New info for those wanting to go to Switzerland

what does it say?

Feb 23, 2020 - 7:32 AM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (last update April 11, 2021)

Visit this page for tips regarding trip planning, cancellation and more: www.myswissalps.com/coronavirus.

1. Can I visit Switzerland now?

If you live in the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel or Singapore, you can enter Switzerland with a recent negative PCR test result and there's no need for quarantine. Please re-verify conditions before you travel. Keep reading for more details and the status of other countries.

My understanding is that the procedure stated by myswissalps is only for those with a Swiss passport or a residence permit.

Scroll down to Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? NO, only in cases of special necessity:
https://ch.usembassy.gov/covid-19-info/#:~:text=Currently%20the%20Swiss%20Immigration%20Office,for%20Switzerland%20have%20been%20met.

I’m hoping to go to Switzerland later this year so I’ve been trying to stay current with the info. Restaurants, bars and outdoor dinning are not currently open. Many hotels are still closed.

I’ve been checking the twitter page for André Simonazzi, the spokesman for the Swiss Gov., for announcements. I open the page in Google Chrome and am able to translate to English. I believe April 14th is when another announcement regarding possible easing of restrictions will be made. And this will most likely be for Swiss residents.

I hope I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure Switzerland is still closed for U.S. tourists.

The myswissalps article is from February. The US embassy information was updated last week.

As of today, American passport holders cannot enter Switzerland for leisure purposes.

Of course it could change tomorrow.

Frank, the update is from 4/11/21.

I asked for clarification as I do not want to share inaccurate information 😊

I've been going through the maze of Swiss gov't websites looking for clarification for awhile and gave up. As far as I could tell, they're only allowing tourists from Schengen countries and a short list of others. Most countries are allowing Americans in certain excepted categories to enter, but not tourists, and then give a list of requirements that apply to those who are legally allowed to enter. If you only look at that list, you miss the bigger restriction on tourists. And mostly the restrictions aren't based on citizenship, but on what country you're coming from. I think if conservative Switzerland were in fact open to American tourists, that would be out of step, and we'd be hearing more. I could be wrong, but this has happened before.

I waded through several sites and couldn’t make heads or tails of it. But then I started here https://ch.usembassy.gov/covid-19-info/ and moved through several pages, and it really looks like U.S. citizens can enter with a form and a negative PCR test. There was also confirmation of this on the TripAdvisor forum (not that I take their word absolutely for it but it IS confirmation someone else is reading it the same way).

I am certainly not advising it and we all know things can change almost overnight; however I do think it’s accurate.

It's confusing and I think it's being misread.

First, the site the OP is sourcing is a travel website run by a couple and not an official travel site.

I went to the Swiss Consulate in NY's website. The wording does not say U.S. citizens don't have to quarantine. It says people entering from the United States don't have to quarantine. Nowhere does it specifically say that Americans can go. They could be referring to Swiss nationals and citizens of other Schengen countries who now no longer have to quarantine when traveling to Switzerland from the United States.

https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/usa/en/home/representations/embassy-washington/consulate-nyc.html

If someone can show an "official" website that says American citizens/American passport holders can enter Switzerland, please share the link. The U.S. Embassy in Bern still says Americans can't go.

Frank II, I think you are right. I found again the list of high risk countries that require quarantine, where entry from is not permitted, and the U.S. is not on that list. And there are also the official pages that talk about requirements for entry for tourism. But there is no place that specifically indicates a U.S. passport holder can enter for tourism. But, as mbeaulieu726 says, it is positive to be moved off the high risk list somewhere - even if it just helps an EU passport holder at present.

If that article was updated in April 11, and if that is when the change took place, then it may be a few days before you see it reflected on the US Embassy site. It would be nice if it turns out to be true.

Most countries are allowing Americans in certain excepted categories
to enter, but not tourists,

Sort of an off topic statement (like I never do that), but the truth is 1 EU country, possibly a second very soon are encouraging Tourism. Another half dozen or so non EU countries are also currently encouraging tourism at best, and not discouraging entry at worst (except for the Vaccine or PCR requirement). But despite the encouragement, the conditions will not be satisfactory to many (most).

James, the change in quarantine rules took place the end of March. The bloggers just posted on the 11th.

