Corona: Questions and answers on entry and stay in Switzerland, the exceptions and suspension of visas
We kindly ask you to read the most frequently asked questions and their answers carefully to find out about the current entry restrictions and the exceptions that apply. If you still have questions after doing so, you can contact us by email. In your mail, please provide details of your nationality, the country you are starting your journey in, the country that you are travelling to Switzerland from, and the reason why you are planning to enter or stay in Switzerland.
If you have questions about 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
Direct links to:
- General questions
- Health-related measures at the border / Quarantine
- Entering Switzerland
- Rules applicable to unmarried couples
- Questions on travelling through and leaving Switzerland
- Information for international travellers
- Questions on family reunification and preparing for weddings
- Free movement of persons with the EU/EFTA and with the UK
- Rules for UK citizens (Brexit)
- Entry by third-country citizens (non-EU/EFTA citizens) in order to work
- Entry by third-country citizens (non-EU/EFTA citizens) for education or training courses
- Questions on the suspension of the issuing of visas
As the Swiss migration authority, we can only advise you on the rules that apply when entering Switzerland. The rules governing entry to other countries are a matter for the authorities in those countries.
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.
See press releases
Do I have to go into quarantine on arrival?
Since the middle of June, there have been numerous instances of persons infected with the new coronavirus entering Switzerland.
As a consequence, persons arriving in or returning to Switzerland from certain countries or regions may be required to go into quarantine. For further information, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH):
www.foph.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
Note: Travellers from the United Kingdom or from South Africa are currently required to undergo a 10-day quarantine.
Entering Switzerland
Which countries are not considered to be high-risk countries?
All Schengen States and the third countries listed as exceptions in Annex 1 to the COVID-19 Ordinance 3.
Can I enter Switzerland from a country not considered to be high-risk?
Yes, normal requirements apply to entry from these countries.
Important information on the normal entry requirements
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 the transit 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.
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.
Persons arriving or returning to Switzerland from certain countries or regions may be required to go into quarantine. For further information, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH):
www.foph.admin.ch
Helpline BAG: +41 58 464 44 88 (6am-11pm).
Which countries are considered to be high-risk?
All countries that are not Schengen States and those countries that are not listed in Annex 1 to the COVID-19 Ordinance 3.
Can I enter Switzerland from a country or region that is considered to be high-risk?
Generally anyone subject to entry restrictions who wishes to travel to Switzerland from any of these countries or regions will be refused entry. For further information, see the question ‘Who is not affected by the ban on entry to Switzerland?’
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 the transit 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.
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.
Persons arriving or returning to Switzerland from certain countries or regions may be required to go into quarantine. For further information, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH):
www.foph.admin.ch
Helpline BAG: +41 58 464 44 88 (6am-11pm).
Can I enter Switzerland from a country or region that is considered to be high-risk?
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 according to the Schengen Border Code the entry requirements must be met at the time of entry and must therefore be reassessed at the 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.
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 the transit 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.
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, sometimes outside the transit area.
Who is not allowed to enter Switzerland?
The ban on entry applies to foreign nationals who want to travel to Switzerland from a high-risk country for a stay here of up to three months, i.e.:
- 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.
Note: Travellers from the United Kingdom or from South Africa are currently subject to an entry ban.
Further information on this entry ban concerning United Kingdom and South Africa
Who is not affected by the ban on entry to Switzerland?
Persons, even those arriving from a high-risk country, can still enter Switzerland if they meet at least one of the following requirements:
- They also have Swiss citizenship.
- They hold a travel document (e.g. a passport or identity card) and
- • a residence permit, i.e. a Swiss residence permit (L / B / C / Ci permits);
- • 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 from a cantonal migration authority or an entry permit with a visa issued by Switzerland.
- From 1 January 2021, service providers from the United Kingdom require confirmation of notification under the online notification procedure if they wish to work in Switzerland for up to 90 days in any calendar year.
- They 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.
- They have rights of free movement. If they require a visa, a valid Schengen C-visa, a valid D-visa or a valid Schengen residence permit are sufficient. See also “Who has rights of free movement?”
- In certain cases: They are simply travelling directly through Switzerland with the intention and possibility of entering another country. See “Is it still possible to travel through Switzerland?” under ‘Questions on travelling through and leaving Switzerland’.
