The Service Providers from Switzerland visa is a temporary UK immigration route that allows eligible Swiss nationals and Swiss-based businesses to deliver specific services in the UK under the terms of the UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement. It is only available for pre-existing contractual service arrangements — meaning the service contract must have been signed, and work under that contract must have commenced, before 11pm on 31 December 2020. This visa provides short-term, non-extendable permission to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship, subject to strict eligibility requirements and compliance obligations.
What this article is about: This guide explains the legal framework, eligibility criteria, and application process for the Service Providers from Switzerland visa. It sets out what activities are permitted under this route, the limits on stay, and the compliance duties for both Swiss service providers and UK clients. Whether you are a Swiss professional intending to deliver a service in the UK, or a UK business contracting with a Swiss provider, this article provides a detailed, authoritative overview to help you meet the requirements and avoid compliance risks.
Section A: Overview of the Service Providers from Switzerland Visa
The Service Providers from Switzerland visa exists to allow Swiss nationals and Swiss-based businesses to deliver pre-existing contracted services in the UK for a limited period. It forms part of the bilateral UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement, designed to maintain professional and trade links between the two countries following the UK’s exit from the European Union. This agreement provides a specific legal route for Swiss service providers without the need to apply under broader UK work visa categories.
This visa is a short-term route intended for genuine service provision rather than ongoing employment. It is only available for contracts signed and where work commenced before 11pm on 31 December 2020. It is not a path to settlement in the UK and cannot be extended beyond the maximum stay period. For businesses and individuals, understanding the scope and limitations of this visa is critical to ensuring lawful entry and avoiding breaches of UK immigration law.
1. Purpose of the visa
The primary aim of this route is to enable Swiss nationals, or employees of Swiss-based businesses, to travel to the UK to deliver services under a valid pre-existing contract with a UK client. It supports cross-border trade in services in defined sectors while ensuring compliance with UK immigration controls. The visa reflects the UK’s commitment to maintaining economic links with Switzerland, particularly in professional and technical service sectors.
2. Key features
- Eligibility focus: The applicant must be a Swiss national or working for a Swiss-based business, have an eligible pre-existing service contract with a UK client, and be established in Switzerland.
- Service scope: Only certain sectors and professional services are covered under the agreement, such as legal, financial, engineering, IT, and certain specialist consultancy services.
- Post-Brexit framework: This visa is separate from the UK’s points-based immigration system and is not available to EU or EEA nationals who are not Swiss.
- No sponsorship requirement: Unlike Skilled Worker or other work routes, this visa does not require a UK-based sponsor, but the service contract must meet strict criteria.
3. Visa category and duration
- The visa allows a maximum stay of 90 days in a calendar year (not a rolling 180-day period).
- It is a non-extendable visa — once the period has expired, the individual must leave the UK.
- The visa cannot be used to switch into another UK immigration route from within the UK.
- Multiple visits may be possible in the same year, provided the total number of days spent in the UK does not exceed 90 in that calendar year.
Section A Summary
The Service Providers from Switzerland visa offers a targeted route for Swiss nationals and Swiss-based service providers to work in the UK under a valid pre-existing contract. It is a time-limited, non-extendable permission that does not lead to settlement and sits outside the sponsorship framework of the UK points-based system. Both the service provider and the UK client must ensure that the work falls within the permitted sectors, that the contract was signed and work commenced before 31 December 2020, and that all immigration conditions are met before work begins.
Section B: Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Service Providers from Switzerland visa, both the applicant and the nature of the service contract must meet specific legal requirements under the UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement and UK immigration rules. These conditions are designed to ensure the visa is only granted to genuine Swiss professionals delivering eligible services within the permitted timeframe and for pre-existing contractual arrangements.
1. Who can apply
The visa is open to:
- Swiss nationals who are self-employed and established in Switzerland; and
- Employees of Swiss-based enterprises sending staff to the UK to deliver contracted services.
Applicants must be physically outside the UK and the Crown Dependencies when applying, and must be based in Switzerland at the time of application. This route is not open to other EU/EEA nationals unless they also hold Swiss nationality.
2. Eligible sectors and services
The UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement specifies the sectors in which service provision is permitted. Common examples include:
- Legal services
- Financial and insurance services
- Architectural and engineering services
- IT and computer-related services
- Specialist consultancy in defined professional areas
- Certain creative and technical services
Only work falling within these approved sectors will be accepted. The service being delivered must align exactly with the description in the service contract, and services outside the approved scope are not permitted under this visa.
3. Qualifications and experience
Applicants must demonstrate that they are qualified to deliver the service by providing:
- Proof of relevant professional qualifications, recognised in Switzerland;
- Evidence of substantial experience in the field, if qualifications are not formally required; and
- Membership of a relevant professional body where applicable.
Supporting evidence must also include proof that work under the contract began before 11pm on 31 December 2020, such as invoices, travel records, or project documentation. The UK Home Office will expect clear proof that the applicant meets the competence standard for the service being provided.
