The citizens of Switzerland can enjoy their right to live and work in the United Kingdom, without the need of any visa. This is called Right of Residence. The Swiss nationals need no work permit to work in the United Kingdom and they can:
- Accept offers to work in the United Kingdom;
- Work as an employee, in self employment or in business;
- Set up a business;
- Manage a company; or
- Set up a local branch of an already established parent company
All they need is a valid passport or a national identity card and they must use the separate channel marked as "EEA/EU" when they arrive at the major ports and airports and get the passport or the identity card checked by the immigration officer to verify their genuineness.
The Agreement on the free movement of persons between the European community and its member state and the Swiss Confederation came into effect on 1st of May, 2002. Although Switzerland is not a part of EEA, this Agreement confers on Swiss nationals and their family members the same rights as those enjoyed by EEA nationals and their family members. The Swiss nationals who were in the UK since the time before 1st of May, 2002 also no longer needed leave to enter or remain in the UK, and any condition that was attached to their existing leave had also ceased to have effect.
Non EEA, non Swiss family members of a Swiss national who is willing to come to the UK in order to exercise his or her rights under the Swiss Agreement will require a family permit. In addition, the family members of a Swiss national who is exercising his or her rights in the UK may apply for residence documents as confirmation of their rights of residence in the UK.
POSTED WORKER
According to the Swiss Agreement, a posted worker is a non EEA or a non Swiss national who has been hired by a Swiss national or a Swiss company and has been posted in the UK to provide service on their behalf. This Agreement also provides for such 'posted workers' to come and work in the UK. These posted workers are allowed to live and work in the UK for only 90 days per annum. The family members of such posted workers are not allowed to accompany them. They must apply for entry clearance before coming and commencing their work in the UK. These posted workers need to be integrated into the labour market of a Swiss or EEA state and for this integration the employee must have been employed by the Swiss employer for a at least a year.
RESIDENCE PERMIT
A Residence Permit is normally valid for 5 year and it is a document that confirms one's right to live in the UK under European Community Law. One needs to apply for a residence permit if his family members want to apply for a residence document. Residence permit may also be issued for shorter period if one is working in the UK for less than a year.
The Swiss nationals can live in the United Kingdom as a student, a retired person, a working professional or a non working person, as long as he has enough money to support himself during his stay without seeking any help from the public funds that includes Income support, Housing benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
