This agreement between Switzerland and the UK covers the mutual recognition of professional qualifications and replaces the transitional arrangement that was reached when the UK left the EU, which will remain in place until 31 December 2024. The dispatch also provides for a delegation of powers to the Federal Council, which should enable the Federal Council to enter into additional agreements on the recognition of professional qualifications for most regulated professions in the future.

Encouraging the international recognition of Swiss professional qualifications is one of the stated objectives of the Federal Council's international strategy for education, research and innovation. In order to reach this objective, additional mutual recognition agreements are needed to cover qualifications awarded in countries whose education system is comparable to Switzerland's.  As the agreement with the United Kingdom is likely to be subject to a referendum, it and the associated legislative amendments will not come into force before January 2025.

At its meeting on 9 June 2023, the Federal Council authorised the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) to sign the bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom. It also decided to initiate consultation for this agreement and proposed legislative amendments. During the consultation round, which continued until 6 October 2023, there was majority support for both the agreement and proposed legislative amendments.

Botschaft(pdf, 309kb)
Message(pdf, 306kb)
Messaggio(pdf, 318kb)

Address for enquiries:

GS-EAER Communication Service,
info@gs-wbf.admin.ch
+41 58 462 20 07

Publisher:

The Federal Council
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research