4. Contract and UK client requirements
The applicant must have a genuine, pre-existing service contract with a UK-based client. The contract must:
- Have been signed and commenced before 11pm on 31 December 2020;
- Clearly describe the service to be delivered;
- Confirm that the service falls within the eligible sectors under the agreement;
- Set out the duration and scope of work, ensuring it does not exceed the 90-day per calendar year limit; and
- Comply with UK law, including any sector-specific regulations.
The UK client may be asked to confirm the contractual relationship and that the work will be carried out in compliance with UK immigration and employment law.
Section B Summary
Eligibility for the Service Providers from Switzerland visa is restricted to Swiss nationals or Swiss-based employees delivering services in permitted sectors under a valid pre-existing UK service contract. Applicants must show they are professionally qualified or experienced for the role, that the service contract is lawful and genuine, and that work started before the Brexit cut-off date. Meeting these requirements is critical to securing visa approval and avoiding compliance issues for both the applicant and the UK client.
Section C: Application Process
Applying for the Service Providers from Switzerland visa involves an online application, submission of supporting evidence, and compliance with UK immigration procedures. The process confirms that both the applicant and the service contract meet the legal criteria set under the UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement and UK Immigration Rules: Appendix SPS.
1. Where and how to apply
Applications must be made online via the official GOV.UK service. This visa can only be applied for from outside the UK and the Crown Dependencies, usually from Switzerland or another country where the applicant is lawfully resident.
It is not possible to switch into this visa from another UK immigration category while inside the UK.
During the application, the applicant will:
- Complete the online application form;
- Upload or provide access to supporting documents; and
- Book and attend a biometric appointment to provide fingerprints and a photograph.
2. Required documents
The Home Office requires a complete and accurate set of documents to assess the application. Typical documents include:
- A valid Swiss passport or national identity document;
- The full service contract with a UK client, detailing the scope, duration, and nature of services;
- Evidence that the service contract was signed and work commenced before 11pm on 31 December 2020 (such as invoices, project records, or travel evidence);
- Evidence of professional qualifications or equivalent experience;
- Proof of current professional status in Switzerland, such as registration with a professional body;
- Evidence of the applicant’s residence in Switzerland at the time of application; and
- Any sector-specific licences or regulatory approvals, if applicable.
All documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation.
3. Fees and processing times
The application fee is payable at the time of submission. The exact fee is set by the Home Office and must be paid in full before the application will be processed. Fees may be updated annually, so applicants should check the current rate before applying.
Processing times can vary depending on the volume of applications, but most decisions are made within 3 weeks of attending the biometric appointment. Applicants should avoid committing to travel until they receive a formal visa decision.
4. Biometrics and decision
Biometric enrolment is mandatory and is carried out at an approved visa application centre. The applicant must attend in person.
Once the application is approved, the applicant will receive a visa vignette in their passport confirming their permission to enter the UK. This vignette will specify the validity period and the conditions of stay. The applicant must travel to the UK during the vignette validity period and comply with the 90-day per calendar year limit.
Section C Summary
The Service Providers from Switzerland visa application is made online from outside the UK and Crown Dependencies, supported by documentary evidence of eligibility, professional status, and proof that the service contract was signed and commenced before 31 December 2020. Careful preparation of the contract and evidence of qualifications is essential. Applications are generally decided within three weeks, but timing and completeness of documentation are critical to avoiding delays.
Section D: Conditions, Compliance & Employer Duties
This route is tightly conditioned and is only available for contracts that were signed and where work commenced before 11pm on 31 December 2020. Permission is granted solely to deliver the contracted services specified in the application, and all work in the UK must remain within that contractual scope. The route is not a path to settlement, cannot be extended, and operates within strict time and activity limits.
1. What you can and cannot do
Visa holders can:
- Enter and leave the UK multiple times during the visa validity period;
- Provide services in the UK for up to 90 days in a calendar year under the pre-existing contract.
Visa holders cannot:
- Bring dependants to the UK under this route;
- Take any second job or work for any client other than the contract client;
- Undertake self-employment or voluntary work outside the contract scope;
- Switch to another visa category from within the UK;
- Extend their stay beyond the visa’s expiry;
- Study, except for permitted recreational study of up to 30 days;
- Access public funds or receive non-emergency NHS treatment.
2. Compliance for Swiss providers
- Pre-existing contract evidence: Applicants must retain proof that the UK work relates to a contract signed and commenced before 11pm on 31 December 2020. This may include invoices, project documentation, or travel records.
- 90-day cap management: For employed applicants, the Swiss employer must ensure that across all employees and contracts, the 90-day per calendar year limit is not exceeded. Self-employed applicants must self-monitor.
- Documentary readiness: Applicants should retain a valid passport/ID, evidence of right to work in Switzerland, proof of employment or self-employment, and the UK contract showing both the signing date and commencement of work before the cut-off.
