Corona: Questions and answers on entry and stay in Switzerland, the exceptions and suspension of visas
To see what rules apply to your own particular situation when entering Switzerland, consult the online Travelcheck.
If you still have questions, please read our FAQs carefully. Afterwards, you are still welcome to contact us by email. You can make our job easier by providing the following details: your nationality, your vaccination status, the country where you are starting your journey and the country that you will entering Switzerland from, and the reason why you are planning to enter or stay in Switzerland.
The State Secretariat for Migration SEM can only give you information about entering Switzerland. The rules on entering other countries are a matter for the authorities in those countries.
If you have questions about health-related measures that apply to people entering Switzerland (tests, quarantine, etc.), please contact the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Direct links to:
- High-risk countries
- Entering Switzerland
- Travelling through Switzerland
- Freedom of movement
- Situations of special necessity
- Health-related measures at the border / Quarantine
- Information for international travellers
- Visa regulations
- Rules for UK citizens (Brexit)
- Entering Switzerland to work or study
- Family reunification and preparing for weddings
- General questions
High-risk countries
Which countries and regions are considered to be high-risk? (SEM high-risk list)
All countries and regions except those listed here are currently considered high-risk countries and regions. This list is regularly reviewed and updated.
The normal entry requirements apply to any persons entering Switzerland directly from the following countries or regions. They are no longer considered as high-risk countries:
Schengen States:
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Sweden
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
EU and smaller European countries and third countries and regions:
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Canada
Croatia
Cyprus
Hong Kong
Ireland
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kosovo
Lebanon
Macao
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
New Zealand
North Macedonia
Qatar
Rwanda
Romania
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Singapore
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Ukraine (from 2 August 2021)
United States of America
Vatican / Holy See
All other countries are still considered high risk and are on the list of high-risk countries and regions in the COVID-19 Ordinance 3. Entry restrictions continue to apply to persons entering Switzerland from these countries.
Entering Switzerland
Who is not permitted to enter Switzerland?
Foreign nationals without proof of a recognised vaccination (see question "How can I prove that I am vaccinated?") seeking to travel to Switzerland from a SEM high-risk country for a stay here of up to three months without a visa and who do not meet any of the requirements under "Who is permitted to enter Switzerland?" are not permitted to enter Switzerland. These persons include:
- Persons who wish to obtain services in Switzerland;
- Tourists, visitors and participants in events;
- Persons who wish to come to Switzerland for medical treatment that has not yet begun or that is not regarded as urgently required;
- Persons seeking employment or who have been invited for a job interview in Switzerland;
- Persons who wish to submit an application for a residence permit.
Who can enter Switzerland?
Even if you are arriving from a high-risk country, you can still enter Switzerland if you meet at least one of the following requirements:
- You have Swiss citizenship.
- You hold a travel document (e.g. a passport or identity card) and:
- • a Swiss residence permit (L / B / C / Ci permit);
- • a cross-border permit (G permit),
- • an FDFA legitimation card;
- • a D visa issued by Switzerland;
- • a C visa issued by Switzerland after 16 March 2020 in a valid exceptional case or in order to work on a short-term contract;
- • an assurance of a residence permit
- • confirmation of notification for the cross-border provision of services up to 90 days in any calendar year (e.g. UK nationals).
- You hold a refugee’s or stateless person’s travel document issued by Switzerland, a passport for foreign nationals issued by Switzerland, a valid residence or permanent residence permit or an F-Permit.
- You have rights of free movement. If you require a visa, a valid Schengen C-visa, a valid D-visa or a valid Schengen residence permit are sufficient. (See “Who has rights of free movement?”)
- You are in a situation of special necessity (see below). The border control authority will assess the necessity of the situation.
- You can prove that they have been vaccinated with a recognised vaccine (see "How can I prove that I am vaccinated?").
- You are under 18 and are travelling with an adult who has been fully vaccinated.
- You are simply travelling directly through Switzerland with the intention and possibility of entering another country. (see ‘Travelling through Switzerland’)
You must be able to prove that you meet the abovementioned requirements. Suitable documentary proof must be produced at the border or when you apply for a visa.
Please note that the airlines themselves decide on the conditions on which they carry passengers. If this is relevant to your situation, please ask the airline concerned about the conditions that they apply.
