In short

This Agreement between the European Community and its Member States and the Swiss Confederation aims to establish the free movement of persons between their territories. It grants rights of entry, residence, and access to work, and ensures non-discrimination based on nationality.

What it regulates

• The right of entry, residence, and access to work for employed and self-employed persons.
• The facilitation and liberalization of services, especially those of brief duration (up to 90 days of actual work per calendar year).
• The right of residence for persons not pursuing an economic activity in the host country.
• The coordination of social security systems and mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates, and other qualifications.

Who it concerns

• Nationals of the European Community Member States.
• Nationals of Switzerland.

Key points

• Nationals lawfully resident in another Contracting Party's territory shall not be subject to discrimination on grounds of nationality.
• Persons providing services have the right to do so for a period not exceeding 90 days of actual work in a calendar year.
• For five years after entry into force, Switzerland may maintain quantitative limits for residence periods of more than four months.
• From the sixth year, all quantitative limits for EU nationals shall be abolished.
• Switzerland shall reserve at least 15,000 new residence permits for one year or more, and 115,500 for more than four months and less than one year, annually for EU employed and self-employed persons during the first five years.