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IMPACT – MEDIUM
The Swiss government has announced that it is suspending its visa facilitation agreement with Russia.
Key Points:
BAL Analysis: Russian nationals should expect continued difficulty in obtaining visas when planning travel to Switzerland and countries in the Schengen Area. Employers should plan travel well in advance to avoid complications and delays.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Swiss government has expanded its online immigration service by launching a pilot program for certain cross-border commuters.
Additional Information: Additional cantons are expected to join the pilot program in the coming months. Swiss authorities hope to expand their online immigration service for cross-border commuters to all 26 cantons in the coming years. More information regarding the pilot program for cross-border commuter permit applications is available here.
Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com
The Swiss government has announced that it will lift all COVID-related entry restrictions for those traveling to Switzerland.
Additional Information: In case of new virus variant, an “emergency brake” can be applied to the lifting of entry requirements. More information regarding Switzerland’s pre-COVID entry requirements is available here. More information on current entry restrictions is available here.
BAL Analysis: COVID-19 entry requirements will no longer apply to those traveling to Switzerland from May 2. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Swiss government has lifted its COVID-19 entry restrictions for all travelers except for those from high-risk areas.
Additional Information: More information regarding Switzerland’s COVID-19 health measures is available here.
BAL Analysis: Swiss authorities have lifted its COVID-19 entry rules based on the recommendations from Swiss health officials. Travelers are reminded that entry restrictions can change with little or no notice. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
The Swiss government has announced that it will reduce the validity of vaccinations from 12 months to nine months in February.
Additional Information: As of Jan. 12, authorities reduced the mandatory quarantine requirement to five days. Beginning Jan. 22, fully vaccinated or previously recovered travelers no longer need a negative COVID test to enter the country.
BAL Analysis: The Swiss government will reduce the validity of vaccinations to ensure that their vaccination certificates remain valid in the EU. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
The Swiss government has lifted its quarantine requirement and implemented stricter testing protocols for all travelers.
Additional Information: Unvaccinated third-country nationals who are traveling from countries at risk are barred from entering the country for short-term stays without gainful employment for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
BAL Analysis: The Swiss Federal Council continues to assess the virus situation and may modify health measures in the near future. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Swiss government has set work-permit quotas for 2022, leaving them unchanged for EU/EFTA, non-EU/EFTA and U.K. nationals.
Quotas for 2022 will be set as follows:
Additional Information: Due to the withdrawal of the U.K. from the EU, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the U.K. has not applied since Jan. 1, 2021. In order to enable companies in Switzerland to recruit skilled workers from the U.K., the Swiss Federal Council decided to keep separate quotas for employed U.K. nationals for in 2021 and again in 2022.
BAL Analysis: After increasing the quotas in 2019 to address labor shortages and respond to business demands for greater access to skilled workers, Swiss officials have decided to keep the same quotas for EU/EFTA and non-EU/EFTA nationals for the third year in a row.
This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Swiss government has announced that it will grant freedom of movement to Croatian citizens on Jan. 1, 2022.
Additional Information: Croatia has been a member of the EU since 2013; however, Switzerland had yet to extend freedom of movement to Croatia. More information regarding Switzerland’s permit quotas for 2021 can be found here.
BAL Analysis: The announcement to grant freedom of movement to Croatia will give Croatian nationals access to a simplified immigration process and reduce requirements to work in Switzerland. BAL will continue to monitor freedom of movement related developments and will proved more information as it becomes available.
IMPACT – HIGH
Switzerland has updated its COVID-19 entry requirements. Key Points:
Background: Switzerland is strengthening measures to combat COVID-19, requiring PCR tests for entries for the first time.
Analysis & Comments: The new requirements, particularly the mandatory quarantine, may affect travel plans to Switzerland. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.
Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2021. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
What is the change? The Swiss government has set work-permit quotas for 2021, leaving them unchanged for both EU/EFTA and non-EU/EFTA nationals. A separate quota will be introduced for U.K. nationals as the Swiss-U.K. Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons is set to come to an end Dec. 31.
Additional Information: Quotas will be set as follows:
Analysis & Comments: After increasing the quotas in 2019 to address labor shortages and respond to business demands for greater access to skilled workers, Swiss officials have decided to keep the same quotas for EU/EFTA and non-EU/EFTA nationals the second year in a row. The category for U.K. nationals will be added because the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons will come to an end at the end of 2020. Quotas are released on a quarterly basis.
The separate U.K. quotas are currently set for only one year and take into account the special relationship between the U.K. and Switzerland. For the time being, permits for U.K. nationals are subject to the purview of cantonal competent authority and do not fall under the federal approval procedure. If no bilateral agreement between the U.K. and Switzerland on the migration regime is concluded within the next 12 months, the U.K. quotas might be integrated in the general non-EU/EFTA quotas in 2022.
Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2020. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.