The Swiss Federal Council has approved the adoption of an updated EU regulation that strengthens the temporary reintroduction of visa requirements for third countries under the Schengen framework. The revised EU rules—approved on 17 November 17, 2025—lower the thresholds that can trigger the suspension of visa-free travel. A visa exemption may now be withdrawn when:
- The number of irregular residents or refused entries from a third country rises by 30% (previously 50%);
- Asylum applications from that country increase significantly and the recognition rate is below 20% (previously 3%).
The mechanism is also expanded to include new grounds for reinstating visa obligations, such as threats to public order stemming from the instrumentalization of migrants, the ending of conditions that originally justified visa exemption, and deteriorating EU relations due to human-rights violations by the third country.
In urgent cases, the European Commission will be able to reintroduce visa requirements for up to 12 months through a simplified procedure applicable across the entire Schengen Area. To align with these changes, Switzerland will amend its Ordinance on Entry and the Granting of Visas (OEV). The updated provisions will enter into force on December 17, 2025.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