Arrival from the US no longer requires quarantine. This is different than being allowed to enter in the first place. The US is still listed as a high-risk country, which means you are not allowed to enter as a tourist. Basically what is allowed is entry from the US for Swiss passport and residence permit holders with a negative test, and now they don't have to quarantine when they arrive.

There are, confusingly, two different "risk lists." The one put out by the Dept of Public Health (BAG) is the one that is about quarantines. Then there is a list put out by SEM (Secretariat for Migration) which deals with travel entry restrictions separate from issues of quarantine. The few "non-high risk" countries are listed here https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/sem/aktuell/entry-restrictions-to-third-countries.html - these are the only ones which allow entry without restrictions, with the caveat that there are certain regions of some of these countries which do appear in the quarantine list. Anyway, until the US is on that SEM list of non-high risk countries, entry is not allowed for tourism (unless you have a Swiss passport or residence permit).

Restaurants/bars are still closed here and most people are waiting to see tomorrow if they will announce any opening of outdoor dining, although we have not fulfilled the original criteria. I wouldn't expect any change to the tourism rules until the vaccinations are much further along and something resembling "normal life" has resumed....

Thanks, hopper, for clarifying this 😊

No problem...let's hope we all get to where we want to go eventually :) I for one can't wait to get out of Switzerland haha...but there is still quite a ways to go and a lot of patience still required!

hopper18, if you don't want to stay in Switzerland, where would you like to go?

Well, first priority would be the family and friends in the US that I haven't seen since Jan 2020...and I wouldn't mind seeing the ocean but otherwise, I'd be happy with a shorter trip to just about anywhere in Europe! Switzerland is great, but I miss getting a bit further away from "everyday life" (especially when that has been 20+ hours a day at home most days since last March!!). In a "normal" year I am used to taking full advantage of having Europe "on my doorstep" (one of the main advantages of living in Switzerland), so it has been a very different life lately...

Hopper, it's been different for most of the world! We completely understand your frustration.

I understand that frustration.

Since February 2020 on almost every single one of those days my wife and I have been in the house 24 hours. In the summer we had a very few 2 or 3 hour journeys outside, and I mowed the grass and did some very minor gardening. Occasional doctor appointments when they couldn't be done remotely. Since 2nd and now 3rd Lockdown not even that, except to the vaccination site. All food and everything else delivered to the door. No visiting or visited by friends or family despite Covid claiming my uncle - forbidden by the law.

I usually have 3 European trips a year, most including friends in Switzerland. Not last year and not this year.

So I really really understand your frustration...

Nigel,

Hopefully by late this fall or perhaps winter, you might be able to start taking a few trips to the continent. Vaccinations seem to be getting up to speed in many countries, and that should make a difference.

Or now even.

FYI--Switzerland just announced the lifting of some restrictions. Beginning April 19th, outdoor dining will open (4 people max per table), zoos, theaters, concerts, games, outdoor events with 100 max people, etc.

Source: Twitter page for André Simonazzi, the spokesman for the Swiss Gov.
https://twitter.com/BR_Sprecher

Just keep in mind, only 8% of the population has had 2 doses of vaccine (and only an additional 5% have had a first dose). No one I know under 65 even has an appointment yet.
The loosening of restrictions today comes mostly due to immense political pressure and not due to much real improvement in the situation yet. There is still a mandatory home-office order for all those who are able to work from home and it is still recommended to avoid travel during peak hours, avoid meeting too many people, etc. Haven't been to the office since March 2020 and told not to expect going back until earliest mid-July.
Not trying to be negative, just don't want people to make too much out of today's announcements as far as tourism goes.

Hopper18—I completely understand. I’ve been following the restrictions over there because they help me with my trip planning. With outdoor dining just opening next week and indoor dining still closed, that tells me not to plan any trips for the near future. I do have a trip tentatively planned for September, but of course won’t know if that will be possible until we get closer to that date. I wish I could trade places with you as you want out of Switzerland and I’m impatiently waiting to get in. 😊

Think back on how it's been this past year, things don't just change monthly or weekly or daily but hourly.

Whatever you read, assume it's only good until you're done reading it. What one hand gives, the other can take away without notice.

I personally don't think anyone should plan on crossing the pond (except countries like Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro) before Christmas.

Here's an update that's a few days old:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-international-travel-covid-19/index.html

I personally don't think anyone should plan on crossing the pond (except countries like Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro) before Christmas.

I personally have about 20 trips planned. It gives me something to do besides work and puzzles. 😊