UK travellers to benefit from Swiss airport e-gates under new trade agreement
British travellers heading to Switzerland could soon pass through airport immigration more quickly after the UK signed a new trade agreement that includes access to automated e-gates for UK passport holders.
The agreement, announced by the UK Government, also includes plans to remove mobile roaming charges between the UK and Switzerland and permanently extend arrangements allowing businesses to provide services across both countries without work permits for stays of up to 90 days.
According to the government, UK passport holders are expected to begin using e-gates at Zurich Airport before the end of 2026, while Geneva and Basel airports are expected to introduce the system at a later date.
The e-gate arrangements are separate from the European Union’s forthcoming Entry/Exit System (EES), which is expected to allow UK citizens to use automated border gates at participating EU countries once it comes into operation.
Alongside the travel measures, the government says the agreement will make it easier for UK businesses to operate in Switzerland. Employees will be able to transfer to work there for up to five years without undergoing economic needs tests, while professionals including architects, accountants and lawyers are expected to benefit from simplified access.
Ministers estimate the agreement could increase UK exports to Switzerland by around £5.2 billion a year over the long term. Switzerland remains the UK’s sixth-largest export market for services, with more than £30 billion in services trade recorded between the two countries during 2025.
Government figures also show around 800,000 UK residents travel to Switzerland each year, while Swiss citizens already have access to e-gates when arriving at UK airports.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the agreement was intended to make it easier for businesses to trade while simplifying travel for people working between the two countries.
The announcement comes alongside discussions between UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas about preparations for the rollout of Europe’s new Entry/Exit System. The UK Government said both sides agreed to work together to help ensure border checks operate as smoothly as possible ahead of the busy summer travel period.
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