Reader question: Do I still need to be vaccinated to visit Switzerland?
With the ever-changing rules, it is sometimes not easy to know what’s in and what’s out in regards to Covid restrictions. Here’s an overview of the situation in Switzerland right now.
Please note: the requirement to be vaccinated or show proof of recovery will be scrapped from May 2nd onwards. Click here for more information.
This question is all the more pertinent because rules that are still in place in other countries may be different from the ones in Switzerland.
And even when focusing only on Swiss requirements, the answer is not univocal.
That’s because whether or not you need to be immunised to enter Switzerland depends on where you are coming from.
European Union / EFTA versus third countries
Prior to February 17th, everyone coming into Switzerland, regardless of country of origin, had to have proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid.
After that date, however, Covid certificate and the obligation to get tested was scrapped for Swiss nationals and permanent residents returning from abroad, as well as for citizens of EU and EFTA nations.
But entry restrictions for third-country nationals remain in force unchanged.
‘Travelcheck’: This tool shows you what you need to enter Switzerland
Only fully vaccinated travellers or those who recovered from Covid within the last 270 days can come to Switzerland from outside Europe, and they must have a valid document to prove it.
The reason is because Switzerland doesn’t have its own entry rules but adheres to those in force in the Schengen area.
“As a Schengen-associated country, Switzerland therefore follows the recommendations of the EU and acts in association with the other Schengen states”, Anne Césard, a spokesperson for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) told The Local last week.
You can check current travel regulations for your country here.
A group of people that is exempted from the vaccination requirement, regardless of their countries of origin, are children up to 18 years of age.
READ MORE: Easter holidays: What to expect if you’re coming to Switzerland
Other exemptions
If you are a refugee, as is currently the case with Ukrainians fleeing their country, you can enter Switzerland without a vaccination certificate or any other pandemic-related measures.
According to recent media reports, Ukrainian refugees are less covered against Covid, as well as some other infectious diseases like measles and tuberculosis, than residents of Western European nations.
However, as the special refugee status S granted to Ukrainians by the Swiss government provides them with basic healthcare, they will be able to get immunised free of charge in Switzerland.
READ MORE: Switzerland’s special ‘S permit’ visa program: What Ukrainians need to know
Please note, a previous version of this article erroneously said entrants from the UK had an exception to the vaccine requirement. This has now been corrected.
What are The Local Switzerland’s reader questions?
As part of our service to our readers and members, we often answer questions on life in Switzerland via email when people get in touch with us.
When these have value to the greater Local Switzerland community, we put them together as an article, with ‘reader question’ in the headline.
All readers of The Local Switzerland can ask a reader question, i.e. you do not need to be a member. If you do find our reporting valuable however, then please consider signing up.
You do not need to live in Switzerland to ask a reader question, i.e. you could be coming to Switzerland for a holiday and have a specific question. However, the questions have to be related to Switzerland in some way.
We will only turn a question into a reader question article where it has value to the broader Local community and where we can answer it.
READ MORE: What are The Local Switzerland’s reader questions?
Comments
See Also
Please note: the requirement to be vaccinated or show proof of recovery will be scrapped from May 2nd onwards. Click here for more information.
This question is all the more pertinent because rules that are still in place in other countries may be different from the ones in Switzerland.
And even when focusing only on Swiss requirements, the answer is not univocal.
That’s because whether or not you need to be immunised to enter Switzerland depends on where you are coming from.
European Union / EFTA versus third countries
Prior to February 17th, everyone coming into Switzerland, regardless of country of origin, had to have proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid.
After that date, however, Covid certificate and the obligation to get tested was scrapped for Swiss nationals and permanent residents returning from abroad, as well as for citizens of EU and EFTA nations.
But entry restrictions for third-country nationals remain in force unchanged.
‘Travelcheck’: This tool shows you what you need to enter Switzerland
Only fully vaccinated travellers or those who recovered from Covid within the last 270 days can come to Switzerland from outside Europe, and they must have a valid document to prove it.
The reason is because Switzerland doesn’t have its own entry rules but adheres to those in force in the Schengen area.
“As a Schengen-associated country, Switzerland therefore follows the recommendations of the EU and acts in association with the other Schengen states”, Anne Césard, a spokesperson for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) told The Local last week.
You can check current travel regulations for your country here.
A group of people that is exempted from the vaccination requirement, regardless of their countries of origin, are children up to 18 years of age.
READ MORE: Easter holidays: What to expect if you’re coming to Switzerland
Other exemptions
If you are a refugee, as is currently the case with Ukrainians fleeing their country, you can enter Switzerland without a vaccination certificate or any other pandemic-related measures.
According to recent media reports, Ukrainian refugees are less covered against Covid, as well as some other infectious diseases like measles and tuberculosis, than residents of Western European nations.
However, as the special refugee status S granted to Ukrainians by the Swiss government provides them with basic healthcare, they will be able to get immunised free of charge in Switzerland.
READ MORE: Switzerland’s special ‘S permit’ visa program: What Ukrainians need to know
Please note, a previous version of this article erroneously said entrants from the UK had an exception to the vaccine requirement. This has now been corrected.
What are The Local Switzerland’s reader questions?
As part of our service to our readers and members, we often answer questions on life in Switzerland via email when people get in touch with us.
When these have value to the greater Local Switzerland community, we put them together as an article, with ‘reader question’ in the headline.
All readers of The Local Switzerland can ask a reader question, i.e. you do not need to be a member. If you do find our reporting valuable however, then please consider signing up.
You do not need to live in Switzerland to ask a reader question, i.e. you could be coming to Switzerland for a holiday and have a specific question. However, the questions have to be related to Switzerland in some way.
We will only turn a question into a reader question article where it has value to the broader Local community and where we can answer it.
READ MORE: What are The Local Switzerland’s reader questions?
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.