Please note: As of November 1st, visitors from the UK will be able to use the NHS app wherever Switzerland's Covid certificate is required, free of charge. More information is available here.
From Monday, October 11th, people coming to Switzerland from non-EU /EFTA countries — including from the United Kingdom — 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.
Arrivals from the United States, India and several other countries can also expect to pay this fee.
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’.
Also, unlike EU/EFTA arrivals, the countries of the United Kingdom are all considered high risk.
This means that only people who have been vaccinated are allowed to enter Switzerland from the United Kingdom.
Those who test negative or who have recovered from the virus recently will not be allowed to enter, unless they are Swiss citizens, residents or fit within another exception category.
More information on that is available at the following link.
UPDATE: Switzerland confirms only vaccinated Americans and Brits can enter
What does this mean for Swiss tourism?
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, including the United Kingdom, can be found at the following link.
Canton-by-canton: How visitors can get Switzerland’s Covid certificate
Comments