Switzerland and EU sign landmark “Bilaterals III” accords, streamlining free-movement and cross-border business
FOCA issues guidance on passenger rights amid Middle-East flight cancellations
Switzerland halts visa processing in Tehran and urges nationals to leave Iran
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New Swiss legitimation card launched for diplomats and UN staff, valid as Schengen residence permit
From 2 March 2026 Switzerland is issuing a redesigned legitimation card to diplomats and staff of international organisations. The card now explicitly functions as a Schengen residence permit and carries enhanced security features, giving holders smoother border crossings and clearer proof of status for banks and landlords.
SWISS tightens cabin rules for musical instruments as new Zurich–Poznań route confirmed
• From 1 March 2026 SWISS will only accept musical instruments in the cabin if their total dimensions do not exceed 125 cm. • The rule aims to speed up boarding and reduce last-minute gate repacking. • It coincides with new international growth, including a direct Zurich–Poznań flight from 29 March 2026 that will benefit business travellers. • Companies should review travel policies and plan for extra costs when staff need to travel with larger instruments.
Revised Noise Abatement Ordinance enters into force, unlocking denser city construction
• Switzerland’s Noise Abatement Ordinance was modernised and took effect on 1 March 2026. • The change lets cantons approve inner-city projects if indoor noise is contained, potentially releasing thousands of apartments. • Multinationals should update relocation cost models and build relationships with developers. • FOEN will review effectiveness by 2028, leaving room for additional vehicle-noise measures.
New telecom rule obliges Swiss mobile networks to stay online during power cuts
• From 1 March 2026 Swiss mobile operators must keep 99 % of users per municipality online for at least an hour during power cuts. • Priority is given to emergency calls, public broadcasting and essential internet. • The rule improves business-travel resilience but companies should retain back-up communications for outages that exceed one hour.
‘Bilaterals III’: Switzerland and EU set to sign sweeping mobility package on 2 March 2026
• Switzerland and the EU will sign the ‘Bilaterals III’ package on 2 March 2026. • The deal modernises free movement, land and air transport rules and adds new agreements on electricity, food safety and health security. • For employers it restores long-term certainty for EU postings, simplifies cross-border trucking and strengthens crisis-management tools. • Ratification still requires Swiss parliamentary approval and could be subject to a referendum.
Graubünden starts five-month pilot publishing speed-camera sites to study foreign drivers
• Graubünden will list most speed-camera locations online during a pilot that runs 1 March–31 July 2026. • Data will be broken down by vehicle origin to see how tourists and frontaliers react. • Swiss traffic fines are enforceable abroad, so publishing sites could help firms cut mobility-related costs and legal risks. • Results will feed a report that could influence nationwide speed-enforcement strategy.
Entry/Exit System reaches final deployment phase at Swiss regional airports
• Biometric Entry/Exit System will be active at all Swiss external-border airports by 31 March 2026. • EES ends manual passport stamping and automatically tracks each traveller’s Schengen stay. • Businesses must tighten monitoring of 90/180-day limits for visa-exempt staff. • Regional travellers should expect slightly longer processing times during March.