Brits planning a visit to the Swiss Alps this coming winter might find the process a little smoother. The most recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Switzerland and the United Kingdom should make visiting the Alpine nation easier for ski tourism and for seasonal workers, with the process due to be put in place in time for the winter 2026/27 season.
The deal, announced jointly by the Swiss Federal Council and UK officials, is a step to improving relations beyond the post-Brexit status quo. And for the UK snow sports community, this is a win on multiple fronts, from airport border transit and mobile connectivity, through to potential ski resort employment.
Smoother Travel: E-Gates and No Roaming Fees
The main benefits for British holidaymakers flying into Swiss hub airports are the smoothing of major pain points at airport passport controls. These include:
- Automated Passport E-Gates: British passport holders will soon be able to use automated e-gates at Swiss airports. The rollout begins at Zurich Airport before expanding to Geneva and Basel, significantly speeding up transit times for travellers heading to resorts across the Graubünden, Valais, and Bernese Oberland regions as well as the French and Austrian Alps.
- Scrapping Mobile Roaming Charges: The deal paves the way for the return of fee-free mobile roaming between the UK and Switzerland. Skiers will be able to check snow reports, navigate pistes, and stay connected without facing surprise roaming charges.
A Boost for UK Season Workers in Swiss Resorts
Since Brexit, British hospitality staff, chalet hosts, and instructors have faced a much harder process to find work legally in the Alps. But with this new and updated agreement, there have been some major shifts which should help to streamline the route to potential employment, including for seasonaires.
The updated UK/Swiss FTA includes:
- Simplified Intra-Company Transfers: UK employees can be transferred to work in Switzerland for up to five years without undergoing stringent economic needs tests.
- 90-Day Visa-Free Short-Term Work: UK service professionals can work in Switzerland visa-free for up to 90 days per year for short-term business activities.
- Season Worker Opportunities: While full implementation details are being finalised, these measures are expected to reduce friction for British bar, hotel, chalet, and mountain staff looking to secure employment in famous Swiss resorts like Zermatt, Verbier, and St. Moritz.
In short if you’re a Brit wondeing where to do a ski season, Switzerland should be back on the menu. If you are planning to take advantage of these updated rules and land a job in the mountains, check out our complete guide on how to work a ski season.
What Happens Now?
At time of writing the FTA is not fully in place and there are, as always, bureaucratic process to go through between the two countries.
But the formal signing of the modernised FTA is expected by late 2026 following standard approval procedures in both Bern and London. The automated e-gate rollout and associated travel perks are scheduled to begin phasing in ahead of upcoming winter seasons.
