British nationals will be able to use e-gates at Swiss airports and border crossings under a new £5.2 billion trade deal. On 13 July 2026, British Trade Secretary Peter Kyle commented on the agreement and said, “This is the most significant services trade deal the UK has ever negotiated. It will bring huge benefits to British business and consumers.”
The deal is valued at £5.2 billion and aims to boost trade in services between the two countries, which accounts for over 60% of UK trade with Switzerland.
Under a separate agreement, UK passport holders will be able to use Swiss e-gates at airports and border crossings, a move expected to benefit approximately 800,000 UK visitors to Switzerland annually. Both sides aim to scrap mobile roaming fees for travellers between the UK and Switzerland.
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The 2025 UK-Swiss Trade Deal Was Worth £49 billion
The UK-Switzerland trade relationship was worth £49 billion in the 12 months ending September 2025, making Switzerland one of Britain’s significant trading partners.
“The enhanced agreement with Switzerland demonstrates the UK government’s commitment to economic growth through strengthening trade ties with our 10th biggest trading partner – a relationship worth £49 billion in the 12 months ending September 2025,” said UK gov.
Negotiations on the enhanced agreement began almost three years prior to the July 2026 conclusion, with the 10th round of talks taking place in Geneva in March 2026.
The e-gate provision follows pressure from the City of London, which urged Swiss authorities during a April 2026 visit to Bern to allow UK passport holders to use automated border controls, citing lengthy manual checks as a hindrance to financial services business.
The UK government says the deal will remove barriers to trade in services sectors including financial services, professional services and digital trade. It will facilitate business travel and tourism through faster border processing. It will strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
Switzerland remains one of the UK’s largest trading partners outside the EU, with bilateral commerce covering financial services, pharmaceuticals, machinery and tourism sectors.
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