How can I prove that I am vaccinated?
You will regarded as vaccinated if you have been vaccinated with a vaccine that:
- is authorised in Switzerland and has been administered in full in accordance with the FOPH recommendations;
- has been authorised by the European Medicines Agency for the European Union and has been administered in full in accordance with the requirements or recommendations of the country in which the vaccination was administered; or
- has been authorised under the WHO Emergency Use Listing and has been administered in full in accordance with the requirements or recommendations of the country in which the vaccination was administered.
For more information on the authorised vaccines, please see:
The vaccine must have been administered in full within the past 12 months. Proof of vaccination may take the form of a COVID-19 certificate. If the certificate has not yet been introduced, vaccination must be proven by another suitable document. This must contain the following information
- Surname, first name(s)
- Date of birth
- Date of vaccination,
- Vaccine used
Please note:
Persons under the age of 18 who have not been vaccinated because of their age and who are travelling with an adult who has been fully vaccinated are permitted to enter Switzerland.
Which country counts as the country you are entering Switzerland from?
The country you are entering from is generally the country from which you have just arrived. If travelling by air on a direct flight, you enter Switzerland from the country in which the aircraft took off.
If you fly via one or more transit airports – without leaving the international transit area – you enter Switzerland from the country in which the aircraft originally took off, not from the transit country or countries.
This means that if you begin your journey in a high-risk country and travel in transit via an airport in a non-high-risk country, you are travelling from a high-risk country.
Conversely, if you begin your journey in a non-high-risk country and travel in transit via an airport in a high-risk country, you are travelling from a non-high-risk country – provided you do not leave the airport’s international transit area.
In both scenarios, it does not matter how long you spend in the airport’s international transit area.
No specific information can be given about airport hotels, as these are sometimes within and sometimes outside the transit area.
Can you leave Switzerland and then re-enter?
For information on entry restrictions imposed by foreign countries, please contact the authorities in the foreign country concerned. Switzerland will not stop anyone from leaving the country. Anyone then wishing to re-enter Switzerland from abroad must be able to present one of the following documents:
- For Swiss citizens: a Swiss ID card or passport
- For citizens of other countries: one of the documents mentioned above under the question ‘Who can enter Switzerland?’
Persons arriving in or returning to Switzerland from countries or regions on the FOPH list of high-risk countries may be required to complete a form, produce confirmation of a negative test result and/or may be required to go into quarantine. For further information, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health:
www.bag.admin.ch
Anyone who evades quarantine commits an offence under the Epidemics Act and may be fined up to CHF 10,000.
Travelling through Switzerland
Is it still be possible to travel through Switzerland?
The following rules apply to travelling through Switzerland to another country:
Transit from a Schengen state to other Schengen state
Entry from a Schengen state for the purpose of travelling on to another Schengen state is possible for anyone who is lawfully present in the Schengen area.
Transit from a Schengen state to a third country
Entry from a Schengen state for the purpose of travelling on to a state outside the Schengen area is possible for anyone who is lawfully present in the Schengen area.
Transit from a third country considered by the SEM to be high-risk to a Schengen state
Third-country citizens holding a residence document or a visa type D for their destination country in the Schengen area are permitted to travel through Switzerland to that country.
The normal requirements for entering Switzerland apply.
It is only possible to enter Switzerland from a high-risk country in order to travel on to another Schengen state for a short stay of up to 90 days if you can prove that you have been vaccinated (see “How can I prove that I am vaccinated?”). Persons under 18 may enter Switzerland if they are travelling with an adult who has been vaccinated.
Otherwise the normal requirements for entering Switzerland apply.
If you have not been vaccinated, but your destination country in the Schengen area has authorised your entry for a short stay of up to 90 days, you may only enter the Schengen area by travelling directly to your destination country (i.e. you may not travel though Switzerland).
Transit from a third country not considered by the SEM to be high-risk to a Schengen state
When entering Switzerland from a third country that is not considered high-risk in order to travel on to another Schengen state, the normal requirements for entering Switzerland apply.
Transit from a third country considered by the SEM to be high-risk to another third country
It is not possible to enter Switzerland from a third country that is considered high-risk in order to travel on to another country outside the Schengen area, unless transiting through Zurich or Geneva airport. Travellers should check whether they require a transit visa. In such cases, travellers do not actually enter Switzerland but remain in the transit area of the airport.
