Parliament approves AIG amendment giving protection-status holders and foreign graduates easier access to Swiss labour market
Swiss Customs unveils 2026 ‘Smart Border Austria’ plan and Rhine Valley digital processes
Spain reinstates Schengen border checks with Italy from 8–22 October; Swiss travellers advised to reroute
Latest News
Spain reinstates Schengen border checks—Swiss business travellers transiting Iberian hubs advised to allow extra time
Spain has activated temporary Schengen border controls between 8 and 22 October, adding document checks for passengers on flights and ferries to Italy. Swiss travellers using Spanish airports should arrive earlier and carry residence permits or visas, as manual ID inspections can create bottlenecks.
Passport-stamp checks end today as Schengen Entry/Exit System reaches new milestone
From 7 October 2026 carriers bringing passengers to Switzerland and the rest of Schengen stop checking passport stamps and must instead query the EU’s Entry/Exit System. The shift, confirmed in eu-LISA guidance, promises quicker boarding but also automatic detection of overstays, requiring corporates to fine-tune travel-compliance processes.
Switzerland and India seal new Migration Cooperation & Young-Professionals Exchange deals
Published 7 October 2026, Switzerland and India concluded a Migration & Mobility Partnership and a reciprocal Young Professionals Exchange scheme during President Parmelin’s visit to New Delhi. The deals commit both governments to faster work-permit processing, clearer readmission rules and 400 trainee visas per year. Swiss employers stand to benefit from quicker access to Indian talent and a new tool for rotating junior staff.
Swiss Senate proposes fines and permit quota cuts for firms overlooking local jobseekers
On 7 October 2026 the Council of States backed a motion allowing Swiss labour offices to fine employers that hire foreigners over equally qualified local candidates and to deny them future third-country work-permit quotas. The initiative still requires approval by the National Council but signals a tightening of Switzerland’s labour-market test regime, raising compliance stakes for multinationals relying on non-EU talent.
Weekend closures on the Como–Switzerland rail corridor to disrupt cross-border commuters
RFI will close the Monte Olimpino 1 tunnel on four weekends between mid-October and late-November 2026, suspending direct rail traffic between Como and Switzerland. Diversions via a parallel tunnel will skip key Como stations, forcing commuters to transfer or use buses. Swiss employers with Italian cross-border staff should anticipate delays and higher travel costs.
Schengen update: Spain lifts temporary border checks as other EU states extend controls affecting Swiss travellers
The EU’s official register shows Spain ending its short-term border checks with Italy on 7 October 2026, but France, Italy, Germany and Austria continue or plan new controls that include land borders with Switzerland. The mixed picture means Swiss firms must keep contingency buffers for overland travel and monitor EU notifications, as Schengen’s promise of friction-free movement remains partially suspended.
Abuse Against Rail Staff Rises to Ten Incidents a Day, Says SBB
SBB revealed that rail staff now suffer about ten assaults or serious threats daily, with 718 complaints filed last year and violence spilling over to postal buses. The trend raises corporate duty-of-care concerns and could eventually affect timetable reliability if staff shortages emerge. Employers should brief travelling employees on basic de-escalation tactics and monitor future SBB safety measures.