Persons entering Switzerland from countries or regions on the FOPH high-risk list may be required to complete a form, produce confirmation of a negative test result, and may be required to go into quarantine, irrespective of these entry conditions. the person wishing to enter the country has an invitation from the partner living in Switzerland and the partner is a Swiss citizen or has a short-stay permit, temporary or permanent residence permit; confirmation of the existing partnership is submitted; proof can be given that at least one face-to-face visit or meeting took place in Switzerland or abroad. For persons who do not require a visa, a Swiss representation abroad my issue a certificate of entry free of charge if it is not possible for the person to enter Switzerland without this. countries outside the EU/EFTA, were lifted, as were the restrictions on stays of more than 90 days by third-country citizens who are not working, such as pensioners and persons staying in Switzerland while receiving medical treatment. Regular consideration is given to whether further changes can be made to the list in. Please therefore send your questions by email to corona@sem.admin.ch whenever possible. Yes, normal requirements apply to entry from these countries. The cantons now processed these applications for admission in accordance with the ordinary law on foreign nationals. Travelers from the UK are not permitted entry to Switzerland. The COVID-19 Ordinance regulates measures introduced to contain the coronavirus that relate to entering Switzerland at its land and air borders. The Swiss authorities have no influence over this decision, nor will they organise flights to Switzerland for persons in situations of necessity. When entering Switzerland from a third country that is not considered high-risk in order to travel on to another Schengen state, the normal requirements for entering Switzerland apply. The requirements and restrictions imposed by local authorities abroad vary according to the pandemic situation in the country concerned. Registration as a Swiss citizen living abroad, Confirmation of the posting to Switzerland, copy of the contract to carry out work in Switzerland, letter of invitation or confirmation from a sports association, A letter of invitation from the company in Switzerland with a brief and concise explanation of why your business meeting is important and cannot be rescheduled and why you need to be present in person. www.foph.admin.ch. (This document is not available in English), ______ Switzerland has also bought into the Covax scheme, which should eventually ensure a stream of vaccines for up to 20 percent of the population. Why can I no longer use a visa issued after 16 March 2020? a Swiss residence permit (L / B / C / Ci permits); • a C visa issued by Switzerland after 16 March 2020 in a valid exceptional case or in order to work on a short-term contract; • an assurance of a residence permit from a cantonal migration authority or an entry permit with a visa issued by Switzerland. The cantonal authorities process applications for the admission of foreign workers from third countries. Third-country citizens planning to come to Switzerland for these reasons must apply to the Swiss representation at their place of residence abroad. office for processing. Third-country citizens can bring their spouses or registered partners and children under the age of 18 to Switzerland. In addition, Swiss businesses were able to employ highly skilled workers from third countries if this is in the public interest or if they are urgently needed. Which country counts as the country you are entering Switzerland from? at the airport) decide whether the requirements of necessity have been met. Under the rules of family reunification, relatives of persons resident in Switzerland may move to Switzerland in order to become permanently resident here; family reunification does not simply mean coming to Switzerland to visit or spend a holiday with relatives who live here. Entry into Switzerland from a third country which is not on the SEM high-risk list for onward travel to another country outside the Schengen area is possible subject to the normal entry and transit requirements (N.B. All public and private events have been banned, including all gatherings of more than 5 people. normal requirements for entering Switzerland, Transit visa requirements: Passport and visa requirements not depending on citizenship, Cantonal immigration and labour market authorities, FNIA directives issued by SEM (Sec. If you do not hold a residence permit, or do not have your permit with you but are resident in Switzerland, or are otherwise exempted, you will need to apply for a ‘laissez passer’ from the Swiss Embassy in London. Travellers from ‘high risk countries’, including the UK, must complete an online form before entering Switzerland on arrival and provide contact details. For information on restrictions in that country and the services that are available, we would advise you to consult the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. If this is relevant to your situation, please ask the airline concerned about the conditions that they apply. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed. If you have a visa appointment scheduled, please keep checking your Visa Appointment Service account and your email account (including the junk or spam folder).This is where we will send any communication about changes to appointments if necessary. See also “Who has rights of free movement?”, In certain cases: They are simply travelling directly through Switzerland with the intention and possibility of entering another country. You can reduce the quarantine period to 7 days if you can produce a new, negative COVID-19 test result (rapid antigen test or PCR) and have approval from the local cantonal authority. practical education and training courses, and/or training on the Job); Entry by professional sportsmen and women and their coaches, etc., in order to participate in competitions or for training camps – e.g. parents, grandparents) to Switzerland. Persons exempt from the visa requirement must provide proof that they are dependent at the Swiss border. What should I do if I have had authorisation to be issued with a visa (authorisation to enter), assurance of a residence permit, or I have a visa issued by Switzerland in order to come and work, but I have been unable to make use of it because of the restrictions on travel due to corona and it has now expired? www.foph.admin.ch the place where the family members live; the Swiss representation will For information on restrictions in that country concerned and the services that are available, we would advise you to consult the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. copy of a passport containing entry and departure stamps. Make sure you meet all entry and exit conditions. Family members are defined as. The certificate of entry does not guarantee transit through another country. This proof must be produced at the border if you do not require a visa; if you do, then you must prove your situation at the Swiss foreign representation when applying for the visa. then forward the application to the responsible cantonal immigration The current visa suspension for Visa C will remain in force. 27 Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA), Clause 5.1 of the SEM Directives on Foreign Nationals, SEM directive on the implementation of the Covid-19 Ordinance 3. On 11 May, the Federal Council decided on the first easing of restrictions at the Swiss border. If there is no medical emergency, childcare by family members is not considered to be an absolute necessity and so a work permit is required. