UK-Switzerland business travel agreement extended to 2025
The agreement, which was set to expire at the end of 2022, allows solicitors from the UK to visit Switzerland on a short-term basis to provide legal services under similar conditions to those in place before the UK’s exit from the single market.
Under the Services Mobility Agreement (SMA), UK professionals operating in Switzerland for up to 90 days a year do not need to:
- obtain a work permit, or
- complete an economic interests test
The agreement applies to businesses of all sizes, including the self-employed.
Read the UK government factsheet on the SMA
Our campaign to support market access
The Law Society has been advocating for the extension of the SMA beyond 2022 since the UK and Switzerland announced they were looking at new trade arrangements earlier this year.
Ahead of the launch of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between the UK and Switzerland in 2023, we’ve highlighted that the relevant SMA provisions should be incorporated into a new FTA, so that they are extended indefinitely.
We have also highlighted that the provisions under the Citizens’ Rights Agreement (CRA) – which allow solicitors to register to practise under home title and requalify in Switzerland after three years of practice – should be extended beyond their current expiry date of 2024.
Legal services (along with other services including accountancy and architectural) make up most of the UK’s exports to Switzerland, worth over £12bn in 2021.
Next steps
We'll continue to liaise with members and stakeholders as trade negotiations between the UK and Switzerland gather pace.