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New testing requirements to enter Switzerland

Per today’s press release.

Entry into Switzerland: quarantine abolished, test requirement
strengthened At the meeting, the Federal Council also amended the
provisions for entry into Switzerland. From tomorrow, Saturday 4
December, all countries will be removed from the list of states and
regions for which quarantine is in force.

To continue to contain the spread of the Omicron variant in our
country as much as possible, the test regime for entry into
Switzerland has been tightened up. The test is now mandatory for
people who have been vaccinated or cured. In addition to having to
undergo a PCR test before entering Switzerland, a second test (PCR or
rapid antigen) must also be performed between the fourth and seventh
day after arrival. This can ensure that people who have been infected
shortly before or during the trip are identified. The costs of the
test are borne by the travelers. Non-vaccinated third-country
nationals wishing to enter the Schengen area from countries or regions
considered to be at risk are prohibited from entering Switzerland for
temporary stays without work for up to 90 days in any 180-day period,
with the exception of certain exceptions ( cases of hardship). This is
particularly true for tourism and visiting stays. The list of
countries and regions at risk is shown in Annex 1 of COVID-19
ordinance 3 and is continuously updated on the basis of the
recommendations of the European Commission for Schengen States.

https://www.admin.ch/gov/it/pagina-iniziale/documentazione/comunicati-stampa/comunicati-stampa-consiglio-federale.msg-id-86260.html

The travel check tool has not yet been updated to reflect this change.

Posted by
1613 posts

Thanks for sharing. I've passed this along to my daughter, who is booked to go to Switzerland (from Canada) on Dec 22.

Posted by
286 posts

I am so disappointed to read about these new restrictions. I am considering canceling my upcoming March trip. I would need to be tested before I leave the US, and twice in Switzerland - once after 4-7 days, and then before I leave to fly back to the US. In addition, I'd need to purchase a covid certificate. I love Switzerland, but am thinking this is more than I want to deal with. Travel to Italy last month was so easy. It is frustrating because I heard a medical expert today say they are finding the Omicron variant symptoms are not much different than getting a cold.

Posted by
973 posts

I am so disappointed to read about these new restrictions. I am considering canceling my upcoming March trip. I would need to be tested before I leave the US, and twice in Switzerland - once after 4-7 days, and then before I leave to fly back to the US. In addition, I'd need to purchase a covid certificate. I love Switzerland, but am thinking this is more than I want to deal with. Travel to Italy last month was so easy. It is frustrating because I heard a medical expert today say they are finding the Omicron variant symptoms are not much different than getting a cold.

This is something you will have to accept if you want to travel in this brave new world. Nobody can tell you want the requirement will be next March. It might be the same, a complete lockdown or more relaxed than today. And this could apply to any country you might choose.

Posted by
8 posts

You mentioned having to "Purchase a covid certificate"? Is that new? I just returned from Switzerland a month ago and you had to register as vaccinated to get a covid certificate, but there was no fee involved. We had planned to go back for Christmas but trying to consider "worst-case scenario" - does anyone know what happens if on day 7 of trip you test positive? Are you trapped in your hotel room? what if the hotel is booked and cannot accommodate? Can you rent a car and get to a different hotel, possibly in another area?

Posted by
367 posts

It's confusing for sure. Some lovely person posted the important links on the thread I started a few weeks ago, and that's where I go to. But if you google Switzerland Entry you'll find the same links.

Swiss Covid Certificate - It's 30 CHF and good for a year after the last dose of your vaccine. I applied on Friday, Nov 26 for my Dec 5 flight. I was told it took about 5 business days, so calculating that it was after business hours when my application was received, I just hoped for Swiss efficiency that I'd have it before I arrived. When I woke up Monday morning and checked my email, our certificates had arrived! Yay! So I continued to book train passes and hotels . . . and then the same day they closed entry from Canada (there's an easy test called TravelCheck). I was good in the morning, and not by the end of the day. So I cancelled everything. It took about 45 min and no problems (well, I haven't seen my Visa bill yet, but they've told me everything is cancelled so I'm sure it's fine). Then yesterday, on Twitter, Swissinfo.ch said, oh, nevermind. You just have to have a negative test. All good! So had I not cancelled, I'd be all good to travel tomorrow. Now I'm looking at rebooking everything a few days later.

BTW I'm traveling for family problems and not for fun

Posted by
2633 posts

It's 30 CHF and good for a year after the last dose of your vaccine.

NOTE: For tourists, the certificate is only valid for 30 days from issue in Switzerland only. The 365 days is for Swiss nationals and those with a residence permit in Switzerland. Scroll down to “How long is the COVID certificate valid?”

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/covid-zertifikat/covid-zertifikat-erhalt-gueltigkeit.html

Posted by
1 posts

My wife and I arrived yesterday Dec 12th to Basel. We came from Germany. On arrival we were required to register with the Swiss health department. We were sent a text by them to complete basic info.

When we arrived at the hotel we were informed we had to use the Swiss health app to show our approved status to get into indoor places of anykind. (Though you can enter places to use the toilet).

Since we both have the 3 vaccination shots, we were allowed to upload our onfo to the Swiss health authority, pay a 30 franc fee each so we could receive the Covid QR code which allows entry into all locations.

Without the 3 vaccination status you will be required to take and pay for a daily covid test. The tests are 50francs each time.

So i would only say be prepared, have your vaccination complete, fill out the forms them come enjoy yourselves.