Moving from the UK to Switzerland: A 2026 Guide for British Expats

Since 1 January 2021, Britons need a Swiss residence permit secured before arrival. The most common routes:

• B permit via Swiss employer — counts against the annual UK quota; employer files cantonal + federal approval
• L permit (short-term) — under 12 months, also quota-restricted
• Services Mobility Agreement — UK companies can post staff to Switzerland for up to 90 days per year with simplified notification
• Family reunification — if your spouse is Swiss, EU/EFTA, or holds a B/C permit
• Article 28 (retiree) — over 55, financially self-sufficient, no Swiss employment

Britons who were already legally resident in Switzerland before 1 January 2021 are protected by the UK–Switzerland Citizens' Rights Agreement and keep the equivalent of free-movement rights for life.

This is the biggest cultural shock for Britons. Swiss basic health insurance (LAMal / KVG) is mandatory, private, and paid in full by you — there is no employer contribution and no NHS-style free service.

Use our health insurance comparison to find the cheapest compliant plan for your canton, age and chosen deductible.

UK 240V appliances run fine on Swiss 230V, but the plug shape is different — bring a few UK→CH (Type J) adapters or rewire the plugs. Microwaves, kettles and hair dryers all work; UK fridges and washing machines usually don't fit Swiss kitchen recesses (60cm Swiss vs. 60cm UK is similar but cabinet heights differ).

1. Secure an address — long-let, sublet, or serviced apartment (UMS, Visionapartments) for the first month
2. Register at the Gemeinde / commune within 14 days with passport, visa, employment contract, rental contract, passport photo and (for families) marriage and birth certificates apostilled
3. Open a Swiss bank account — PostFinance, UBS, ZKB and Raiffeisen all accept Britons; Revolut and Wise work for transfers but are not a substitute for a Swiss IBAN for salary and rent
4. Buy health insurance within 3 months (backdated to arrival)
5. Exchange your UK driving licence within 12 months at the cantonal Strassenverkehrsamt
6. Notify HMRC — file Form P85 to claim split-year tax treatment

• HMRC P85 — declare you've left the UK; claim split-year treatment to stop UK tax on Swiss earnings
• Statutory Residence Test — stay under 16 UK days/year to be unambiguously non-resident
• UK State Pension — keep paying voluntary Class 2 / Class 3 NICs to protect your qualifying years
• Workplace pensions — usually leave them in the UK; transferring to a Swiss QROPS is rarely worthwhile
• ISAs — you can keep them but cannot contribute as a non-resident; they remain UK-tax-free but become taxable in Switzerland on income and gains
• UK property let out — register for the Non-Resident Landlord scheme with HMRC

Your status depends on when you first arrived, not just your passport:

• Resident in Switzerland before 1 January 2021 — acquired rights under the Swiss–UK Citizens' Rights Agreement: you keep free-movement-style rights, including permit renewal and family reunification.
• Arriving from 2021 onwards — you are a third-country national. Your employer must justify hiring you (priority for Swiss/EU candidates) and a separate UK quota exists (Services Mobility Agreement and a dedicated annual allowance). Qualified professionals still get through regularly, but it is no longer a simple registration.
• Irish passport holders keep full EU free movement — worth checking if you have Irish parents or grandparents.

UK birth, marriage and degree certificates are apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legalisation Office, usually online with postal return. Degree certificates generally need a solicitor's or notary's certification first. Scottish and Northern Irish documents follow the same FCDO route. Order new certified copies of birth and marriage certificates from the GRO or the relevant national records office — cantons often reject old or photocopied versions.

A UK photocard licence is valid for 12 months after arrival and is normally exchanged without a test at the cantonal road traffic office. Right-hand-drive cars can be imported, but you will pay customs VAT unless the car qualifies as a used personal effect (owned and used for over 6 months), and it must pass the Swiss vehicle inspection. Many Brits sell the car in the UK because of the resale discount on right-hand drive in Switzerland. See our car import guide.

• ISAs — lose their tax wrapper in Switzerland; income and assets are declared on your Swiss return. You generally cannot add new money once non-UK resident.
• SIPPs / workplace pensions — can usually stay in the UK. Transfers to QROPS are complex and fee-heavy; get regulated advice.
• State Pension — consider voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 National Insurance contributions to fill gaps; check your forecast on GOV.UK before leaving.
• Statutory Residence Test — tell HMRC you are leaving (form P85) and keep evidence of your departure date.

British families often choose between local schools (free, in German or French) and British-curriculum international schools in Zurich, Geneva, Zug and Basel offering GCSE/A-level or IB, typically CHF 25,000–40,000 per year. Children in local schools are streamed earlier than in England. Everyday surprises: shops closed on Sundays, shared laundry rooms, and driving on the right.

Run your own numbers in our Swiss salary calculator and cost-of-living comparison.

• Assuming the NHS will cover you on visits home — only emergency cover via your Swiss insurer's EHIC equivalent
• Forgetting to exchange your driving licence within 12 months — after that you must sit Swiss theory and practical tests
• Treating Swiss banks like UK challenger banks — expect paper signatures, in-branch visits and CHF 5–10 monthly account fees
• Ignoring Pillar 3a — the most tax-efficient pension wrapper for residents (CHF 7,258/year deduction in 2026)
• Skipping the Quellensteuer (withholding tax) reclaim if you're a B-permit holder earning over CHF 120k — you may need to file a full return

• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — permit categories
• gov.uk: Living in Switzerland — UK government guidance
• HMRC Form P85

This guide is for general information only and is not legal, tax, immigration, or insurance advice. Always confirm requirements with your canton, employer, insurer, HMRC and the Swiss authorities.