Apply for a Service Providers From Switzerland Visa
If you’re working for a Swiss-based company and need to provide services in the UK under a contract signed before 31 December 2020, the Swiss Service Providers visa could be the ideal route for you. This visa enables eligible employees or self-employed Swiss nationals to undertake contract-based work in the UK for up to 90 days per calendar year.
To apply, you’ll need to complete an online application and visit a visa application centre to provide your fingerprints and photograph. Depending on your location, priority processing and additional services may be available to expedite the decision-making process.
Ready to start your application or unsure if you qualify? Speak with our team today for a free eligibility assessment at +2080162308.
If you’re working for a Swiss-based company and need to provide services in the UK under a contract signed before 31 December 2020, the Swiss Service Providers visa could be the ideal route for you. This visa enables eligible employees or self-employed Swiss nationals to undertake contract-based work in the UK for up to 90 days per calendar year.
To apply, you’ll need to complete an online application and visit a visa application centre to provide your fingerprints and photograph. Depending on your location, priority processing and additional services may be available to expedite the decision-making process.
Ready to start your application or unsure if you qualify? Speak with our team today for a free eligibility assessment at +2080162308.
What is the process for applying for a Service provider's visa from Switzerland?
If you’re employed by a company headquartered in Switzerland and your role involves delivering services under a contract in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Service Provider visa. To qualify, the agreement for the work must have been both signed and initiated before 11:00 p.m. on December 31, 2020.
Swiss nationals who are self-employed and operate their business from Switzerland can also apply under this route, provided they meet the exact contract timeline requirements.
For those who are employed, the total time your company can send staff to the UK is limited to 90 days per calendar year. This cap applies collectively to all employees and across all contracts, including weekends and public holidays. The employer has to ensure that the total number of days worked in the UK by all staff remains within this annual limit.
If you’re self-employed, you are personally responsible for ensuring that you do not exceed the 90-day work limit within a calendar year.
To qualify for this visa route, you must meet the following conditions:
- Be at least 18 years old at the time of your application.
- Be employed by a company that is based in Switzerland – this applies to individuals of any nationality.
- Or, if you are a Swiss national, you can also apply if you are self-employed and your business operates from Switzerland.
This visa pathway is specifically designed for professionals connected to Swiss-based businesses, whether you’re working as an employee or running your enterprise. The minimum age requirement ensures applicants are legally able to work under international mobility agreements.
The length of your visa will depend on your circumstances and the terms of your contract. Specifically, your visa will be valid for whichever of the following dates comes first:
- The end date of the UK-based contract that you’re coming to work on
- The end date of your employment contract with your Swiss employer (if you’re on a fixed-term agreement)
- The day before your permission to live in Switzerland expires (this applies if you’re a non-EEA citizen or a Croatian national living in Switzerland)
- Or, at the latest, 31 December 2025
Once your visa expires, you may reapply if you still need to provide services in the UK and your original work contract remains valid. However, you cannot reapply if the service contract itself has ended, even if you meet all other eligibility requirements.
This ensures that the visa is tied directly to your service contract and your legal status in Switzerland.
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No, there are no fees associated with applying for the Swiss Service Providers visa. The application is entirely free of charge.
You also don’t need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is usually required for other UK visa routes. This makes it a more affordable option for eligible applicants.
What you can do:
- Work in the UK to provide services for up to 90 days each calendar year, but only on the specific contract(s) linked to your visa
- Travel in and out of the UK multiple times during the validity of your visa
What you cannot do:
- Bring family members (dependents) with you to the UK
- Work more than 90 days in a calendar year, and possibly fewer days if another employee is also assigned to the same contract.
- Take on other jobs, be self-employed, do voluntary work, or work outside the purpose of your visa.
- Study in the UK
- Claim public funds (such as benefits or housing support)
- Access routine NHS treatment – only emergency medical care is allowed
- Get married, form a civil partnership, or give notice to do so while in the UK
- Stay in the UK long-term or treat it as your principal place of residence
- Extend your visa beyond the time given
- Switch to another visa while you’re in the UK
This visa is strictly for short-term service provision tied to specific contracts, and it does not grant wider work, study, or settlement rights in the UK.
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To confirm your identity when applying for the Swiss Service Providers visa, you must provide the following:
- If you are a Swiss national, you can submit either your passport or your national identity card.
- If you are not a Swiss national, you must provide a valid passport.
These documents are essential for verifying your nationality and eligibility under this route.
Do You Need to Prove Your Right to Work in Switzerland?
Whether or not you need to provide proof of your right to work in Switzerland depends on your nationality:
- If you are a Swiss or EEA national (excluding Croatian nationals), you do not need to provide any formal evidence of your right to work in Switzerland. However, if you do hold a Swiss residence card, you may choose to include a scanned copy with your application; this is optional.
- If you are a Croatian national, you are required to submit a scanned copy of your Swiss residence card or Swiss work permit. This is mandatory to demonstrate your legal right to work in Switzerland.
