Germany extends internal checks on Swiss land border until at least 15 September 2026
EU governments give green light for signature of ‘Bilaterals III’ package with Switzerland
Airports & airlines urge EU to pause biometric Entry/Exit System before the summer rush
Latest News
What Switzerland-bound visitors need to know about the EU’s new Entry/Exit System
The Times details how the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System will replace passport stamping from 10 April 2026. First-time registration at Swiss airports will involve fingerprint and facial scans and could lengthen arrivals by several hours during the bedding-in phase. Business travellers must still respect the 90/180-day rule and should prepare extra documentation.
Swiss cantons roll out stricter ‘integration contracts’ for third-country residents
Several Swiss cantons have made ‘integration contracts’ compulsory for many newcomers from outside the EU/EFTA. The agreements bind migrants to language and civic-integration goals, with residence-permit renewals at stake. Employers of third-country nationals need to monitor compliance and budget for mandatory courses.
Countdown to 10 April: Switzerland finalises roll-out of EU Entry/Exit System biometric border checks
On 26 February Switzerland issued final guidance confirming that the EU Entry/Exit System will become compulsory at all Swiss external borders from 10 April 2026. All non-EU visitors will give fingerprints and a facial image, ending passport stamps and enforcing the 90/180-day stay rule. Companies should brief travellers on longer queues, pre-enrol frequent flyers and prepare for ETIAS on top of EES.
New Zurich Insurance survey shows 80 % of executives faced travel disruption in 2025, fuelling demand for stronger duty-of-care programmes
Zurich Insurance’s Business Travel Outlook 2026, published on 26 February, finds that 80 % of international business travellers faced a major disruption in 2025 and 43 % feel less safe than before. Employers are urged to upgrade duty-of-care, integrate real-time risk alerts and align with tightening EU and Swiss due-diligence rules.
Swiss service sector hiring climbs again, intensifying competition for foreign talent despite stable permit quotas
Keystone-SDA figures released on 26 February confirm that Swiss job growth is concentrated in services, reviving demand for foreign specialists just as 2026 permit quotas remain flat. Companies should budget for fiercer quota competition and step up documentation of labour-market tests.