British tourists heading to Switzerland will no longer face mobile roaming charges and will be able to use e-gates at Zurich airport from the end of this year, after the UK signed what the government called the most significant services trade deal it has ever negotiated.
The agreement, described by Trade Secretary Peter Kyle as “the most significant services trade deal the UK has ever negotiated”, also puts on a permanent footing a services mobility deal that was due to expire in 2029. That deal allows businesses to provide services for up to 90 days without a work permit.
“UK signs services deal with Switzerland scrapping roaming charges and allowing Britons to use e-gates at airports.”
Under the new terms, UK employees will be permitted to transfer to work in Switzerland for up to five years without stringent economic needs tests. Ministers said lawyers, accountants and architects are among professionals who will benefit.
Government figures show about 800,000 Britons visit Switzerland each year. Switzerland is the UK’s sixth-largest services export market, with over £30bn in services trade between the two countries in 2025. The government estimates the deal will increase UK exports to Switzerland by £5.2bn annually “in the long run”.
Swiss citizens already can use e-gates at UK airports. Now UK passport holders will be able to do the same at Zurich airport from as soon as the end of this year, with Geneva and Basel airports set to announce a timetable for adoption shortly. The scheme is separate to Switzerland’s implementation of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which will allow UK citizens to use EU e-gates.
The agreement comes after trade deals were struck with the US, India, the Gulf Co-operation Council, South Korea and the EU. It also comes as Sir Keir Starmer enters his final weeks as prime minister before being replaced by Andy Burnham.
“Whether you’re growing a business or travelling for work, this agreement is about making life easier and creating more opportunity for people across the UK,” Sir Keir said. “It means British firms will find it easier to sell their expertise in one of our most important markets in Europe, supporting jobs and investment here at home.”
Separately, the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has spoken with the European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, about Europe’s new EES border system. The UK government said they agreed to “work together with aim for smoothest possible EES checks ahead of the busy summer period”.
