit_naturalisation_paths.md.
8. Special Cases
8.1 British-Swiss dual nationals
Individuals with Swiss and British nationality are, from a migration law perspective, considered Swiss citizens – they do not require any immigration authorisation. Brexit has had no impact on their status in Switzerland. (Their status in the United Kingdom or in the EU is a separate matter, which is not addressed by Swiss migration law.)
8.2 British nationals without a valid UK passport
A British nationality exists regardless of passport ownership. Individuals whose UK passport has expired or was never issued retain British nationality, provided that it can be proven by other means (birth certificate, naturalisation certificate, letter of confirmation from the British Home Office, etc.). For the application of the CRA, the nationality status as of 31.12.2020 is relevant, not the passport status. Verification of SEM practice in cases of incomplete identity documents is recommended.
8.3 British diplomatic staff and their families
British nationals working in Switzerland as employees of an embassy, consulate or international organisation are primarily subject to the Host State Act (GSG, SR 192.12) and the V-GSG (SR 192.121) — and thus to the regime of the Carte de légitimation of the EDA and, where applicable, the Ci-IO-Permit for accompanying family members. This situation is not covered by the CRA. The detailed regulations can be found in permits/permit_ci_io_dependents.md.
When transitioning from the GSG regime to ordinary immigration law (e.g. after the end of a diplomatic mission, if the spouse switches to ordinary employment), the question of whether the CRA applies must be examined on a case-by-case basis – in particular, whether the person concerned already held an ordinary AFMP residence permit (in parallel with or prior to the diplomatic residence) on 31 December 2020.
8.4 Gibraltar, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory with its own political status. The application of the CRA to citizens of Gibraltar is a nuanced issue:
Individuals with the nationality of British Citizen or British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) — Gibraltar are, in principle, British nationals within the meaning of the CRA.
Individuals with other variants of British nationality (BOTC of other territories, British Overseas Citizen, British Subject without Right of Abode, British National (Overseas) — Hong Kong, British Protected Person) are not automatically covered by the CRA — the scope of application is tailored to British nationals in the narrower sense.
The precise scope of the CRA in relation to the various British nationality categories is a detailed question and needs to be verified before this information is used (see SEM guidelines and, if necessary, consult with the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office FCDO).
Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey) have their own relationship with the United Kingdom and the EU. Individuals who are exclusively nationals of a Crown Dependency (without any other British nationality status) typically do not fall under the CRA. Case-by-case verification is also required here.
9. Procedure for the renewal of the C EU/EFTA residence permit
The typical procedure for renewing a C EU/EFTA residence permit consists of four steps:
Step 1 — Preliminary Information: the cantonal migration office typically informs the person concerned two to three months before the card expires. In some cantons, the information is provided by letter, in others by email or via an electronic portal. If a person has not received any information, they should actively enquire with the migration office — the obligation to renew lies with the person concerned, not with the authority.
Step 2 — Application: The application for extension is submitted to the cantonal migration office. The following documents should usually be enclosed:
current UK passport (copy or presentation of the original);
previous Ci EU-WA card (form for withdrawal);
Confirmation of address from the residents’ registration office of the municipality of residence;
for employed persons: current employment confirmation or excerpt from the commercial register for self-employed persons;
for non-working individuals: proof of sufficient financial resources and health insurance.
Step 3 — Official Review: The migration office checks whether the requirements for the CRA continue to be met. The main focus of the review is on continuity of residence — that is, whether the person concerned has not permanently moved their centre of interests away from Switzerland. In the majority of renewal cases, the review is formal and results in a positive ruling.
Step 4 — Issuance of permits: The new Ci EU-WA permit is issued with a validity period of typically another 5 years. In the case of a C-equivalent status, the renewal may formally be a renewal of the permit, without the material right of residence being limited in time.
The exact fees and processing times vary by canton. Anti-Scope: An individual permit classification forecast (Ci EU-WA versus third-country national B after the expiry of CRA temporary protection) is not part of the SIP self-consultation; it requires individual assessment by a migration lawyer.
