WORK-RELATED SETTLEMENT IN THE UK FOR WORKERS FROM SWITZERLAND

The UK offers Swiss citizens (and non-Swiss citizens) several routes to settlement through employment. These include the Skilled Worker visa, Innovator Founder visa, Scale-up visa and UK Ancestry visa.

Main Eligibility Requirements for Work-Related Settlement as a Swiss Citizen or non-Swiss Citizen from Switzerland

To qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) as a Swiss citizen (or non-Swiss citizen) under any of these categories, you must meet the following general requirements:

• Continuous Residency: You must have spent a continuous period of 5 years lawfully in the UK in a permitted category.

• Absence: You must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during the qualifying period.

• English Language: You must have sufficient knowledge of the English language (unless an exemption applies).

• Life in the UK Test: You must have passed the Life in the UK test (unless an exemption applies).

Each work-related settlement category also has specific additional eligibility criteria, which are summarised below.

Additional Information on Work-Related Settlement for Residents of Switzerland

• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): Grants Swiss nationals (and non-Swiss nationals) the right to stay in the UK without time restrictions.

• Absence from the UK: Your settled status will lapse if you are absent from the UK for more than 2 years. In such cases, you may need to apply for a Returning Resident visa to return to the UK.

• Path to Citizenship: Achieving permanent resident status is essential for qualifying for a British passport, as naturalisation requires settled status in the UK.

• Exemptions: You do not need to meet the English language requirement or pass the Life in the UK test if you are under 18 or over 65. The Home Office may waive these requirements due to mental or physical conditions or other applicable exemptions.

• Extensions: If you are unable to satisfy the English language requirement, you may extend your permission to stay in the UK to meet this requirement.

How Our UK Immigration Lawyers In Switzerland Can Help

Through the Swiss office of our UK immigration law firm, we are delighted to offer a comprehensive range of UK immigration legal services to Swiss citizens (and non-Swiss citizens) residing in Switzerland.

Our UK visa and immigration services for Swiss nationals (and non-Swiss nationals) residing in Switzerland encompass expert guidance on all UK visa routes for Swiss residents, along with a fully-managed UK visa application preparation service tailored for Swiss citizens (and non-Swiss citizens) in Switzerland.

Our UK immigration lawyers regularly advise and assist employees and skilled workers across various industries and companies of all sizes to achieve work-related settlement in the UK. We offer:

• Expert Advice: Guidance on the requirements of the Immigration Rules for residents of Switzerland.

• Independent Assessment: Evaluation of your prospects of qualifying for work-related settlement.

• Professional Assistance: Help with preparing applications for indefinite leave to enter or remain.

We are committed to being approachable and proactive, understanding and meeting our clients’ needs with a professional and friendly service. Contact our UK immigration lawyers in Switzerland for reliable advice on work-related settlement.