The Federal Council of Switzerland has decided to maintain its good relations with the United Kingdom, in terms of free movement, even after the latter’s departure from the EU. In the latest meeting held on March 22, the Swiss Federal Council agreed on three decisions in the field of migration, in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Among others, the council decided that UK nationals would be exempt from the visa requirement to enter Switzerland after Brexit, even for long-term stays.

According to a press release of the Swiss government, the EU is believed to exempt Britons from the requirement to get a short-stay visa to enter the Schengen Area, part of which Switzerland is. However, Switzerland has decided to take a step further and drop even long stay visas for British citizens, after getting a confirmation that Britain will do the same for Swiss citizens.

“The Federal Council has also decided to exempt UK nationals from the requirement to obtain a visa to enter Switzerland for a lengthy stay… In return, the UK has confirmed that Swiss nationals will also be exempt from the requirement to obtain a visa once the UK leaves the EU, both for short and longer stays in the UK,” the press release reads

The two other decisions taken during the meeting of the council are:

The council decided to open the consultation proceedings on the agreement on acquired rights, which has already been signed on 19 December last year.

The council adopted a revision of the Ordinance on Admission, Period of Stay and Employment (ASEO) with a separate quota for UK nationals.

Switzerland signed an agreement with the United Kingdom on December last year. This agreement sets the rights of the citizens of both countries who have acquired rights in Switzerland or in the UK under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. This agreement will come into force as soon as the UK is out of the European Union.

In another meeting on February 12, the Federal Council had agreed that the Swiss businesses should still be allowed to hire workers from the UK even in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

“As a result, UK nationals will benefit from a special quota of 3,500 permits for 2019 allowing them to enter Switzerland for work after the UK leaves the EU. The Federal Council approved the relevant revision of the Ordinance on Admission, Period of Stay and Employment (ASEO) at its meeting on 22 March. As the UK’s withdrawal has been postponed, the quotas will not apply for the time being as the provisions of the AFMP continue to apply,” the press release reads. It highlights that the quotas will apply if there is a disorderly Brexit at the end of the postponement.

Switzerland is the first Schengen country to confirm that it will still permit Britons to stay in its territory without a visa, after Brexit. Switzerland is a part of the Schengen Area but not a European Union member.