10. Loss of permit upon return to the UK or extended stay abroad
A key risk question in advisory practice: what happens to the protection afforded by the CRA if the person concerned leaves Switzerland for an extended period?
The analogous application of AFMP Annex I, Art. 6 para. 5 and the relevant provisions of the AIG (Fedlex·Art. 61 AIG) yields:
Stays abroad of up to 6 months are generally not problematic, provided that the connection to the place of residence in Switzerland is maintained (e.g. continuous residence, still registered in Switzerland, etc.).
Stays abroad of between 6 and 24 months are only permitted if a written application for the continuation of the permit has been submitted to and approved by the cantonal migration office before the stay abroad (analogous to Art. 61 para. 2 AIG).
Stays abroad of more than 24 months generally lead to the expiry of the permit.
If the protection of existing rights is lost due to prolonged absence, the full third-country FNIA regime applies to any subsequent return to Switzerland — quota, priority for nationals, requirement for qualified employment.
Exceptions apply to clearly justified interruptions of residence (illness, pregnancy, temporary assignment, education abroad, care of close relatives). The detailed assessment is carried out on a case-by-case basis.
Practical recommendation: Individuals with acquired rights under the CRA who are planning longer stays abroad (in particular, returning to the UK to care for parents, temporary employment outside Switzerland, or longer study stays) should in advance inform the cantonal migration office and submit an application to maintain their permit. Failure to take this step may result in the irrevocable loss of the acquired rights under the CRA.
11. Coordination of Social Security Systems
The CRA implements EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 on the coordination of social security systems for protected persons. In substance, this corresponds to the application of the FZA; in practice, the procedures are handled via the Swiss Liaison Agency for Social Security (ZAS, Geneva) and the competent social insurance providers.
Praxisrelevant:
AHV/IV pensions: are paid to the United Kingdom (and vice versa, UK pensions to Switzerland) if the person falls under the CRA regime on 31 December 2020. For new arrivals after Brexit, the AHV/IV third-country rules apply – the export of pensions is restricted in this case.
Occupational pension (Pillar 2): upon return to the UK, it is possible to receive the lump-sum payment, but not automatically in full — the payment of the mandatory part to persons residing in the EU/EFTA was historically restricted (Art. 25f FZG); the application of this restriction to UK returnees must be verified before any action is taken. Anti-Scope: SIP is not pension advice.
Coordination of health insurance: for cross-border commuters with UK residence and Swiss employment (provided that the CRA protection applies), the logic of the mandatory KVG health insurance with the option to choose remains in place.
Unemployment insurance: Periods of insurance from the United Kingdom are taken into account for those entitled to CRA benefits, insofar as the EU coordination regulations apply.
12. Recognition of professional qualifications
The CRA applies the EU Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications by analogy to the AFMP application for the protected group of persons. British professional qualifications acquired before the cut-off date benefit from the recognition mechanism of the three AFMP systems (automatic, general, professional experience – see framework/fw_fza_vfp_glossary.md section 11.2).
Important restriction: British professional qualifications obtained after 31.12.2020 are no longer subject to the AFMP recognition procedure, but to the standard recognition procedures for third-country qualifications (SBFI, BAG, etc.) — these are generally more complex and often involve additional training courses or aptitude tests.
13. Tax Aspects
The tax status of British nationals in Switzerland is governed by the Double Taxation Agreement between Switzerland and the United Kingdom (DTA-UK). The DTA is not affected by Brexit – it is a bilateral agreement that exists independently of the FZA and the CRA.
Key aspects (in overview):
Withholding tax for British nationals with a B or C residence permit or under the EU-UK Agreement: subject to cantonal regulations; a subsequent ordinary tax assessment can be requested.
Cross-border taxation for UK cross-border commuters: (in practice, very rare, as there is typically no daily commuting distance between the UK and Switzerland): specific double taxation agreement provision.
Pillar-2 payment upon return to the UK: typically subject to withholding tax in Switzerland, with possible offsetting in the UK.
