Switzerland – United Kingdom: Extension of the agreement on the mobility of service suppliers
Bern, 28.10.2025 — On 21 October, Switzerland and the United Kingdom extended the Services Mobility Agreement until 31 December 2029. The Agreement provides Swiss companies with easy access to British service suppliers and regulates Swiss service suppliers' access to the UK market.
The Services Mobility Agreement (SMA) has maintained ease of access for service suppliers since free movement of persons ended between Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK), following the UK's exit from the EU in 2021. The SMA regulates reciprocal market access and the temporary residence of service suppliers such as management consultants, IT experts and engineers. On 15 October, the Federal Council decided to extend the SMA for a further four years. A consultation with stakeholders showed that the SMA fulfilled a need within the Swiss economy and that it was functioning well.
Under the Agreement, Switzerland continues to apply the notification procedure to UK service suppliers who provide services in Switzerland for up to 90 days per calendar year. The flanking measures to free movement of persons also remain in place. Nearly 3,500 UK nationals made use of the notification procedure to provide services on the Swiss market in 2024. The figures for this year are similar.
The SMA provides Swiss exporters with preferential market access in more than 30 service sectors in the UK and includes the recognition of certain Swiss higher vocational education and training qualifications. It is supplemented by an agreement on the recognition of professional qualifications, which has been in force since March 2025.
The SMA is a temporary agreement while an enhanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is being negotiated between Switzerland and the UK. The enhanced FTA should regulate long-term market access for services, including a solution for all usual categories of natural persons supplying services.
Switzerland and the UK exchanged notes last week to extend the SMA until 31 December 2029. The extension will come into force on 1 December 2025.
More information:
SMA (SR 0.946.293.671.2)