Switzerland will tighten its toolbox for re-imposing visa requirements on third-country nationals. In a statement on 23 January 2026 the Federal Council confirmed that it will adopt the EU’s revised visa-suspension regulation, bringing Bern into line with changes approved by Brussels last November(nerdherd.com.pk).
Under the new rules Switzerland—or any Schengen state—may ask the European Commission to suspend visa-free entry from a country if irregular arrivals or refused entries jump by 30 percent (previously 50 percent) or if asylum claims surge while the recognition rate stays below 20 percent (previously 3 percent). Additional triggers now include threats to public order created by the “instrumentalisation” of migrants, serious human-rights backsliding, or a deterioration in cooperation on readmission of overstayers.
In emergency situations the Commission will be able to re-impose visas for up to twelve months using a fast-track procedure that applies Schengen-wide. Switzerland will transpose the measures into its Ordinance on Entry and the Granting of Visas (OEV), with legal effect from 17 January 2026(nerdherd.com.pk).
![Switzerland aligns with EU and lowers thresholds for suspending visa-free travel]()
To stay ahead of these shifting requirements, travelers and mobility managers can leverage VisaHQ’s online platform, which monitors Swiss and Schengen visa policies in real time and facilitates end-to-end application processing whenever a waiver is lifted—minimizing disruption to business or personal trips. Details are available at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/
For corporate travel managers and assignment planners the immediate impact is limited—no country loses visa-free access today—but the lower activation thresholds mean that exemptions could be suspended more quickly if migration patterns change. HR teams should therefore build contingency plans for staff who rely on visa-waivers when entering Switzerland or other Schengen markets.
The decision underscores Switzerland’s commitment to harmonised border governance despite not being an EU member. It also signals a more security-driven approach to mobility policy ahead of the launch of the Schengen Entry/Exit System and ETIAS authorisation scheme later in 2026.
Under the new rules Switzerland—or any Schengen state—may ask the European Commission to suspend visa-free entry from a country if irregular arrivals or refused entries jump by 30 percent (previously 50 percent) or if asylum claims surge while the recognition rate stays below 20 percent (previously 3 percent). Additional triggers now include threats to public order created by the “instrumentalisation” of migrants, serious human-rights backsliding, or a deterioration in cooperation on readmission of overstayers.
In emergency situations the Commission will be able to re-impose visas for up to twelve months using a fast-track procedure that applies Schengen-wide. Switzerland will transpose the measures into its Ordinance on Entry and the Granting of Visas (OEV), with legal effect from 17 January 2026(nerdherd.com.pk).
To stay ahead of these shifting requirements, travelers and mobility managers can leverage VisaHQ’s online platform, which monitors Swiss and Schengen visa policies in real time and facilitates end-to-end application processing whenever a waiver is lifted—minimizing disruption to business or personal trips. Details are available at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/
For corporate travel managers and assignment planners the immediate impact is limited—no country loses visa-free access today—but the lower activation thresholds mean that exemptions could be suspended more quickly if migration patterns change. HR teams should therefore build contingency plans for staff who rely on visa-waivers when entering Switzerland or other Schengen markets.
The decision underscores Switzerland’s commitment to harmonised border governance despite not being an EU member. It also signals a more security-driven approach to mobility policy ahead of the launch of the Schengen Entry/Exit System and ETIAS authorisation scheme later in 2026.
