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United Kingdom → Switzerland

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
United Kingdom
To
Switzerland
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
2,040
Change since 2018
-46.7%
Share of all arrivals in Switzerland, 2023
1.14%
Inflow 20232,040OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from the United Kingdom to Switzerland

Inflows of nationals of the United Kingdom recorded by Switzerland; stock of nationals of the United Kingdom living there; and acquisitions of Switzerland's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

2,8175,633200020032006200920122015201820212023
2,8175,6332000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20003,665
20013,944
20023,083
20032,771
20042,864
20053,036
20063,398
20075,119
20085,633
20094,761
20105,465
20115,406
20124,445
20134,602
20144,210
20153,924
20163,575
20173,760
20183,827
20193,988
20204,026
20212,653
20222,007
20232,040
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—38,768—
20232,04039,9661,097
20222,00741,440946
20212,65342,375866
20204,02641,449727
20193,98840,957844
20183,82740,9911,006
20173,76041,007883
20163,57541,268665
20153,92441,073617
20144,21040,405449
20134,60239,407328
20124,44538,565396
20115,40636,351351
20105,46534,147298
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in the United Kingdom who live in Switzerland: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

24k49k19901995200020052010201520202024
24k49k19902000201020202024
Data table
199022,145
199525,566
200029,700
200535,970
201041,818
201545,248
202046,584
202448,706
Estimate, 2024
48,706
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.8%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
14
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Switzerland's consulates in the United Kingdom

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Switzerland's consulates located in the United Kingdom.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202414,46412,5541,84712.8%
202310,2689,3068908.7%
20229,2638,7744725.1%
20211,7151,675281.6%
20202,4632,343883.6%
20199,9269,4363613.6%
20188,5038,2161631.9%
201710,0749,8231631.6%
201610,29410,0491921.9%
201511,11810,8851781.6%
201410,78610,5101731.6%
201311,34010,9601491.3%
201210,92510,5903353.1%
201114,49614,2582381.6%
201014,37014,1502201.5%
200910,59410,3212732.6%

Applications by year

7,24814k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
7,24814k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200910,594
201014,370
201114,496
201210,925
201311,340
201410,786
201511,118
201610,294
201710,074
20188,503
20199,926
20202,463
20211,715
20229,263
202310,268
202414,464
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Switzerland

First residence permits issued by Switzerland to citizens of the United Kingdom (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Work1,636
  2. Family907
  3. Education346
  4. Other reasons119
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20253,008000
20243,09701,0291,039
20233,47901,1031,055
20223,52209591,016
20212,9340855885
202000729790
201900868717
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities1,636
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
37,619
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
198
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Switzerland in the United Kingdom, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyLondoneda.admin.ch
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Switzerland, 2023; the United Kingdom ranks 19.

Inflows to Switzerland, 2023
  1. Germany26,211
  2. France19,955
  3. Italy19,497
  4. Portugal12,750
  5. Spain8,964
  6. Poland7,576
  7. Romania7,520
  8. Hungary4,175
  9. Türkiye3,788
  10. China3,526
  11. India3,514
  12. Afghanistan3,466
Other destinations for people from the United Kingdom, 2023
  1. Spain18,269
  2. United States10,850
  3. Australia10,185
  4. Portugal7,365
  5. Japan6,190
  6. Germany6,055
  7. New Zealand5,847
  8. Canada4,990
  9. Ireland4,800
  10. France3,645
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more