Federal Council Supports Immigration Levy – Only with High EU Immigration
A levy of at least 4000 francs per new EU worker would only apply if Switzerland invokes the safeguard clause. Revenues are to be redistributed to the population.
Not a General Entry Fee
The term "entry fee" can easily create a false impression. This is not a levy that every person from the EU would have to pay upon entering Switzerland. Instead, the instrument is to be linked to the safeguard clause for the free movement of persons.
Only when immigration reaches a certain level and Switzerland consequently invokes the safeguard clause could the levy be applied. The Federal Council has set provisional thresholds for this. Based on a retrospective calculation, these would have been exceeded a total of eight times since the introduction of the free movement of persons in 2002.
Thus, the levy would not be part of the normal immigration system. It would rather be an additional instrument for a situation where, in the Federal Council's assessment, immigration leads to significant economic or social problems.
Four Indicators Determine the Safeguard Clause
The safeguard clause is not solely linked to the number of immigrants. The Federal Council must consider activation if one of four nationwide thresholds is exceeded.
- net immigration from the EU,
- the number of new cross-border commuters,
- the increase in unemployment,
- the development of the social assistance rate.
Additionally, the Federal Council can review the safeguard clause if other indicators suggest serious economic or social problems. These include developments in the housing market or transport. Individual cantons can also request a review.
Companies Would Bear the Main Burden
For newly arriving employed persons, the levy is to be collected from employers. A minimum amount of 4000 francs per person is proposed.
For self-employed persons, the relocating individual would be liable for payment. For family members over 18 joining later, the proposal envisages a minimum amount of 2000 francs.
Thus, the levy would particularly affect companies that recruit additional workers from the EU area. Supporters hope this provides an incentive to rely more on the domestic labor potential.
Up to 350 Million Francs from New Workers Alone
The financial impact would be significant if the levy were actually applied. Based on last year's immigration figures, new working immigrants alone could generate approximately 350 million francs per year. Levies on accompanying family members would be additional.
However, the money is not simply to flow into the federal coffers. According to the proposal, the revenues are to be fully redistributed to the population. A reduction in health insurance premiums is mentioned as a possible form.
How such a reimbursement would specifically work has not yet been decided.
Why the Federal Council Adjusted its Position
The background is particularly interesting. As recently as May 2026, the Federal Council concluded in a detailed report that a general immigration levy for citizens from EU and EFTA states would be incompatible with the existing Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. It also identified possible conflicts with the European Convention on Human Rights regarding family members.
However, the now supported variant is structured differently. It is not intended as a permanent or general levy, but as a protective measure within the newly specified safeguard clause of the Switzerland–EU agreement package.
In its report, the Federal Council had already indicated that a different legal structure related to the new safeguard clause could be examined. At the beginning of September, it now recommended that Parliament adopt two corresponding demands from the Council of States.
The EU Could Take Countermeasures
Legally and politically, the project is not without risks. The safeguard clause provides for a procedure where Switzerland and the EU first consult on the application of protective measures.
If a dispute arises, an arbitration tribunal can decide. Should Switzerland activate the safeguard clause despite an unfavorable decision, the EU could take countermeasures. These could – depending on the specific case – also affect other areas of the bilateral single market. These include, among others, the free movement of persons, air transport, land transport, and technical barriers to trade.
Such countermeasures would not be entirely discretionary. They would have to be proportionate and could themselves be legally reviewed.
Economy Warns of Higher Costs
For businesses, the proposed levy is accordingly controversial. The Employers' Association warns that additional costs for foreign workers could make employment more expensive – especially in a difficult economic situation. The additional administrative burden is also criticized.
Proponents, however, argue that the levy could create a financial incentive to make greater use of available labor in Switzerland. At the same time, the population would directly benefit from the levies through the redistribution of revenues.
Whether this steering effect would actually occur is not proven, however. In its May report, the Federal Council explicitly stated that no demonstrable economic benefit could be proven for a general immigration levy.
Proposal Part of the EU Agreement Package
The new levy is closely linked to the broader relationship between Switzerland and the EU. It can only be introduced if the new agreement package between Switzerland and the EU enters into force and the safeguard clause provided therein is applied.
The idea of an immigration levy was only adopted during the parliamentary debate on the agreement package. In August, the Council of States' Committee for Political Institutions decided to supplement the protective measures with such a steering levy. The decision passed with seven votes to zero, with six abstentions.
Thus, a long-controversial demand becomes a possible component of future Swiss immigration policy towards the EU.
What Happens Next
The Council of States is next. It is to debate the EU agreement package and related changes during the autumn session. The immigration levy is only one part of the overall package.
Therefore, it is not yet certain whether the levy will actually be introduced. Even with parliamentary approval, it would not be immediately due. First, the new agreement package with the EU would have to enter into force. After that, Switzerland would have to meet the conditions for the safeguard clause and actually invoke it.
A Levy for Exceptional Cases
The political core of the proposal is thus narrower than the term "entry fee" suggests. It is not about a general fee for EU immigrants, but an additional instrument for when immigration exceeds certain thresholds and, according to the criteria of the safeguard clause, leads to serious economic or social problems.
For companies, the instrument could still have noticeable consequences: At least 4000 francs per new EU worker would be a significant additional cost factor. Simultaneously, with high immigration, several hundred million francs could be collected, which are to be redistributed to the population.
Whether this will actually result in effective control of immigration or merely a new point of conflict in relations with the EU will ultimately depend on the specific design and application of the safeguard clause.
Sources
- Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), September 7, 2026: "Federal Council supports initiative – In an emergency, Switzerland should be allowed to demand an entry fee."
- Federal Council, May 6, 2026: "Federal Council submits report on immigration levy."
- Federal Council, May 14, 2025: "Federal Council defines criteria for applying the safeguard clause."
- Council of States' Committee for Political Institutions, August 18, 2026: "Bilateral III: Immigration levy as a protective measure."