- They are in a situation of special necessity (see below). The border control authority will assess the necessity of the situation.
You must be able to prove that you meet the abovementioned requirements. Suitable documentary proof must be produced at the border.
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.
Note: Travellers from the United Kingdom or from South Africa are currently subject to an entry ban.
Further information on this entry ban concerning United Kingdom and South Africa
Who has rights of free movement?
EU/EFTA and UK 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/UK citizen;
- relatives in descending line who are under the age of 21 years or who are dependent. This includes the relatives of EU/EFTA/UK citizens and the relatives of their spouse or registered partner;
- relatives in ascending line who are dependent. This includes the relatives of EU/EFTA/UK citizens and the relatives of their spouse or registered partner;
- in the case of EU/EFTA/UK citizens living as students in Switzerland: spouses or registered partners and their dependent children.
For UK citizens, rights of free movement cease to apply on 1 January 2021.
See ‘Rules for UK citizens (Brexit)’
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.
Note: Travellers from the United Kingdom or from South Africa are currently subject to an entry ban.
Further information on this entry ban concerning United Kingdom and South Africa
What constitutes a case of special necessity?
In cases of special necessity, it is possible to enter Switzerland despite the entry ban. Persons who require a visa must apply for one at the Swiss foreign representation where they live, explaining why they are a case of special necessity. In certain cases, the foreign representation may be able to provide documents confirming the situation. 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. They will allow entry in the following cases in particular:
- 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 continue essential medical treatment that began in Switzerland or abroad;
- Entry by the foreign spouse and foreign minor children of a Swiss citizen who wish to return to Switzerland with that Swiss citizen from their present home abroad because of the current situation, for example in the case of evacuation;
- Entry on essential official visits in terms of Switzerland’s international commitments;
- 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 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 with one accompanying person in order to exercise rights of access to your children; this also covers the entry of your child 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 for court appearances, 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) who are providing a cross-border service, for up to eight days in any calendar year or who are working temporarily in Switzerland for a foreign employer from a third country, provided their personal presence is essential (e.g. practical education and training courses, and/or training on the Job);
- 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;
- Entry to accompany persons entering or leaving Switzerland where their entry is permitted under Art. 3 COVID-19 Ordinance 3 and the persons concerned require special support, e.g. children, elderly people, disabled people, sick people;
- 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.
- Entry to visit a partner to whom one is not married or in a registered partnership with and with whom one does not have children is possible if:
- a) the person wishing to enter the country has an invitation from the partner living in Switzerland and the partner is a Swiss citizen or has a short-stay permit, temporary or permanent residence permit;
- b) confirmation of the existing partnership is submitted;
- c) proof can be given that at least one face-to-face visit or meeting took place in Switzerland or abroad before entry restrictions were imposed.
- Entry is not permitted on the basis of a mere holiday acquaintance. Proof must be given that a relationship has already lasted for some time and is regularly cultivated. The persons concerned must provide credible evidence that they were in regular contact before and during the corona crisis.
Where exceptions are made, these must not be contrary to the objective of combating the pandemic or to the instructions issued by the FOPH. All persons entering Switzerland from certain countries or regions are subject to quarantine, irrespective of these entry conditions.
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) written invitation from the person resident in Switzerland, including a copy of their Swiss passport of resident permit;
- b) confirmation of the partnership signed by both partners, by post or scanned and sent electronically;
- c) 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);
- d) and proof that the couple met at least once in Switzerland or abroad before the entry restrictions were introduced, e.g. copy of a passport containing entry and departure stamps.
- Court summons
- Court decrees
- Business documents
- Registration as a Swiss citizen living abroad
- Confirmation of the 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
The border control authority is responsible for assessing whether a case is one of necessity. A preliminary decision by SEM is not required. Where a visa is required, the decision is made by the Swiss representation abroad.
If the person wishing to enter Switzerland is in possession of a certificate from a Swiss representation abroad regarding a case of hardship (certificate of entry) or a visa, entry is generally granted provided that the usual entry requirements are also met when crossing the border.
When arriving on a flight to Switzerland, you should take note of the following: provided you can produce written proof that the requirements for a case of necessity are met, you will be permitted to enter Switzerland provided the usual entry requirements are met. However, please note that 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 necessity. For persons who do not require a visa, a Swiss representation abroad my issue a certificate of entry free of charge if it is not possible for the person to enter Switzerland without this.
