UK-Switzerland Agreement on Recognition of Professional Qualifications

On 14 June 2023 the UK and Switzerland signed the UK-Switzerland agreement on the recognition of professional qualifications (RPQ).

The UK and Switzerland are two global leaders in services trade with deep links between our economies. In 2022, Switzerland was the UK’s third largest partner for services trade, with £23.7 billion in total services trade (imports and exports).

Interim arrangements on RPQ were concluded with Switzerland ahead of EU exit. The “UK- Switzerland citizens’ rights agreement” among other things rolled over the existing (EU-based) processes for recognising, qualifications until 2024.

Given the strength of both our services economies, and the importance of the RPQ in facilitating trade, it is vital that we establish longer-term arrangements for such recognition to replace these interim arrangements when they expire. Professional services businesses and stakeholders have also made clear the value that they place on smooth and transparent processes for RPQ with Switzerland.

This agreement provides such arrangements, establishing long-term:

Easier access for UK qualified professionals who want to practise in Switzerland, requiring regulators to provide a route to recognition.

Smoother processes for assessing applications—requiring reasonable decision times, reasonable application fees, and clear and transparent guidance on requirements.

Bespoke access for the world-leading UK legal profession, an important export market adding £29 billion gross value to the economy annually.

This agreement will provide certainty for UK and Swiss professionals regarding the arrangements for recognition of their professional qualifications. It will bring tangible, long-term benefits to the UK, simplifying processes for UK professional services businesses that trade in Switzerland.

The agreement also safeguards regulators’ autonomy to set and maintain professional standards, to assess against these, and to decide who is fit to practise the profession.

Securing this agreement is an important step in establishing a new long-term trading relationship with Switzerland, alongside the UK-Swiss FTA negotiations which I launched with my Swiss counterpart last month.

The ambition is for this agreement to enter into force on 1 January 2025, following the completion of domestic processes by both parties.

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