A new deal between the UK and Switzerland should allow Brits to use E-Gates when travelling into Switzerland, restoring some of the freedom of movement British passport holders lost when the then UK government decided to also pull us out of Schengen Agreement giving Brits freedom of movement for travel in Europe after the Brexit vote.
Government officials say the new agreement should be rolled out at Zurich Airport, gateway to ski resorts including Engelberg, Davos and St Moritz, by the start of the ski season in December. Geneva, the busiest airport for skiers visiting Western Swiss and leading French resorts should follow in 2027. Swiss nationals already have access to UK e‑gates.
The new agreement is separate to the roll out of the EU’s EES system which is also eventually supposed to allow British passport holders who have gone through EES registration to begin using EU e-gates too. So far though it has just caused long queues at many airports as widely reported, with no clarity yet on when those who have completed the EES registration process, in some cases on multiple occasions, will be allowed to use e-gates.
It’s therefore currently unclear if British passport holders will be able to use e-gates again sooner in Switzerland or in EU countries, with both agreements and schemes moving forward, however the Swiss deal appears to have a clearer timetable.
The agreement with Switzerland also abolishes mobile phone roaming charges between the two countries, again bringing us back to the pre-Brexit scenario.