Transit visa requirements: Passport and visa requirements not depending on citizenship (PDF, 337 kB, 18.03.2021)
Transit from a third country not considered by the SEM to be high-risk to another third country
Entry into Switzerland from a third country which is not on the SEM high-risk list for onward travel to another country outside the Schengen area is possible subject to the normal entry and transit requirements (N.B. a transit visa may be required).
Delayed onward journey when in transit
If you are unable to board your flight and are stuck in the international transit area of an airport, contact the local border control authorities directly.
If you are subject to visa requirements and have to leave the international transit zone until you are able to continue your onward flight, or if you are unable to fly home and are forced to travel by land, a Schengen visa may be issued at the border on the following special terms. These visas are valid for a maximum of 15 days:
- Travel documents valid for less than three months are accepted.
- No travel health insurance is required.
- Nationals subject to the Schengen consultation requirement are issued a visa with limited validity for Switzerland (limited validity C-Visa);
- The visa is issued free of charge.
Freedom of movement
Who has rights of free movement?
EU/EFTA citizens and their family members, irrespective of their nationality, have rights of free movement. Family members are defined as
- spouses or registered partners of an EU/EFTA citizen;
- relatives in descending line who are under the age of 21 years or who are dependent. This includes the relatives of EU/EFTA citizens and the relatives of their spouse or registered partner;
- relatives in ascending line who are dependent. This includes the relatives of EU/EFTA citizens and the relatives of their spouse or registered partner;
- in the case of EU/EFTA citizens living as students in Switzerland: spouses or registered partners and their dependent children.
For relatives in descending line aged 21 and over and relatives in ascending line, i.e. parents or grandparents, proof must be provided that they receive support from family members in Switzerland.
The term “dependent” means the following:
Even before entering Switzerland, as well as during the stay in Switzerland, a substantial part of the person’s maintenance requirements is covered by the relatives in Switzerland. Financial support for food and accommodation in Switzerland alone is not sufficient.
Persons subject to visa requirements must provide proof that they are dependent to the responsible Swiss representation abroad as part of the visa procedure.
Persons exempt from the visa requirement must provide proof that they are dependent at the Swiss border. In justified cases, they may also be issued a certificate of entry by the relevant Swiss diplomatic mission abroad.
Third-country nationals also have rights of free movement if they are posted to work in Switzerland for no more than 90 days by an employer based in the EU/EFTA, provided they have previously been living and working legally in an EU/EFTA member state for at least one year.
Third-country nationals who have rights of free movement may still require a visa. Please contact the Swiss foreign representation at your place of residence for more information.
Situations of special necessity
What constitutes a case of special necessity?
In cases of special necessity, it is possible to enter Switzerland from a country on the SEM high-risk list
Persons who require a visa must apply for one at the Swiss foreign representation where they live, and provide a credible explanation of why they are a case of special necessity. In certain cases, the foreign representation may be able to provide documents confirming the situation. In situations of special necessity, proof of recognised vaccination is not required.
For persons who do not require a visa, the border control officers at the Schengen external border (i.e. at the airport) decide whether the requirements of necessity have been met. In situations of special necessity, proof of recognised vaccination is not required.
Credible proof must be provided when an exception is claimed on the grounds of necessity or public interest. The following documents in particular may be presented to the border control officers or to a Swiss representation abroad as proof:
- Certificate of residence (Wohnsitzbescheinigung)
- Medical certificate
- Death notice
- Extracts from the family register or other civil status documents,
- For partners in a relationship:
- a) a written invitation from the person resident in Switzerland, including a copy of their Swiss passport or residence permit;
- b) confirmation of the partnership signed by both partners, in the form of a letter or scanned document;
- c) documents showing that the partnership has existed for some time (e.g. correspondence via post or email, social media exchanges, telephone bills, air tickets, photos);
- d) proof that the couple have met at least once in Switzerland or abroad, e.g. a copy of a passport containing entry and departure stamps.