It is recommended that travellers to Switzerland take a direct flight. The certificate of entry does not guarantee transit through another country. Each country has its own entry and transit requirements.
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, we would advise you to consult the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. In an emergency, please contact the Swiss foreign representation in the place where you live.
Can a person from a high-risk country visit his/her partner or boyfriend/girlfriend in Switzerland?
Unmarried couples who have minor children together can enter Switzerland for visits. Suitable documents to prove the circumstances must be provided, such as extracts from the family register or other civil register certificates. This proof must be produced at the border if you do not require a visa; if you do, then you must prove your situation at the Swiss foreign representation when applying for the visa.
Entry to visit a partner to whom one is not married or in a registered partnership and with whom one does not have children is possible if:
- the person wishing to enter the country has an invitation from the partner living in Switzerland and the partner is a Swiss citizen or has a short-stay permit, temporary or permanent residence permit;
- confirmation of the existing partnership is submitted;
- proof can be given that at least one face-to-face visit or meeting took place in Switzerland or abroad before entry restrictions were imposed.
Entry is not permitted on the basis of a mere holiday acquaintance. Proof must be given that a relationship has already lasted for some time and is regularly cultivated. The persons concerned must provide credible evidence that they were in regular contact before and during the corona crisis.
The following proof of the relationship must be provided:
- written invitation from the person resident in Switzerland, including a copy of their Swiss passport of resident permit;
- confirmation of the partnership signed by both partners, by post or scanned and sent electronically;
- 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 before the entry restrictions were introduced, e.g. copy of a passport containing entry and departure stamps.
If a visa is required, this proof should be submitted with the visa application.
If no visa is required, it should be submitted to the border control officers. A Swiss representation abroad my issue a certificate of entry free of charge if it is not possible for the person to enter Switzerland without this.
If you are travelling to Switzerland by air, please note that if you meet the requirements of special necessity and can prove this with suitable documents, you will be allowed to enter Switzerland. However, remember that the airlines themselves decide which passengers they are prepared to carry and on what conditions.
It is recommended that travellers to Switzerland take a direct flight. The certificate of entry does not guarantee transit through another country. Each country has its own entry and transit requirements.
Please note:
All exceptions from the entry ban to fight the Covid-19 epidemic require that the regular entry requirements are met. In the case of a short-term visit, it is therefore always and independently of the pandemic checked whether a timely departure is possible. If it must be assumed that this is not the case, entry will be refused. The prerequisite for a timely return home will be checked individually.
Travel outside the Schengen area is currently only possible under difficult conditions. There is often a lack of commercial and regular air connections and many states restrict entry and return even for their own nationals. Therefore, a timely return after a stay of no more than three months is not guaranteed for these persons. In some cases, an official permit is also required for a return to the home country.
The cantonal migration authorities are once again processing applications for residence permits for the unmarried partners of Swiss citizens or foreign nationals who hold a residence or permanent residence permit. Applications are being processed of persons wishing to marry or have a partnership registered.
Questions on travelling through and leaving Switzerland
Can you still travel abroad and back into the country if you are resident in Switzerland?
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 is not affected by the ban on entering Switzerland?»
Persons arriving in or returning to Switzerland from certain countries or regions may be required to go into quarantine. For further information, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH):
www.foph.admin.ch
Anyone who evades quarantine commits an offence under the Epidemics Act and may be fined up to CHF 10,000.
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
It is not possible to Switzerland from a high-risk country in order to travel on to another Schengen state for a short stay of up to 90 days that does not require a residence document. However, third-country citizens holding a residence document for their destination country in the Schengen area are permitted to travel through Switzerland to that country. If the country of destination in the Schengen area has authorised entry for a short stay of up to 90 days, the person concerned must enter the Schengen area by travelling directly to that country.
Note: Travellers from the United Kingdom or from South Africa are currently subject to an entry ban.
Further information on this entry ban concerning United Kingdom and South Africa
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, 183 kB, 31.12.2020)
Note: Travellers from the United Kingdom or from South Africa are currently subject to an entry ban.
Further information on this entry ban concerning United Kingdom and South Africa
Is it still be possible to travel through Switzerland?
