ADM initially applies for two years. The parties may decide by mutual agreement whether or not to extend them. The agreement has been provisionally applied since 1 January. On the British side, the opening of the market vis-à-vis Switzerland requires market access commitments in more than 30 service sectors. In addition, the United Kingdom grants Swiss service providers additional preferential treatment. For example, Swiss service providers for access to these sectors in the UK are not subject to an economic needs test and do not have to prove their English language skills. Swiss service providers can stay in the UK for up to 12 months over a 24-month period. With these conditions, SMA will continue to provide Swiss companies with full access to the UK market for the provision of services by contract by natural persons. The agreement was necessary because from January, the agreement on the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU would no longer apply to the United Kingdom due to Brexit. The UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020; The two sides are currently trying to negotiate a trade deal before Britain`s transition out of the bloc ends on December 31. Bern, 17.02.2021 - On 17 February 2021, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the Mobility of Services Agreement (SMA) between Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The agreement guarantees mutually facilitated access for service providers between Switzerland and the United Kingdom after the expiry of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP). The consultation will continue until April 30. The agreement stipulates that Switzerland will continue the notification procedure previously used and known to the economy for service providers in Great Britain up to 90 days a year. The agreement thus allows Swiss companies to continue to use the short-term services of British companies in a timely manner. In 2019, around 3,800 service providers reportable up to 90 days from the UK were registered in Switzerland. Economy Minister Guy Parmelin and Liz Truss, UK Secretary of State for International Trade, have signed an agreement that will ensure reciprocal and easier market access for service providers from Switzerland and the UK from 1 January. The SA is initially limited to two years. However, the Contracting Parties may jointly decide to extend the period of validity. The agreement will be provisionally applied from 1 January 2021. The cable approving the agreement will be submitted to Parliament by the end of June 2021.

Since 1 January 2021, the Service Mobility Agreement (SMA) between Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) regulates reciprocal access and temporary stay for service providers, such as management consultants, IT experts or engineers. From that date, the agreement on the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU will no longer apply to the United Kingdom. The SMA also contains provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications. The Federal Council approved it on 4 December 2020. It is part of the Federal Council`s mind-the-gap strategy following the UK`s withdrawal from the EU. The consultation will last until 30 April and the Federal Council must submit a message to Parliament to approve the agreement before the end of June due to its provisional application. Bern, 14.12.2020 - Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and the BRITISH Secretary of State for International Trade, the Right Honourable Elizabeth Truss, signed the Mobility of Services Agreement (SMA) in London on 14 December 2020. The agreement guarantees reciprocal and facilitated market access for service providers from Switzerland and the United Kingdom from 1 January 2021. Under the agreement, Switzerland will continue the notification procedure for UK service providers up to 90 days a year. Companies are already familiar with this procedure.

The Swiss economy will thus continue to have rapid access to short-term services from British companies. Accompanying measures for UK service providers will also be fully pursued under the AVMS. In 2019, around 3,800 companies in the UK provided services in Switzerland for up to 90 days. Switzerland and the United Kingdom have concluded a services agreement. The Service Mobility Agreement (MAA), signed on 14 December 2020 and entered into force on 1 January 2021, is initially valid for two years. Access to the UK market under the SMA is currently limited to persons with a university degree or equivalent. However, the United Kingdom undertakes to reassess the equivalence of Swiss vocational education qualifications by exchanging grades. The existing 8-day Swiss exemption for shipping companies based in the EU/EFTA continues to apply.

Applicants abroad who will work in Switzerland for up to eight days per calendar year and per company or self-employed person may not need to obtain a work permit or complete a 90-day notification. On the British side, the market will be opened to Switzerland through "market access commitments" in more than 30 service sectors, the Ministry of the Economy announced. This means that Swiss service providers can stay in the UK for up to 12 months over a 24-month period. In addition, the UK grants other preferential conditions, according to the ministry. "Swiss service providers are not subject to an economic needs test for these industries and do not have to prove their English skills." The SA is initially limited to two years. However, the Contracting Parties may jointly decide to extend the period of validity. It allows service providers such as management consultants, IT specialists or engineers to continue to travel freely between Switzerland and the UK and work up to 90 days a year without the need for visas, economic interest tests, work permits, language skills or long processing times. Specifically, Switzerland will maintain the existing reporting procedure for UK service providers for up to 90 days a year. In 2019, there were 3,800 such registrations from the UK. Please note that this is only general information and is not advice on a specific topic.

Do not hesitate to contact Fakhoury Global Immigration directly if you have any questions about your situation. This news alert may have been created with information from Peregrine Immigration Management, which is authorized to Fakhoury Global Immigration. . The Service Mobility Agreement (SMA), signed on Monday in London, regulates reciprocal access and temporary residence for service providers – for example, management consultants, IT experts or engineers – the Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a statementexternal link. .