- Court summons
- Court decrees
- Business documents
- Registration as a Swiss citizen living abroad
- Confirmation of a posting to Switzerland, copy of the contract to carry out work in Switzerland, letter of invitation or confirmation from a sports association
- A letter of invitation from the company in Switzerland with a brief and concise explanation of why your business meeting is important and cannot be rescheduled and why you need to be present in person
For persons who do not require a visa, the border control authority at the Schengen external border decides whether the requirements of necessity have been met. A preliminary decision by SEM is not required. Where a visa is required, the decision is made by the Swiss representation abroad.
If you are in possession of a certificate from a Swiss representation abroad regarding a case of special necessity (certificate of entry) or if you have a visa, entry is generally granted provided that the normal entry requirements are also met when crossing the border.
Please note:
When arriving on a flight to Switzerland, you should take note of the following:
- If you can produce written proof that your case is one of special necessity, you will be permitted to enter Switzerland provided the normal entry requirements are met.
- The airlines themselves decide which passengers they are prepared to carry and on what conditions. The Swiss authorities have no influence over this decision, nor will they organise flights to Switzerland for persons in situations of special necessity.
- For persons who do not require a visa, a Swiss representation abroad can issue a certificate of entry free of charge if it is not possible for the person to enter Switzerland without this.
- The requirements and restrictions imposed by local authorities abroad vary according to the pandemic situation in the country concerned. You may have to wait a long time for an appointment. For information on restrictions in that country and the services that are available, please refer to the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. In an emergency, please contact the Swiss foreign representation in the place where you live.Swiss representations abroad
If you are travelling to Switzerland, you are recommended to take a direct flight. The certificate of entry does not guarantee transit through another country. Each country has its own entry and transit requirements.
You will find examples of situations of special necessity below (“Visiting family”, “Work situations” and “Other cases of special necessity”)
Visiting family and partners
The decision on whether there is a genuine case of special necessity is made by the border control authority responsible (see “What constitutes a case of special necessity?”).
The following examples constitute cases of special necessity in which you will be permitted to visit family members and partners:
- Entry to visit immediate family members (i.e. husband/wife, registered partner and minor children) who are living in Switzerland;
- Entry in order to exercise legal rights of access to your children; this also covers the entry of your child and its accompanying person into Switzerland;
- Entry to visit grandparents, parents, siblings, children, or grandchildren who live in Switzerland if there is an important family reason for doing so (birth, wedding, serious illness). This also includes the immediate family of the person entitled to enter (i.e. husband/wife, registered partner and minor children), provided the family all enter Switzerland together.
- Entry by the immediate family members of a Swiss citizen registered with a Swiss foreign representation who are entering Switzerland with that Swiss citizen for a stay here that does not require authorisation. Immediate family means the Swiss citizen’s spouse or registered partner and minor children (including step-children). In certain circumstances it also includes unmarried partners;
- Unmarried couples with common children under the age of 18 are permitted to enter Switzerland for the purpose of a visit. Proof of the family circumstances must be provided at the border in the form of birth or family register certificates or other civil status documents. Persons who do not require a visa must provide credible evidence at the border, while those who do require a visa must provide evidence to the Swiss representation at their place of residence.
It is permitted to enter Switzerland to visit someone with whom you have a close romantic relationship even if you are not married or in a registered partnership or do not have any common children, provided:- • you have been invited by your partner, who must be a Swiss citizen or must hold a short-stay, residence or permanent residence permit;
- • confirmation of the existence of the relationship is provided;
- • and proof is provided of at least one personal physical visit or meeting between the persons concerned in Switzerland or abroad.
The fact that you have simply made friends with someone while on holiday will not entitle you to visit that person in Switzerland. The relationship must already have lasted for a certain time and must be regularly maintained. The people concerned must be able to show that they have been in contact regularly.
The relationship can be confirmed in the following ways:
- written invitation from the person resident in Switzerland, including a copy of their Swiss passport or residence permit;
- confirmation of the partnership signed by both partners, in the form of a letter or scanned document;
- documents documenting that the partnership has existed for some time (e.g. correspondence via post or email, social media exchanges, telephone bills, air tickets, photos);
- proof that the couple met at least once in Switzerland or abroad, e.g. copy of a passport containing entry and departure stamps.
Applications for permission made by cohabiting partners of Swiss nationals or foreign nationals with a residence or permanent residence permit are processed by the cantonal migration authorities. This also applies to applications for permission to enter Switzerland for the purpose of preparing for marriage or the certification of a registered partnership.
