https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The European Commission is planning a revision of Schengen rules on short-stay visas to make the EU’s visa policy "more coherent, secure and effective, while facilitating legitimate travel". https://www.thelocal.ch/20260914/eu-commission-mulls-revision-of-schengen-visa-rules-and-fees Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:07:23 +0200 eu-commission-mulls-revision-of-schengen-visa-rules-and-fees The Swiss parliament is getting ready to tackle the proposed taxation of foreign nationals who settle in Switzerland. The debate is likely to be both heated and contentious, so what will happen next? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260914/your-questions-answered-whats-the-plan-for-an-immigration-tax-in-switzerland Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:26:30 +0200 your-questions-answered-whats-the-plan-for-an-immigration-tax-in-switzerland The idea of taxing foreigners who settle in Switzerland is not new, but now it is gaining momentum on the political level. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260907/swiss-immigration-tax-proposal-gets-a-boost-from-the-government Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:54:56 +0200 swiss-immigration-tax-proposal-gets-a-boost-from-the-government The number of foreign residents who leave Switzerland to return home is well above the EU average. There are many reasons for that, including no longer having a work permit. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250516/we-wanted-to-stay-why-some-foreigners-in-switzerland-have-to-leave Fri, 16 May 2025 12:22:15 +0200 we-wanted-to-stay-why-some-foreigners-in-switzerland-have-to-leave If you want to settle in Switzerland, you will have to make every effort to integrate and, in some cases, even sign an official agreement to this effect. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260226/what-is-switzerlands-integration-contract-and-do-all-foreigners-have-to-sign-it Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:58:04 +0100 what-is-switzerlands-integration-contract-and-do-all-foreigners-have-to-sign-it The Council of States' Committee on Political Institutions wants to add an immigration levy to the 'safeguard clauses' within the future package of agreements between Switzerland and the European Union. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260819/swiss-mps-want-to-introduce-new-immigration-tax-into-eu-agreement Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:15:34 +0200 swiss-mps-want-to-introduce-new-immigration-tax-into-eu-agreement Switzerland's hard-right argues more and more immigrants are arriving in the country each year, contributing to an "unsustainable" population growth. But new government figures tell a different story. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260817/what-new-numbers-reveal-about-immigration-in-switzerland-in-2026 Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:59:09 +0200 what-new-numbers-reveal-about-immigration-in-switzerland-in-2026 For many months prior to the June 14th national referendum, the initiative to cap Switzerland’s population growth by limiting the number of immigrants from the EU had been a highly controversial and divisive issue. Now a new analysis reveals why it was defeated at the ballot box. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260810/why-was-the-swiss-hard-rights-anti-immigration-bid-rejected-by-voters Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:22:35 +0200 why-was-the-swiss-hard-rights-anti-immigration-bid-rejected-by-voters Several EU countries have caused a stir when they called to shut Spain out of the EU's visa-free Schengen travel zone after the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in Morocco was overwhelmed this week by thousands of migrant arrivals. Is that possible? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260731/can-an-eu-member-state-be-kicked-out-of-schengen-zone Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:18:33 +0200 can-an-eu-member-state-be-kicked-out-of-schengen-zone Even though its bid failed at the ballot box, the hard-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) is not giving up its push to cap immigration to stop the country’s population from reaching the 10-million mark. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260728/switzerlands-populists-up-efforts-to-limit-immigration-after-vote-defeat Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:30:13 +0200 switzerlands-populists-up-efforts-to-limit-immigration-after-vote-defeat Many foreign nationals in Switzerland – either by birth or descent – don’t have the same standard of living as their Swiss-citizen counterparts, but their situation is changing for the better, a new study has revealed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260727/how-foreign-residents-in-switzerland-face-more-difficulties-than-swiss-citizens Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:38:48 +0200 how-foreign-residents-in-switzerland-face-more-difficulties-than-swiss-citizens A department head in Switzerland's Office for Migration, Integration, and Citizenship in Basel-Country has been accused of illegally denying hundreds of EU citizens the right to reside in Switzerland, in many because they had previously committed minor criminal offences. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260623/basel-immigration-officer-accused-of-wrongly-refusing-hundreds-of-permits Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:19:35 +0200 basel-immigration-officer-accused-of-wrongly-refusing-hundreds-of-permits The UN rights chief said on Saturday he deeply regretted the European Union's new migration rules, which allow much broader detention powers and the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260620/un-rights-chief-troubled-by-new-eu-migrant-return-rules Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:42:14 +0200 un-rights-chief-troubled-by-new-eu-migrant-return-rules European lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to tougher migration rules that will grant authorities much broader detention powers and allow for the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260617/eu-lawmakers-approve-return-hubs-migration-reform Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:42:53 +0200 eu-lawmakers-approve-return-hubs-migration-reform Switzerland's vote on proposed measures to restrict immigration to ensure the population does not exceed 10 million is dividing the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260612/switzerland-divided-four-perspectives-on-sundays-anti-immigration-vote Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:35:12 +0200 switzerland-divided-four-perspectives-on-sundays-anti-immigration-vote The far-right’s ‘No to 10 million’ initiative, to be voted on in Sunday's referendum, is the result of the Swiss government’s failure to prepare the country’s infrastructure for the significant population spurt, an expert has claimed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260611/a-wake-up-call-switzerland-pays-price-for-not-preparing-for-population-growth Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:40:34 +0200 a-wake-up-call-switzerland-pays-price-for-not-preparing-for-population-growth Swiss business leaders and unions are mobilising ahead of a vote Sunday on capping immigration, which has triggered fears of dire impacts on employment and trade relations with the European Union. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260609/business-unions-unite-against-swiss-immigration-cap-push Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:23:53 +0200 business-unions-unite-against-swiss-immigration-cap-push On June 14th, Swiss voters will decide whether to accept the hard-right initiative that seeks to stop population growth by limiting the number of immigrants from the EU allowed to work and live in the country. But could the ‘yes’ vote trigger a ‘preemptive’ migration surge? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260608/could-eu-nationals-rush-to-move-to-switzerland-if-population-cap-is-triggered Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:47:40 +0200 could-eu-nationals-rush-to-move-to-switzerland-if-population-cap-is-triggered A win for the ‘No to 10 million’ initiative in a referendum on June 14th would in years to come impact many aspects of life in Switzerland. But what about cross-border travel with Switzerland's neighbours? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260604/how-would-travel-to-and-from-switzerland-be-hit-if-swiss-have-to-break-ties-with-eu Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:01:18 +0200 how-would-travel-to-and-from-switzerland-be-hit-if-swiss-have-to-break-ties-with-eu The Swiss government will have to create a legal basis for establishing migrant hubs outside Europe where rejected asylum seekers would be sent. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260604/switzerland-to-take-part-in-eu-scheme-to-send-migrants-to-return-hubs Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:24 +0200 switzerland-to-take-part-in-eu-scheme-to-send-migrants-to-return-hubs