Rule change: Swiss Covid certificate no longer free for US/UK visitors
A change in Covid rules means US, UK and Indian arrivals must pay for a Covid certificate in Switzerland as of Monday.
Please note: From November 1st, Brits visiting Switzerland will be allowed to use their NHS app wherever the Covid certificate is required. Therefore, while it will still cost CHF30 for Brits (along with Americans, Indians and other visitors), they will not need to do so as they can show their NHS pass (in digital or paper form). More information is available here.
From Monday, October 11th, people coming to Switzerland from non-EU /EFTA countries — including from the US, India and the UK — will have to pay to convert their evidence of vaccination to a Swiss Covid certificate.
Visitors can expect to pay 30 francs for this service.
For those coming from EU/EFTA countries - or who have a Covid certificate/passport from one of these countries - they will not need to convert it when they arrive in Switzerland.
This is because EU/EFTA passes can be used throughout Switzerland wherever the Covid certificate is required and therefore does not need to be ‘converted’.
Swiss tourism officials and ski resort operators are concerned that non-European tourists will be put off by the financial and logistical obstacles.
“These tourists are essential for ski resorts”, according to Markus Berger, spokesperson for Switzerland Tourism.
“With the 30-franc fee, we have a hurdle that other countries don’t have”, Berger said.
While neighbouring France and Germany also require certificate conversion, this procedure is free of charge there.
“The reason why this service is free in France is obvious”, Berger said, adding that the French “set it up and made it available very quickly, offering it free of charge as an active tourism promotion measure. Unfortunately, there is no such awareness in Switzerland”.
The tourism industry is lobbying federal authorities in Bern in an effort to rescind the 30-franc rule.
Exactly where the certificate will be needed on Switzerland’s slopes remains to be seen.
Specific information on how to get Switzerland’s Covid certificate for arrivals from all countries can be found at the following link.
Canton-by-canton: How visitors can get Switzerland’s Covid certificate
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Please note: From November 1st, Brits visiting Switzerland will be allowed to use their NHS app wherever the Covid certificate is required. Therefore, while it will still cost CHF30 for Brits (along with Americans, Indians and other visitors), they will not need to do so as they can show their NHS pass (in digital or paper form). More information is available here.
From Monday, October 11th, people coming to Switzerland from non-EU /EFTA countries — including from the US, India and the UK — will have to pay to convert their evidence of vaccination to a Swiss Covid certificate.
Visitors can expect to pay 30 francs for this service.
For those coming from EU/EFTA countries - or who have a Covid certificate/passport from one of these countries - they will not need to convert it when they arrive in Switzerland.
This is because EU/EFTA passes can be used throughout Switzerland wherever the Covid certificate is required and therefore does not need to be ‘converted’.
Swiss tourism officials and ski resort operators are concerned that non-European tourists will be put off by the financial and logistical obstacles.
“These tourists are essential for ski resorts”, according to Markus Berger, spokesperson for Switzerland Tourism.
“With the 30-franc fee, we have a hurdle that other countries don’t have”, Berger said.
While neighbouring France and Germany also require certificate conversion, this procedure is free of charge there.
“The reason why this service is free in France is obvious”, Berger said, adding that the French “set it up and made it available very quickly, offering it free of charge as an active tourism promotion measure. Unfortunately, there is no such awareness in Switzerland”.
The tourism industry is lobbying federal authorities in Bern in an effort to rescind the 30-franc rule.
Exactly where the certificate will be needed on Switzerland’s slopes remains to be seen.
Specific information on how to get Switzerland’s Covid certificate for arrivals from all countries can be found at the following link.
Canton-by-canton: How visitors can get Switzerland’s Covid certificate
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