- Visa length: The visa will expire on the earliest of (a) the contract end date, (b) the end of Swiss employment (if fixed-term), (c) the day before the applicant’s Swiss residence right expires (in certain cases), or 31 December 2025.
3. UK client duties
The UK client is not a licensed sponsor under this route but should:
- Verify that the engagement relates strictly to the named, pre-existing contract;
- Ensure the work remains within the permitted scope and within the 90-day per calendar year limit;
- Carry out appropriate due diligence, including confirming the visa holder’s identity and permission to work under the contract;
- Avoid arrangements that could amount to UK employment unless full right to work checks are carried out and the individual holds the appropriate immigration permission for employment.
4. Penalties for breach
Breaching conditions — such as exceeding the 90-day limit, working for a different client, or undertaking prohibited activities — may result in visa cancellation, refusal of future UK visa applications, and possible enforcement action under the UK’s illegal working laws if the arrangement amounts to unauthorised employment.
Section D Summary
The Service Providers from Switzerland visa permits the delivery of a pre-existing UK contract within strict conditions: a maximum of 90 days in a calendar year, no dependants, no second jobs, no in-country extension or switching, and no work outside the contract scope. Swiss employers must monitor the 90-day cap across all relevant staff, while UK clients should maintain contractual and operational safeguards to ensure compliance with the visa’s limitations.
FAQs – Service Providers from Switzerland Visa
Can I extend my Service Providers from Switzerland visa?
No. This visa is granted for a fixed period linked to the earliest of: the contract end date, the end of Swiss employment (if fixed-term), the expiry of your Swiss residence right in certain cases, or 31 December 2025. It cannot be extended, and you cannot switch to another visa category from within the UK.
Can my family come with me to the UK?
No. This route does not allow dependants. Each family member would need to qualify and apply for their own immigration permission if they wanted to enter the UK.
Do I need a UK sponsor for this visa?
No. This is a non-sponsored route, but you must have a valid pre-existing UK service contract that was signed and where work commenced before 11pm on 31 December 2020.
What if my service contract changes after I apply?
If there is a material change in the contract — such as the nature, scope, or duration of the work — you may no longer meet the visa conditions. You should seek advice before continuing with altered terms, as working under a materially different contract could breach the rules and affect future applications.
Can I work for more than one UK client under this visa?
No. Permission is granted to work only for the UK client named in your application and only for the specific pre-existing contract. Work for other UK clients is not allowed.
Does time spent in the UK under this visa count towards settlement?
No. Time spent under the Service Providers from Switzerland route does not count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain or British citizenship. This is a temporary work route only.
Conclusion
The Service Providers from Switzerland visa is a highly specific, temporary immigration route allowing Swiss nationals and Swiss-based businesses to deliver contracted services in the UK under the UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement. Critically, it is only available where the service contract was signed and work had already commenced before 11pm on 31 December 2020.
It is not a pathway to settlement, does not permit dependants, and is capped at 90 days in a calendar year, regardless of the number of visits. The visa cannot be extended or switched to another category from within the UK.
For applicants, the focus should be on evidencing both professional competence and the pre-existing nature of the contract. For Swiss employers, active monitoring of the 90-day limit across all staff is essential. UK clients, while not formal sponsors, should implement contractual and operational controls to ensure that all activity remains within the visa’s scope and conditions.
Failure to comply can lead to visa cancellation, refusal of future applications, and potential enforcement action if arrangements amount to unauthorised employment. By ensuring the contract, documentation, and working arrangements align fully with the Immigration Rules and the Services Mobility Agreement, both Swiss providers and UK clients can continue their professional cooperation without breaching UK immigration law.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement | A bilateral agreement allowing short-term provision of certain services between the UK and Switzerland, limited to contracts signed and commenced before 11pm on 31 December 2020. |
| Service Providers from Switzerland visa | A UK visa route allowing Swiss nationals and employees of Swiss-based enterprises to deliver contracted services in the UK for up to 90 days in a calendar year under the Agreement. |
| Pre-existing contract | A contract that was signed and where work had started before 11pm on 31 December 2020, forming the basis for eligibility under the route. |
| 90-day limit | The maximum number of days a visa holder can spend in the UK under this route in a single calendar year, with no option to extend or roll over unused days. |
| Right to work check | The process a UK employer must follow to verify a person’s legal permission to work in the UK, required if an arrangement amounts to employment rather than contracted services. |
Useful Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply for a Service Providers from Switzerland visa | GOV.UK – Service Providers from Switzerland visa |
| UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement overview | GOV.UK – Services Mobility Agreement |
| Immigration Rules Appendix Service Providers from Switzerland | GOV.UK – Immigration Rules |
| DavidsonMorris – Swiss Service Providers Visa | DavidsonMorris – Swiss Service Providers Visa |
