Switzerland resets visa for nationals outside the Schengen area

With immediate effect the Swiss government approved this Wednesday a provision that suspends the current property of the Schengen visa liberalization.

The Schengen area is made up of 26 countries among which there is free movement of people, mainly from the European Union (EU), between which also features Switzerland.

This implies that Switzerland may request visas to nationals of third countries not included in the European area of free movement of persons.

The move comes to less than two weeks after the Swiss approved in a referendum an initiative that sets quotas to the entry of foreign workers, including community residents.

For its part the EU considers that the measure goes against the bilateral agreements of free movement that it maintains with Switzerland, which has opened a crisis in their relationship.