Work situations
The decision on whether there is a genuine case of special necessity is made by the border control authority responsible (see “What constitutes a case of special necessity?”).
In the following cases of special necessity, the ban on entry may be waived.
- Entry by crew members of scheduled and charter flights and crew members on cargo, aerial work and air-ambulance flights, flights for maintenance checks and private flights (business and general aviation) carrying persons authorised to enter Switzerland;
- Entry for business appointments that cannot be postponed or meetings that require personal presence; for example, to negotiate or sign a contract, business-related inspections, practical training courses or essential assignments;
- Entry by foreign nationals from third countries (including the United Kingdom from 1 January 2021) to provide a cross-border service for up to eight days in any calendar year or to work temporarily in Switzerland on behalf of a foreign employer from a third country, provided their personal presence is required (e.g. for practical education and training);
- Entry by professional sportsmen and women and their coaches, etc., in order to participate in competitions or for training camps – e.g. to play in qualification matches in football or international tennis tournaments;
Other cases of special necessity
The decision on whether there is a genuine case of special necessity is made by the border control authority responsible (see “What constitutes a case of special necessity?”).
In the following cases of special necessity, the ban on entry may be waived.
- Entry because a close family member in Switzerland has died or is dying; in particular a spouse, life partner, parent, brother or sister, child, grandchild, or sister- or brother-in-law). You may be accompanied by close family members, i.e. your husband/wife, registered partner and minor children;
- Entry to visit grandparents, parents, siblings, children, or grandchildren in a medical emergency. If there is no medical emergency, childcare by family members is not considered to be an absolute necessity and so a work permit is required. The usual admission requirements apply.
- Entry on essential official visits in terms of Switzerland’s international commitments;
- Entry to continue essential medical treatment that began in Switzerland or abroad;
- Entry for court appearances that require personal presence.
- Entry to accompany persons entering or leaving Switzerland where their entry is permitted under Art. 4 COVID-19 Ordinance 3 and the persons concerned require special support, e.g. children, elderly people, disabled people, sick people;
SEM/FOPH TravelCheck
Here you can find out about the conditions that apply for entering Switzerland. Click your way through the questions:
TravelCheck
Do I have to go into quarantine on arrival?
Persons arriving in or returning to Switzerland from certain countries or regions may be required to go into quarantine or to undergo other health-related measures at the border. For further information, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health:
www.bag.admin.ch
Helpline: +41 58 464 44 88 (6-23 h).
Anyone who evades quarantine commits an offence under the Epidemics Act and may be fined up to CHF 10,000.
You must also comply with the government’s hygiene and social distancing rules:
Recommendations for travellers
Travelling from Switzerland
If you are unable to leave the Schengen area before the expiry of your Schengen visa due to a cancelled flight, please contact the relevant migration authority in your canton of residence.
You will find the address here:
Cantonal immigration and labour market authorities
General advice on air travel
Please note that the airlines themselves decide on the conditions on which they carry passengers. The Swiss authorities have no influence over their decision. We therefore recommend that you ask the airline concerned about the conditions that they apply before booking your flight.
Visa regulations
Why can I no longer use a visa issued after 16 March 2020?
It may no longer be possible to use a visa issued after 16 March 2020 in a country that was removed from the SEM list of high-risk countries for a time but which again features on this list at the time of travel.
In this case, please note the following:
- Even you have been issued a visa, this does not give you any absolute right to cross a Schengen external border, as under the Schengen Border Code the entry requirements must be met at the time of entry and must therefore be reassessed at that time.
- Before travelling, all visa-holders are required to find out about the entry requirements that apply at the time they intend to travel.
This means that even if you have a visa to enter Switzerland, if you are travelling from a high-risk country and are not in one of exemption categories in the COVID-19 Ordinance 3, you may not be able to enter the country.
Why has Switzerland stopped issuing visas?
The Federal Council decided at the onset of the pandemic in early 2020 that all non-essential travel had to be stopped to reduce the spread of the virus. Suspending the issuing of visas helped to achieve this goal. With the gradual lifting of restrictions on entry in line with the EU recommendations on individual third countries, Switzerland is also starting to issue visas again.
Who is still affected by the visa suspension?
