Hi,

I'm hoping someone on this forum might be knowledgeable/kind enough to help us with the following question...

We are British citizens who have been living in Zurich since 2018. We recently moved to another canton and they have sent us a letter requesting that we all turn up to be photographed and finger-printed.

I had understood that we had acquired rights because we lived in Switzerland before Brexit. I assumed the premise was that we should not be treated any differently than we would have been treated before Brexit and/or that we should be treated no differently than EU citizens (who do not have biometric data stored on their permits).

I still don't know what type of permit they intend to issue or the proposed expiry, so I'm worried about that too.

If anyone is able to clarify the above questions, that would be much appreciated!

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home...erausweis.html

EU nationals are getting the credit card type soon as well, though without the biometric info.

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home...t_eu_efta.html

Seems the answer is that's the way it's going to be now.

"3. What must UK nationals who already have a permit for Switzerland (short-stay, residence or cross-border commuter permit) now do?
UK nationals living in Switzerland who obtain a short- or long-stay residence permit before 31 December 2020 and are therefore officially registered in a local commune do not generally need to take any action. The same applies to persons with an EU/EFTA cross-border commuter permit.

However, UK nationals with a valid permit may be informed that they need to exchange their current permit for a different one. This will not affect their existing right to remain, as long as they continue to meet the relevant residence requirements under the AFMP. If they are not informed that they need a different permit, they must simply apply for a new permit before their existing one expires, as usual. After 31 December 2020, UK nationals will be issued with a biometric residence permit marked (in German, French and Italian) “In accordance with the CH-UK agreement of 25.02.2020”."

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home...tml#-766871648

I'm a British national, had a B Permit since April 2016 and when it was renewed this year I had to go and get the biometric type. You just go in a booth, have your photo and fingerprints taken, a week later they send you the new permit. My OH had his renewed before the new CC type was introduced, the ink is rubbing off and so he wants to get the new type.