All people coming from abroad must have a certificate to prove vaccination or recovery from coronavirus within the past six months.
Those who don’t, are required to have a negative Covid test before arriving in Switzerland, and take the second one four to seven days later.
Things have gotten easier for vaccinated tourists, however.
EXPLAINED: Who can enter Switzerland right now and what are the rules?
Prior to September 20th, only vaccines approved for use in Switzerland — Pfizer/Biontech, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson — were accepted for the Covid certificate.
But from Monday, foreign visitors vaccinated abroad with a jab approved by the European Medicines Agency will be able to obtain a Swiss Covid certificate.
This includes people vaccinated with AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sinopharm.
Who can get the Swiss Covid certificate from abroad?
Basically anyone who is entering Switzerland can get the Swiss Covid certificate from abroad.
The official government advice is as follows:
"You must be resident in Switzerland, staying in Switzerland, or intend to enter Switzerland. You must also be able to provide sufficient evidence of the vaccination performed abroad and your stay in Switzerland, and be able to prove your identity."
You need the following to apply for the Covid certificate:
- Information on your nationality or on your residency status in Switzerland (e.g. copy of passport)
- Information on your country of origin Confirmation of vaccination (e.g. vaccination certificate with details of the vaccines, date of last vaccination, number of doses received, existing certificate if applicable)
- Reason for your stay in Switzerland, how long you are staying and where
- Proof of address or residence or proof of arrival in Switzerland (e.g. plane ticket, train ticket, or accommodation booking)
As reported by The Local Switzerland previously, people from outside the EU/EFTA states need to pay CHF30 for this service from October 11th onwards. More information is available here.
How can tourists do this?
Issuing Covid certificates is up to health authorities in every canton. The process is similar in each one.
You can contact your canton directly. Otherwise, the federal government has set up a portal through which you can get your Covid certificate.
The Local contacted the health office in Vaud and asked how a traveller from abroad should proceed to receive their certificate.
We were told that the visitor should request a certificate by emailing to covid.certificats@vd.ch the documentation such as a copy of the plane, train, or bus ticket to Switzerland showing the date of arrival in and departure from the country.
Official proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid, with all the pertinent dates included, must also be sent. You will also need to provide ID.
If you qualify, you will receive the certificate back by email.
Similar procedures are in place in other cantons as well.
In Geneva, the certificate can be requested by filling out this form.
Zurich also allows you to apply for the certificate online.
And this information pertains to obtaining the certificate in Basel and Valais.
You can find out the information for other cantons, as well as the procedures they have in place here.
Please note that to improve your chances of getting your certificate in time, you should apply before your visit to Switzerland, as it may take several days to process your request.
READ MORE: EXPLAINED: How do visitors get Switzerland’s Covid certificate to access bars, gyms and restaurants?
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