The visa suspension still applies to foreign nationals who want to travel to Switzerland from a high-risk country for a stay here, without working, that would normally not require a permit if they do not have rights of free movement or proof of vaccination or if they do not qualify for an exception under the COVID-19 Ordinance 3.
The group to which the visa suspension most notably no longer applies is workers from third countries who require a visa. These persons can now apply for a visa again. In order to be issued with a visa, they require a work permit and an entry permit.
The visa procedure is available for the purpose of family reunification for family members of persons with rights of free movement, of persons holding a permanent residence, residence or short stay permit, and of persons who have been temporarily admitted under the law on foreign nationals. The normal procedure applies, i.e. applications should be submitted to the competent foreign representation and will be processed by the representation (in the case of stays of up to 90 days) or by the cantonal immigration office (stays over 90 days or work permits).
Furthermore, exceptions may be made in the case of applications for short-term stays. If you wish to apply for a visa, you should contact your local Swiss consulate or representation.
Swiss representations abroad
Please note:
The requirements and restrictions imposed by local authorities abroad vary according to the pandemic situation in the country concerned. You may have to wait a long time for an appointment. For information on restrictions in that country and the services that are available, please refer to the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. In an emergency, please contact the Swiss foreign representation in the place where you live.
Rules for UK citizens (Brexit)
What rules apply to UK citizens from 1 January 2021?
From 1 January 2021, UK citizens who have not already acquired rights under the Agreement on Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) will no longer be treated in the same way as people who have such rights.
Only those UK citizens who have acquired rights of residence in Switzerland or rights as cross-border commuters under the AFMP by 31 December 2020 continue to have rights of free movement after 1 January 2021 (See “Who has rights of free movement?”).
Proof that rights have been acquired under the AFMP is provided by holding a residence or cross-border commuter permit. Persons with acquired rights who do not hold a residence or cross-border commuter permit can prove their status acquired before 1 January 2021 with suitable documents. For example by providing confirmation of registration with a commune of residence in Switzerland or confirmation that an application for a residence permit has been submitted.
Service providers from the UK can continue to use the online notification procedure in order to provide services in Switzerland for up to 90 days in any calendar year. You will find further information in the Brexit FAQs for UK service providers. Since 1 January 2021, they have required confirmation of notification under the online notification procedure in order to enter Switzerland.
Entering Switzerland to work or study
Can people from third countries enter Switzerland in order to work?
The cantonal authorities process applications for the admission of foreign workers from third countries. They will be approved provided they meet the requirements laid down in the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act. In the case of persons seeking to come to Switzerland to work for a maximum of four months, the cantonal authorities consider whether the person’s subsequent departure from the country is ensured.
This means that it is possible for workers from third countries to enter Switzerland provided they have a work permit for Switzerland and an entry permit or the assurance of a residence permit.
Can third country citizens enter Switzerland again for education and training courses?
Basically it is not permitted to enter Switzerland for education and training courses that last less than 90 days. Foreign school pupils and students from third countries can be admitted for education and training courses that last for more than 90 days, provided they meet the normal requirements.
See Art. 27 Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA) and
Clause 5.1 of the SEM Directives on Foreign Nationals (not available in English)
In order to enter the country, they will need the assurance of a residence permit or an entry permit with a visa issued by Switzerland.
Students from third countries must apply to their local Swiss representation abroad in order to enter Switzerland. The application will then be passed on to the cantonal immigration office at the place where the school or university is located. This office will examine and process the application for a residence permit in order to study. If you have any questions in connection with the certification of language skills, please consult
SEM directive on the implementation of the Covid-19 Ordinance 3 (PDF, 403 kB, 26.06.2021) (not available in English).
Please note:
The requirements and restrictions imposed by local authorities abroad vary according to the pandemic situation in the country concerned. You may have to wait a long time for an appointment. For information on restrictions in that country and the services that are available, please refer to the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. In an emergency, please contact the Swiss foreign representation in the place where you live.
Family reunification and preparing for weddings
What is family reunification?
Under the rules of family reunification, relatives of persons resident in Switzerland may move to Switzerland in order to become permanently resident here; family reunification does not simply mean coming to Switzerland to visit or spend a holiday with relatives who live here.
