Norway And Finland Unites With France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Malta, And More As Switzerland Implements New Visa Suspension Procedures For Schengen Member States

Published on December 9, 2025

Norway and Finland have united with France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Malta, and other Schengen member states as Switzerland implements new visa suspension procedures to strengthen border control across Europe. The updated regulations, approved on November 17, 2025, lower the thresholds for suspending visa-free travel from third countries, allowing the European Commission to act swiftly in response to rising irregular migration, asylum claims, and human rights violations. By adopting these new rules, Switzerland and its Schengen partners ensure a coordinated and responsive approach to border security.

In a move that is expected to significantly impact visa policies across Europe, Switzerland has officially adopted new regulations that could lead to the temporary suspension of visa-free travel for third countries. This follows the European Union’s revised rules under Regulation 2018/1806, which were approved on November 17, 2025. The revised EU guidelines lower the thresholds that can trigger the suspension of visa-free travel for third-country nationals, ensuring that Schengen Area nations can swiftly react to rising security, migration, and human rights concerns.

The changes are set to enter into force on December 17, 2025, and will be implemented across all 29 Schengen Area countries, including Switzerland. This marks a major shift in the approach to migration control and cross-border travel regulations. Here’s a detailed look at how these updated rules will affect Schengen member states, including the newly amended visa regulations for Switzerland.

Understanding the Revised Visa Suspension Mechanism

The updated visa suspension mechanism under Regulation 2018/1806 significantly lowers the thresholds that could previously trigger a suspension of visa-free travel. Under the old regulation, visa exemption could only be suspended if irregular residents or refused entries from a third country rose by 50% or if asylum applications increased significantly with a recognition rate below 3%. The new regulations reduce these thresholds to a 30% increase in irregular stays or refused entries and a recognition rate below 20% for asylum applications.

Additionally, the revised regulations include new grounds for suspending visa-free travel, particularly concerning issues that threaten public order, such as the instrumentalization of migrants, and deteriorating diplomatic relations due to human rights violations by third countries. This allows the European Commission to act swiftly and impose visa requirements in the event of a crisis or an urgent need for border control.

In urgent cases, the European Commission will now have the power to reintroduce visa requirements across the entire Schengen Area for a period of up to 12 months, using a simplified procedure. This procedure will apply uniformly across all Schengen countries, including Switzerland, which has already amended its Ordinance on Entry and the Granting of Visas (OEV) to align with these new regulations.

Switzerland’s Role in the Schengen Area Visa Regulation Update

As a Schengen associate via its Association Agreement, Switzerland is bound by EU law regarding border control and visa regulations. While not an EU member, Switzerland participates in the Schengen Area and follows many of the EU’s directives in areas such as travel and immigration. With the adoption of the updated regulations, Switzerland has made amendments to its own visa procedures, ensuring that it follows the EU’s revised standards.

This change reflects Switzerland’s ongoing commitment to securing its borders and ensuring that it maintains a uniform approach to travel regulations in the Schengen Area. Switzerland will now be empowered to act swiftly alongside other Schengen nations when irregular migration or rising asylum claims trigger the suspension of visa-free access.

A Unified Approach for Schengen Area Countries

The updated EU regulation and Switzerland’s amendments apply uniformly to all Schengen Area countries. This means that, should a third country fail to meet the required thresholds for visa-free travel, the suspension will affect travelers attempting to enter any of the following Schengen member states:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

All 29 of these countries, including the 26 EU member states and three associated countries—Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland—will be affected by the revised visa suspension mechanism. This ensures that travelers from any third country facing visa suspension will be subject to the same restrictions when attempting to enter any of the Schengen countries.

What Does This Mean for Travelers?

For travelers from countries that are currently exempt from Schengen visa requirements, these changes could have a significant impact. Travelers from third countries that see an increase in irregular stays, asylum applications, or human rights violations may soon find themselves facing new visa requirements to enter the Schengen Area.

This could also have broader implications for tourism, business travel, and other forms of cross-border mobility. For example, if a country such as Turkey or Tunisia experiences a rise in asylum claims or irregular migration, its citizens may be subject to new visa requirements when traveling to any Schengen state, including Switzerland.

In the event that the European Commission enacts an urgent suspension of visa-free travel for a third country, the affected travelers will have to apply for a Schengen visa before traveling to any of the Schengen Area countries, including Switzerland. The process for obtaining a visa could involve additional documentation, processing fees, and extended waiting times.

For travelers and businesses, it is crucial to stay informed about changes to visa regulations and be aware of any updates issued by the European Commission or the Swiss government. These changes will likely be communicated through official channels, including consulates, embassies, and government websites.

The Immediate Impact of Switzerland’s Amendments

Switzerland’s role as a key member of the Schengen Area means that any visa suspension actions it takes will have far-reaching effects on travelers across Europe. By adopting these changes, Switzerland will be in a better position to respond swiftly to emerging crises in third countries. This could help to reduce irregular migration and improve the security of the Schengen Area as a whole.

The implementation of these new rules in Switzerland will allow for a more agile response to changes in migration patterns and political developments in third countries. If Switzerland sees a rise in irregular residents or asylum applications, it can more quickly respond by suspending visa-free access to travelers from the affected countries, in line with the EU’s broader strategy.

The approval of the revised visa suspension regulation by the Swiss Federal Council, alongside the new EU rules, marks a significant step toward strengthening the security and integrity of the Schengen Area. With the adoption of these new rules, Switzerland and other Schengen states will be better equipped to address rising irregular migration and shifting political landscapes, particularly in light of concerns over human rights violations and public order threats.

As the updated regulations come into effect on December 17, 2025, travelers and governments will need to stay vigilant and prepared for the potential impact of these changes. With visa requirements becoming more flexible and responsive to emerging threats, the Schengen Area will continue to be a dynamic and ever-evolving region in terms of travel and migration policy.

Norway and Finland have united with France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Malta, and other Schengen states as Switzerland enforces new visa suspension procedures. This move aligns with updated EU regulations aimed at responding quickly to rising irregular migration and security concerns.

Switzerland’s adoption of the new visa suspension rules ensures that the Schengen Area countries, including Switzerland, will remain coordinated in their approach to border control and visa-free travel, responding to the realities of global migration patterns while protecting the integrity of the region.