Federal Council Orders Targeted Reinforcement of Swiss Border Controls
EU Entry/Exit System Sparks Four-Hour Queues at Geneva Airport
Bern Seeks Selective Swiss Participation in EU Migration-Solidarity Mechanism
Latest News
Switzerland Unveils First-Ever Consular Strategy for 2026-29
The Federal Council has endorsed a four-year Consular Strategy aimed at modernising visa services, digitalising citizen assistance and sharpening crisis preparedness. Businesses can expect more efficient visa issuance and upgraded travel-risk alerts from Swiss embassies.
Winter Travel Boom and Proposal for Fast-Track Citizenship Highlight Switzerland’s Appeal
Passenger numbers at Zurich Airport hit a record high on 19 December, underscoring Switzerland’s winter-tourism boom. At the same time, lawmakers are considering an easier citizenship track for foreign entrepreneurs, a move that could enhance Switzerland’s pull for globally mobile talent.
Geneva Airport Grapples with Four-Hour Queues as EU Entry/Exit System Rolls Out
Teething problems with the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System caused queues of up to four hours at Geneva Airport on 19 December, forcing officials to shut the kiosks twice. As the EES scales from 10 % to 100 % of non-EU travellers by April 2026, Swiss hubs face longer processing times that could disrupt ski traffic and high-frequency business trips. Mobility managers should revise travel-time assumptions and brief staff on biometric enrolment.
Federal Council Unveils First-Ever Consular Strategy, Promising Faster Visas and Digital Assistance for Swiss Abroad
On 19 December the Federal Council approved Switzerland’s first Consular Strategy (2026–29), setting clear goals to digitise visa processing, bolster crisis assistance and expand online services for the 800,000 Swiss living abroad. The plan aims to cut visa turnaround times by 20 % and introduce mobile e-ID and notarisation tools, delivering practical benefits for companies that rely on rapid expatriate deployments.