Family reunification where the family members already resident in Switzerland are Swiss citizens
For matters relating to family reunification involving the foreign spouses and minor children of Swiss citizens, the immigration office in the relevant canton of residence is responsible.
You will find further information on family reunification in the
FNIA directives issued by SEM (Sec. 6.2 ff) (PDF, 3 MB, 01.01.2021)
(This document is not available in English)
Family reunification where the family members are EU/EFTA citizens
The immigration office in the relevant canton of residence is responsible for applications for family reunification involving family members of EU/EFTA citizens holding a Swiss residence permit L, B or C.
EU/EFTA citizens can bring their own children, their spouse or registered partner and his or her children under the age of 21 to live in Switzerland, as long as they can provide for the upkeep of these family members. EU/EFTA citizens and their spouses or registered partners can also bring children over the age of 21 and other relatives in ascending line (i.e. parents, grandparents) to Switzerland. Students from EU/EFTA states can bring their spouses or registered partners and dependent children to Switzerland.
If you want to bring any of your family members here, you must live in a house or apartment that is suitable for accommodating them. Self-employed people or people who are not working must also prove that they have the financial means to support their family members.
If you have any questions, please contact the immigration office in your canton of residence.
You will find more information in the
Factsheet on family reunification for EU/EFTA citizens
Family reunification where the family members are third-country citizens
The immigration office in the relevant canton of residence is responsible for applications for family reunification where the family members already resident in Switzerland are third-country citizens. The standard provisions of the FNIA[1] and the ASEO[2] apply to the admission of third country citizens for a period of stay that requires authorisation.
Third-country citizens can bring their spouses or registered partners and children under the age of 18 to Switzerland.
If you have any questions, please contact the immigration office in your canton of residence.
Cantonal immigration offices
You will find further information on family reunification in the
FNIA directives issued by SEM (Sec. 6.2 ff) (PDF, 3 MB, 01.01.2021)
(This document is not available in English)
______
[1] FNIA = Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration
[2] ASEO = Ordinance on Admission, Period of Stay and Employment (not available in English)
How do I apply for family reunification?
An application for family reunification must be submitted to the cantonal migration authority, If the person wishing to bring family into Switzerland is a third country citizen, the application for family reunification must be submitted to the Swiss foreign representation at the place where the family members live; the Swiss representation will then forward the application to the responsible cantonal immigration office for processing. If the family members concerned are entering Switzerland from a high-risk country, they not only require a travel document (e.g. a passport) but also the assurance of a residence permit for Switzerland or an entry permit with a visa issued by Switzerland. The assurance of a residence permit and the entry permit are issued by the cantonal migration authority. The visa is issued by the Swiss foreign representation. The Swiss representation needs the approval of the cantonal immigration office concerned before it can issue a visa.
Can I enter Switzerland in order to prepare for my wedding?
The cantonal migration authorities are responsible for applications for short stay permits from people planning to marry or enter into a registered partnership with a Swiss citizen or with a foreign citizen holding a residence or permanent residence permit. The same applies to same-sex couples who are planning to have their registered partnership certified. Third-country citizens planning to come to Switzerland for these reasons must apply to the Swiss representation at their place of residence abroad.
Please note:
The requirements and restrictions imposed by local authorities abroad vary according to the pandemic situation in the country concerned. You may have to wait a long time for an appointment. For information on restrictions in that country and the services that are available, please refer to the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. In an emergency, please contact the Swiss foreign representation in the place where you live.
General information and sequence of events
Since the start of the corona pandemic in the early months of 2020, the Federal Council has made a series of decisions and introduced a wide range of measures – including measures regulating entry to Switzerland.
- The COVID-19 Ordinance regulates measures introduced to contain the coronavirus that relate to entering Switzerland at its land and air borders. They are intended to halt the further spread of the pandemic. The safety of the population is the main priority.
- On 11 May, the Federal Council decided on the first easing of restrictions at the Swiss border.
- A further relaxation involving Germany and Austria on 16 May allowed unmarried couples to cross the border to visit each other, and owners of second homes or persons tending allotments etc. to cross the border to visit their properties.