Anti-Scope: SIP is not tax advice. A detailed examination of tax-related issues – in particular with regard to significant pension payments, inheritance scenarios or taxation upon departure – requires advice from a Swiss tax advisor or trustee with expertise in the UK double taxation agreement.
14. Procedure in the event of loss or refusal of renewal of the permit
If the cantonal migration office refuses to renew the C EU-WA permit or revokes the permit, the person concerned has the usual avenues of appeal available:
First stage: ruling by the cantonal migration office.
Second instance: cantonal administrative or appeal court (varies between cantons — e.g. Tribunal administratif de première instance / Cour de justice in Geneva; Verwaltungsgericht in Zurich; etc.).
Third level: Federal Administrative Court (FAC) for matters relating to immigration law.
Fourth level (rare): Federal Supreme Court (BGer) in cases involving fundamental legal issues.
Appeal deadlines are generally short (30 days from the date of notification of the ruling). In the event of revocation or refusal of a permit, it is essential to seek legal advice, in particular because the consequences (obligation to apply as a third-country national for re-entry; possible removal) are serious.
Anti-Scope (what this contribution does not replace)
Individual permit classification: Whether a specific person falls under the CRA protection regime (Ci EU-WA) or the third-country AIG regime requires an individual assessment based on the complete history of their stay. SIP does not provide individual permit classification forecasts.
Specific renewal decisions: The SEM and cantonal practice regarding the renewal wave of 2026-2031 has not yet been fully established at the time of drafting. Specific renewal questions should not be addressed via a self-service portal, but rather by an immigration lawyer with expertise in AFMP/CRA.
Detailed questions on tax and pension matters: SIP does not provide tax advice or pension advice. Complex issues relating to relocation, inheritance or pensions require separate expert advice.
British nationality variants: The scope of the CRA in relation to the different British nationality statuses (British Citizen, BOTC, BOC, BNO, etc.) is a matter of detail that needs to be clarified with the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and/or the SEM in each individual case.
Current political situation regarding Swiss-UK relations: Any potential renegotiations concerning mobility arrangements (Young Professionals, traineeship agreements, etc.) may have taken place between the date of creation and the date of reading – please consult the latest announcements from the SEM and the EDA.
Related SIP entries (Cross-references)
framework/fw_fza_vfp_glossary.md — FZA and the free movement of persons (the basic system from which the CRA is materially derived).
framework/fw_aig_vzae_glossary.md — AIG and OASA (relevant for post-Brexit new arrivals).
framework/fw_bug_2018_glossary.md — Swiss Citizenship Act (Naturalisation, applies independently of the CRA).
permits/permit_b_resident.md — B residence permit (relevant for third-country nationals arriving after Brexit).
permits/permit_c_settled.md — C permit (for CRA beneficiaries equivalent to C permit holders and for the consolidation of third-country nationals).
permits/permit_g_frontalier.md — G permit (analogous application for UK cross-border commuters with pre-Brexit status).
permits/permit_ci_io_dependents.md — Ci-IO (distinction from Ci EU-WA, see section 3.1).
permits/permit_naturalisation_paths.md — Naturalisation procedure (applies to UK nationals in the same way as to other third-country nationals).
Sources and further reading
Citizens' Rights Agreement Switzerland-UK, SR 0.142.113.672 — Agreement of 25 February 2019 between the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the rights of citizens following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union and the termination of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (the exact ELI-URI must be verified before productive use).
Note on the current status: The 2026-2031 renewal cycle for Ci-EU-WA permits is starting. The SEM’s instructions and cantonal practice will become more refined in the next 12-24 months. Before using this information productively, consult the current SEM instructions and the relevant cantonal practice (in particular, Geneva, Zurich, and Vaud, which have a high proportion of UK residents).
Reviewer requirement (ADR-018): This item requires CLR (Lawyer-of-Record, pending entry in the cantonal bar register), to sign it off before it goes live. Until then, the status is AI-DRAFT.
As of: 01.06.2026 · Snapshot
Reflects the cited law as of the snapshot — not a check of current force.
03Reviewed: Tier A · Info
AIG (SR 142.20) — subsidiär für post-Brexit-Konstellationen