- If you are not a Swiss or EEA national, you must also provide a scanned copy of your valid Swiss residence card or work permit to prove your eligibility to work in Switzerland.
This step is essential to demonstrate that your employment or self-employment in Switzerland is lawful, a key requirement for the Swiss Service Providers visa. Ensure the scanned copies are clear and complete, displaying both the front and back of the card or permit, if applicable.
When applying for the Swiss Service Providers visa, you must provide evidence of your current employment or self-employment status, depending on your situation:
- If you are employed (whether on a permanent or fixed-term contract), you must submit a scanned copy of your employment contract. This confirms your formal relationship with the Swiss-based company that is sending you to the UK.
- If you are a Swiss national and self-employed, you need to show that you are officially registered as self-employed in Switzerland. Acceptable proof includes:
- A recent tax return
- Formal correspondence from the Swiss tax authority
- Any other official document confirming your self-employed status
- A recent tax return
- If you are not an EEA or Swiss national, you must demonstrate that you have been lawfully working in Switzerland for at least 12 months before your application. You can provide:
- Payslips covering the 12 months
- Or evidence of holding a valid Swiss residence permit for that time frame
- Payslips covering the 12 months
These documents are essential for proving your eligibility under this visa route, as they confirm your legal work status in Switzerland and your link to the contract requiring service provision in the UK. Ensure that all submitted documents are clear, up-to-date, and relevant to the requirements.
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To qualify for the Swiss Service Providers visa, your employer must be legally established in Switzerland. You can demonstrate this by submitting a scanned copy of any official correspondence between your employer and the relevant Swiss canton authorities. This helps confirm the legitimacy and location of your employer.
You must provide a scanned copy of the service contract related to your work in the UK. The contract must clearly show the date it was signed. Both printed and electronic versions are accepted, provided the document is authentic and legible.
You must prove that work under the contract had already started before the Brexit transition deadline, 11:00 PM on 31 December 2020. This usually means showing that you or a colleague travelled to the UK to begin work on the contract.
Acceptable forms of evidence include:
- Travel or accommodation receipts showing a trip to the UK for work purposes
- A Van der Elst visa or Swiss Posted Worker Certification from the last 12–36 months (if tied to the same UK contract)
- Proof that a colleague held or currently holds a Swiss Service Provider’s visa related to the same project
However, if the contract clearly states that regular travel is not required, you may not need to provide travel records.
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If your contract was signed on or before 1 March 2020, you might not need to prove travel to the UK if travel was cancelled due to COVID-19.
In such cases, you can provide:
- Evidence that you had planned travel (e.g., flight or accommodation bookings) that were cancelled
- Proof that you were able to travel, if applicable (such as used tickets or receipts)
Each case will be assessed individually, so it’s helpful to submit any relevant evidence, even if travel didn’t take place.
If the contract was signed between 2 March 2020 and 31 December 2020, you are not required to show proof of physical travel to the UK.
Instead, you can submit:
- Proof of cancelled travel or accommodation bookings
- A written agreement (including emails) stating:
- The contract was to be worked on remotely due to COVID-19, or
- The project was temporarily paused (not cancelled)
- The contract was to be worked on remotely due to COVID-19, or
All evidence will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, so make sure your documents clearly explain the context and timeline of the contract.
If you are employed by a Swiss-based company and applying for the Swiss Service Providers visa, you must submit a signed letter from your employer explaining why your presence in the UK is required for the contract.
This letter must meet the following conditions:
- It must be written by someone senior within the company, such as a senior manager, Head of Human Resources, or the most senior staff member responsible for HR.
- It can be submitted in electronic form (e.g., as a scanned PDF or email attachment).
The letter must include:
- The full name, job title, and position of the person writing the letter
- A copy of the contract for the work you are expected to carry out in the UK
- A clear explanation of why your role requires you to travel to the UK
- Confirmation that you have the necessary qualifications or experience to perform the work
- A statement that the company has not exceeded the 90-day annual limit for providing services in the UK in the current calendar year
This document plays a crucial role in demonstrating that your travel to the UK is essential and meets the requirements of this visa route. Be sure the letter is clear, complete, and written by someone authorized to speak on behalf of your employer.
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You must apply online to get a Swiss Service Provider’s visa. The application process includes providing your biometric information, which means you’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (VAC).
Keep in mind:
- Some VACs may charge additional fees for their services.
- You can get a faster decision, depending on the country you’re applying from. Check with your visa application centre to see if they offer priority or premium services.
What Happens After You Apply?
If you need to cancel or withdraw your application, you can do so by following the official online guidance for withdrawing a visa, immigration, or citizenship application.
If you realize you need to change any information after submitting your application, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as soon as possible. They can assist you in updating your details or processing a withdrawal request.
What Happens After a Decision Is Made?
If your application is approved:
- You will receive a vignette (visa sticker) in your passport, which will allow you to enter the UK.
- If you applied using your Swiss national identity card, the vignette may be issued on a separate document rather than inside a passport.
This vignette confirms your permission to enter the UK and carry out the approved work under the Swiss Service Providers route.