- On 8 June, a further easing of restrictions came into effect, which primarily benefited the economy and facilitated recruitment in the jobs market. The processing of all applications made by workers from the EU/EFTA area began again. In addition, Swiss businesses were able to employ highly skilled workers from third countries if this is in the public interest or if they are urgently needed. Family reunification became possible again under the normal conditions and procedures for anyone holding a permanent residence, residence or short stay permit. The cantonal authorities were able to consider applications from unmarried partners of Swiss citizens or of foreign nationals who hold a residence or permanent residence permit, along with requests to enter Switzerland in order to make administrative preparations for weddings or for registered partnership ceremonies (same-sex couples). The cantonal authorities also began processing applications for residence permits from persons taking education and training courses that last for more than 90 days. At the same time the obligation to give notice of job vacancies, which was suspended, was reintroduced so that job seekers already living in Switzerland gained a time advantage over applicants from abroad.
- With all Schengen States no longer being considered high-risk by the SEM from 15 June, a substantial step was made towards normalising entry requirements. Border controls at all land and air borders between Schengen states and Switzerland were lifted. In addition, the rules on the freedom of movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU became fully applicable again.
- On 6 July 2020 the corona-related restrictions on the admission of workers from third countries, i.e. countries outside the EU/EFTA, were lifted, as were the restrictions on stays of more than 90 days by third-country citizens who are not working, such as pensioners and persons staying in Switzerland while receiving medical treatment. The cantons now processed these applications for admission in accordance with the ordinary law on foreign nationals.
- On 20 July 2020, the FDJP decided to revise Annex 1 to the COVID-19 Ordinance 3 and list certain third countries and the EU states outside the Schengen area as not being high-risk. Normal entry requirements once again applied when arriving in Switzerland from these countries. Regular consideration is given to whether further changes can be made to the list in Annex 1 to the COVID-19 Ordinance 3.
- Since 3 August 2020 unmarried partners from third countries have been able to enter Switzerland provided they can give proof of their relationship. A person who is married, in a civil partnership with or has minor children with a person living in Switzerland is considered a case of special necessity under the COVID-19 Ordinance 3 and is therefore exempt from the corona-related entry restrictions.
- Since 31 August 2020 rules have changed regarding travellers in airport transit, persons caring for family members and visas issued after 16 March in a country that was removed from the SEM list of high-risk countries for a time but which again features on this list at the time of travel.
- On 21 December 2020, in response to reports of new mutations of the coronavirus, the Federal Council imposed a ban on entry for persons travelling to Switzerland from the United Kingdom and South Africa. This entry ban was lifted on 8 February 2021.
- On 23 June 2021, the Federal Council decided to ease further restrictions on entry.
See press releases
For enquiries by telephone, very long waiting times must be expected. Please therefore send your questions by email to corona@sem.admin.ch whenever possible.
Only call the SEM helpline in emergencies: +41 58 465 77 60
We are continuously expanding our helpline team and apologise for any inconvenience!
If you have questions about the form to be completed on entry, the negative test result requirement or the quarantine requirement that applies to people arriving in or returning to Switzerland from certain countries, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH):
www.foph.admin.ch
Helpline FOPH: +41 58 464 44 88 (6am-11pm).
Anyone who evades quarantine commits an offence under the Epidemics Act and may be fined up to CHF 10,000.
Documentation
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Ordinance 3 on Measures to Combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
(COVID-19 Ordinance 3; SR 818.101.24)
(This document is not available in English)
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Weisung SEM (Fassung vom 7. Juni 2021) (PDF, 403 kB, 26.06.2021)
Umsetzung der Verordnung 3 über Massnahmen zur Bekämpfung des Coronavirus (Covid-19-Verordnung 3) sowie zum Vorgehen bezüglich Ein-/Ausreise in/aus der Schweiz
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Directive SEM (version du 7 juin 2021) (PDF, 389 kB, 26.06.2021)
Mise en œuvre de l’ordonnance 3 sur les mesures destinées à lutter contre le coronavirus (ordonnance 3 COVID-19) et sur la procédure à l’entrée en Suisse et à la sortie de Suisse
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Istruzione SEM (versione del 7 giugno 2021) (PDF, 382 kB, 26.06.2021)
Attuazione dell’ordinanza 3 sui provvedimenti per combattere il coronavirus (Ordinanza 3 COVID-19) – procedure per l’entrata e l’uscita dalla Svizzera
Last modification 30.07.2021