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for the Switzerland due to COVID-19. The Department of State has issued a Level 3 – Reconsider Travel Advisory advising U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Switzerland due to COVID-19. Travel outside the Schengen area is currently only possible under difficult conditions. correspondence via post or email, social media exchanges, telephone bills, air tickets, photos); d) and proof that the couple met at least once in Switzerland or abroad, e.g. Foreign school pupils and students from third countries can be admitted for education and training courses that last for more than 90 days, provided they meet the normal requirements. Entry to visit a partner to whom one is not married or in a registered partnership with and with whom one does not have children is possible if: a) the person wishing to enter the country has an invitation from the partner living in Switzerland and the partner is a Swiss citizen or has a short-stay permit, temporary or permanent residence permit; b) confirmation of the existing partnership is submitted; c) proof can be given that at least one face-to-face visit or meeting took place in Switzerland or abroad. your husband/wife, registered partner and minor children; Entry to continue essential medical treatment that began in Switzerland or abroad; Entry by the foreign spouse and foreign minor children of a Swiss citizen who wish to return to Switzerland with that Swiss citizen from their present home abroad because of the current situation, for example in the case of evacuation; Entry on essential official visits in terms of Switzerland’s international commitments; Entry by crew members of scheduled and charter flights and crew members on cargo, aerial work and air-ambulance flights, flights for maintenance checks and private flights (business and general aviation) carrying persons authorised to enter Switzerland; Entry to visit grandparents, parents, siblings, children, or grandchildren in a medical emergency. This means that, even if you have a visa to enter Switzerland, if you are travelling from a high-risk country and are not in one of exemption categories in the COVID-19 Ordinance 3, you may not be able to enter the country. A further relaxation involving Germany and Austria on 16 May allowed unmarried couples to cross the border to visit each other, and owners of second homes or persons tending allotments etc. The safety of the population is the main priority. The cantonal authorities also began processing applications for residence permits from persons taking education and training courses that last for more than 90 days. Which countries are not considered high-risk countries? They are in a situation of special necessity (see below). Since the start of the corona pandemic in the early months of 2020, the Federal Council has made a series of decisions and introduced a wide range of measures – including measures regulating entry to Switzerland. Travellers from the UK must quarantine for 10 days from arrival in Switzerland. Please note that the airlines themselves decide on the conditions on which they carry passengers. Only the following categories of people are permitted entry: Further information and a list of ‘high risk countries’ can be found on the website of the State Secretariat of Migration. All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the United States. Who is not affected by the ban on entering Switzerland? New Travel Requirements. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration office in your canton of residence. The measures put in place to address the spread of the coronavirus are subject to change, and we recommend confirming directly with Swiss authorities for the most current information. This will take place in a managed quarantine hotel if you enter England from a red list travel ban country, or enter Scotland. It may no longer be possible to use a visa issued after 16 March 2020 in a country that was removed from the SEM list of high-risk countries for a time but which again features on this list at the time of travel. residence permit. With all Schengen States no longer being considered high-risk by the SEM from 15 June, a substantial step was made towards normalising entry requirements. This list may be adapted according to changes in circumstances. If you are travelling to Switzerland, you may be required to undergo self-quarantine on arrival. Students from third countries must apply to their local Swiss representation abroad in order to enter Switzerland. Extracts from the family register or other civil status documents. Who is not affected by the ban on entry to Switzerland? Please contact the Swiss foreign representation at your place of residence for more information. It is not possible to Switzerland from a high-risk country in order to travel on to another Schengen state for a short stay of up to 90 days that does not require a residence document. Credible proof must be provided when an exception is claimed on the grounds of necessity or public interest. For further information, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH): UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Switzerland. They hold a travel document (e.g. If you have questions about the form to be completed on entry, the negative test result requirement or the quarantine requirement that applies to people arriving in or returning to Switzerland, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH):  Check our advice for all the countries you will visit or transit through. As further information is … Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel. The Swiss representation needs the approval of In such cases, travellers do not actually enter Switzerland but remain in the transit area of the airport. On 21 December 2020, in response to reports of new mutations of the coronavirus, the Federal Council imposed a ban on entry for persons travelling to Switzerland from the United Kingdom and South Africa. www.foph.admin.ch To know if a particular Visa Application Centre is closed in your city/region, please select the name of the country you intend to travel to, AND/OR the country you're applying from, in the drop down list below. Suspending the issuing of visas helped to achieve this goal. In England, you must complete a declaration form for international travel (except for travel to Ireland). Since 6 July, the group to which the visa suspension most notably no longer applies is workers from third countries who require a visa. The authorities in the country or territory you’re travelling to are responsible for setting and enforcing the rules for entry. If you fly via one or more transit airports – without leaving the international transit area – you enter Switzerland from the country in which the aircraft originally took off, not the transit countries. Assistance is available in German, French, Italian and English. In addition, the rules on the freedom of movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU became fully applicable again. If you have any questions in connection with the certification of language skills, please consult the These visas are valid for a maximum of 15 days: If you are unable to leave the Schengen area before the expiry of your Schengen visa due to a cancelled flight, please contact the relevant migration authority in your canton of residence. This includes the relatives of EU/EFTA citizens and the relatives of their spouse or registered partner; relatives in ascending line who are dependent. Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Switzerland. COVID-19 vaccination infoline: +41 58 377 88 92, 6am to 11pm. for Switzerland or an entry permit with a visa issued by Switzerland. You will require a valid passport or other travel document to enter Switzerland. Check the rules and book your COVID-19 test .