Switzerland has voted to impose a hard cap on its population, a move that threatens the status of tens of thousands of British expatriates in the country. The referendum, passed by a narrow margin on Sunday, will limit the resident population to 10 million, a threshold that could be reached within the next decade. The measure, proposed by the populist Swiss People's Party, targets immigration from the European Union and other non-EU states, including the United Kingdom.
For the estimated 40,000 British nationals living in Switzerland, the implications are immediate and severe. Many are concentrated in Geneva, home to the European headquarters of the United Nations and a hub for international organisations. The British expat community, which grew 20% after the 2016 Brexit referendum as Londoners sought stability in a country outside the EU but with strong ties to it, now faces an uncertain future.
The vote will force the Swiss government to renegotiate its bilateral treaties with the European Union, which currently guarantee freedom of movement. Under the new law, residence permits for non-Swiss nationals will be curtailed, and family reunification restricted. British expats, already navigating post-Brexit visa rules, will now compete for a shrinking pool of permits.
“The timing could not be worse,” said a senior British diplomat in Bern, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The UK-Swiss relationship has been a model of post-Brexit cooperation. This vote undermines that.” The diplomat noted that the Swiss decision has already sparked a wave of calls to the embassy from anxious British residents.
The Swiss government has 90 days to draft implementing legislation, a process that will be closely watched in London. Downing Street declined to comment directly, but a source indicated that the UK would seek to protect the rights of British citizens in Switzerland through bilateral talks.
Critics argue the population cap is economically reckless. Switzerland relies on foreign labour for sectors from pharmaceuticals to finance. The multinational corporations headquartered in Geneva, including Procter & Gamble and the World Economic Forum, have warned that the policy will deter talent. The bill also requires employers to prioritise Swiss residents for jobs where suitable candidates can be found.
For British expats like Sarah Thornton, a lawyer who moved to Geneva three years ago with her husband and two children, the vote represents an existential threat. “We chose Switzerland because of its stability and its openness. Now that is gone,” she said. “We are looking at options to relocate back to the UK or to another country in the EU.”
The broader geopolitical context is notable. The Swiss vote reflects a growing scepticism of immigration across Europe, even in nations not part of the EU. Britain’s own Brexit decision was partly driven by similar concerns. Now, the roles are reversed: London is urging its citizens in Switzerland to stay calm, while the Swiss government grapples with the consequences of shutting its doors.
The vote also complicates the UK’s post-Brexit trade strategy. Switzerland is a key partner, with bilateral trade worth £40 billion annually. The UK Switzerland Trade Agreement, signed in 2019, was a template for other deals. That agreement is now under strain.
Swiss President Alain Berset moved to reassure international stakeholders, saying the government would implement the law “with pragmatism” and respect for existing treaties. But the text is unambiguous: “The Federal Council shall take measures to limit the number of residence permits in line with the population cap.”
As the dust settles on this referendum, the stability of Geneva’s international community hangs in the balance. For British expats, the road ahead looks increasingly narrow.
[Reporting from Geneva and London.]
