COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Switzerland (3 May Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Family members of citizens/residents are permitted to enter regardless of their nationality.

• Citizens and residents of non-EU/Schengen countries (with some exceptions) can only enter for essential purposes or exceptional cases, including cross-border workers, cargo, and goods traffic.

• Entry to Switzerland is allowed for nationals of the EU, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EEA Member States. Full entry requirements can be found here.

• The borders are open for travellers from the European Union (EU) and Schengen Area countries, Andorra, Holy See, Monaco, San Marino, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. The list of permitted countries for travel is regularly updated and may be found here.

• Travellers from the UK are not allowed to enter the country, except for Swiss and Liechtenstein citizens, holders of type D visa from Switzerland or Swiss residence permit and holders of “laissez-passer” issued by the Swiss representation in critical circumstances.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Transit through Switzerland to another Schengen country is not allowed for travellers from any high-risk countries unless all travel or entry requirements have been met. However, transit through Switzerland to a non-Schengen country from high-risk countries may be possible. Travellers from high-risk countries are encouraged to travel directly to their final Schengen destination without transiting Switzerland.

• Travellers must have proof of onward travel and must remain airside.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No, with exceptions

• Health screening procedures are in place at airports or other ports of entry.

Test certificate required?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Travellers arriving through the air borders will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued within the last 72 hours before arriving in Switzerland. Details can be found here. Without a negative test result, travellers are not allowed to board the aircraft.

• Travellers entering by land who have stayed in a country with an increased risk of infection within the 10 days before entering Switzerland must be able to show proof of a negative test result. The test must have been conducted no more than 72 hours before entry and must be a molecular test (PCR).

• Children below 12 years of age are not subject to the testing requirement and do not need proof of a negative test result. Information about exemptions can be found here.

• In case of long durations of travel or when the result of the PCR test is not available quickly enough, a rapid immunological test conducted less than 24 hours before travel is also permitted for the boarding check. However, the traveller will need the negative result of a PCR test carried out less than 72 hours previously at the latest for the second check that may be carried out at the Swiss border. If the traveller cannot show proof of a negative result at that point, the traveller must have a test at their own expense immediately after entering Switzerland.

• The document with the test result (in digital or print form) must indicate the last name, first name, and date of birth of the passenger tested, date and time of the test, type of test and the result.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No, with exceptions

• Currently, all passengers arriving from a high-risk country, or those who have been in a high-risk country, will be sent to quarantine for up to 10 days on arrival. The quarantine period can be shortened after seven days by taking another COVID-19 test (PCR or rapid antigen test) with a negative result. The list of high-risk countries and regions can be found here. The list of exceptions can be found here.

• Business travellers and individuals travelling for essential purposes, such as medical reasons, are not required to quarantine.

• Travellers whose point of origin was a low-risk country will not need to be quarantined if they transited through a high-risk country, as long as the layover was less than 24 hours and they stayed airside.

• Based on the above restrictions, the traveller will be required to spend between 0 and 10 days in quarantine.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• There is a contact tracing app called “SwissCovid app”.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• All travellers must send their contact information electronically when entering Switzerland, using this form. The paper version of the form can be downloaded from here.

• Travellers entering from a region on the border with Switzerland do not need to fill out the entry form. Further exceptions to the rule can be found here.

• Travellers arriving from the UK must complete an online contact tracing form before entering Switzerland.

Is vaccination required?

• No

• A COVID-19 vaccination is not required to enter Switzerland. Vaccinated passengers are not exempt from following the mandatory quarantine requirement.

Is insurance required?

• No

• Proof of insurance coverage for COVID-19 expenses is not required to enter the country.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• International and domestic flights are operating in Switzerland.

• Swiss authorities have suspended flights from South Africa and the UK, with some exceptions.

• International flights are allowed to arrive at the Zurich, Geneva, Basel airports, and other regional airports.

• Face masks are mandatory on flights and in airports for everyone 12 years of age and older.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• Borders are open.

Curfew restrictions

• Moderate

• There are no curfews in effect.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Outdoor gatherings are limited to 15 people. However, indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people. More details can be found here.

• Social distancing of up to 1.5 meters must be maintained.

• Work-from-home is recommended.

• Restrictions may vary from canton to canton.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Masks are required.

• There are no restrictions on inter-state or inter-city travel.

• Public transport and trains are operating.

• Masks are mandatory on public transportation for everyone over the age of 12.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• All shops are open.

• Markets are allowed to operate both indoors and outdoors. Trade fairs are not allowed to operate.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Hotels are open. Restaurants and bars for hotel guests are allowed to open in indoor areas.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are allowed to open outdoor seating areas, including terraces. A maximum of 4 people will be allowed to sit at a table; however, this does not apply to parents with children. A distance of 1.5 metres must be maintained between the tables, or a barrier must be installed. Seating is compulsory, and masks may only be removed during the consumption of food and drink.

• Take-away services are allowed.

• Restaurants whose indoor areas are open exclusively to professional drivers as well as professionals who work outdoors. The indoor areas of restaurants in staff canteens and canteens of compulsory schools are allowed.

• Restaurants must close between 23:00 and 06:00 (local time). Contact details of every customer must be collected.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes

• Bars are allowed to open outdoor seating areas, including terraces. A maximum of 4 people will be allowed to sit at a table. A distance of 1.5 metres must be maintained between the tables, or a barrier must be installed. Seating is compulsory, and masks may only be removed during the consumption of food and drink.

• Take-away services are allowed.

• Bars must close between 23:00 and 06:00 (local time). Contact details of every customer must be collected.

• Nightclubs and discos are closed.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Some tourist attractions are open.

• Leisure and entertainment establishments such as zoos, botanical gardens, ice skating rinks, tennis courts, football grounds, and ski areas are open.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Museums are open.

*Personal care services open? *

• Yes, with exceptions

• Services and businesses are open and operating.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Churches and religious institutions are open.

Events allowed?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Professional events and sports are allowed. Events with an audience of up to 50 people (in indoor venues) and 100 people (in outdoor venues) are allowed. More information can be found here.

• Events without an audience with more than 15 participants are prohibited, with certain exceptions which can be found here. Dance events may not be held.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Masks are mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public spaces, including public transport, airports, restaurants, busy pedestrian zones, and hotels (except for guest rooms). Masks are mandatory when a social distance of 1.5 meters cannot be kept. More information can be found here.

Other

• Primary and secondary schools are open. Face-to-face teaching is allowed at universities and in adult education. A maximum of 50 people and a capacity limitation to a third of the room is in effect, as well as mask and physical distance requirements.

• Hospitals, medical centres, and medical professionals have resumed services.

• Indoor areas of wellness facilities and pools are closed.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.