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).
Please note that the airlines themselves decide on the conditions by 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.
Travelling abroad
See also the section on 'Questions on travelling through and leaving 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.
Contact information:
Cantonal immigration and labour market authorities
Transiting Switzerland
See also the section on 'Questions on travelling through and leaving Switzerland'.
It is possible to stop over at one of the Swiss airports, as long as you do not leave the international transit zone of the airport and you can prove that you can continue your journey to your destination country.
If you are unable to board your flight and are stuck in an 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 (C-VrG);
- The visa is issued free of charge.
If you are not subject to the visa requirement, you will be granted entry to the Schengen area, provided no entry restrictions apply. You will need to report to the competent cantonal migration authority of your place of residence within 15 days.
Entering Switzerland from abroad
See also the section on 'Entering Switzerland'.
Travellers who have been issued with a visa but who are not allowed to enter Switzerland or the Schengen area due to the entry ban and whose visa therefore expires unused should contact the relevant Swiss representation.
Swiss representations abroad
Persons arriving in or returning to Switzerland from certain countries or regions may be required to go into quarantine. For further information, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH):
www.foph.admin.ch
Anyone who evades quarantine commits an offence under the Epidemics Act and may be fined up to CHF 10,000.
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 responcible 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, we would advise you to consult the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. In an emergency, please contact the Swiss foreign representation in the place where you live.
What rules apply to persons from the EU/EFTA and the United Kingdom with rights of free movement?
For EU/EFTA and UK citizens, their family members, irrespective of their nationality, and providers of cross-border services who have rights of free movement, the requirements of the Agreement on Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) and the customary rules on its application apply. There are no corona-related restrictions on entry or admission.
For UK citizens, free movement ceases to apply from 1 January 2021.
Note: Travellers from the United Kingdom or from South Africa are currently subject to an entry ban.
Further information on this entry ban concerning United Kingdom and South Africa
Rules for UK citizens (Brexit)
What rules apply to UK citizens up to 31 December 2020?
Up to and including 31 December 2020, all UK citizens have rights of free movement.
Note: Travellers from the United Kingdom or from South Africa are currently subject to an entry ban.
Further information on this entry ban concerning United Kingdom and South Africa
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.
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 by providing other suitable documents, such as an employment contract or lease concluded before 31 December 2020, confirmation that an application has been made to a commune of residence in Switzerland or confirmation that an application has been made for a residence permit.
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. From 1 January 2021, they require a confirmation of notification under the online notification procedure in order to enter Switzerland.
UK citizens who have not acquired rights under the AFMP are regarded as third country citizens when entering Switzerland and no longer have rights of free movement. This means, for example, that UK citizens are no longer allowed to enter Switzerland from the UK as tourists. See ‘Who is not allowed to enter Switzerland?’ under ‘Entering Switzerland’.
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 for education and training courses?
Basically education and training courses that last less than 90 days are not permitted. 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.
Art. 27 Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA)
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 the
SEM directive on the implementation of the Covid-19 Ordinance 3 (PDF, 372 kB, 16.12.2020) (not available in English).
In addition, the Federal Council’s new measures of 28 October 2020 on education and training in Switzerland apply.
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 concerned and the services that are available, we would advise you to consult the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. In an emergency, please contact the Swiss foreign representation in the place where you live.
Why has Switzerland stopped issuing visas?
The Federal Council decided at the onset of the pandemic 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.
What visa suspension rules still apply?
The current visa suspension for Visa C will remain in force. At the moment, you cannot apply for a visa for a journey planned for a later date, unless it is now possible to travel again because the restrictions have been lifted.
The FDFA (Consular Directorate) decides on the extent of the services provided, taking account of the circumstances at each of the foreign representations.
The Federal Council will decide on a further easing of entry restrictions for other third countries subject to visa requirements at a later date.
Who is still affected by the visa suspension?
The visa suspension still applies to foreign nationals who do not have rights of free movement and do not form an exception under the COVID-19 Ordinance 3 and who want to travel to Switzerland from a high-risk country for a stay here of up to three months, without working, that would normally not require a permit.
Since 6 July, 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.
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, we would advise you to consult the information provided by the Swiss foreign representation there. In an emergency, please contact the Swiss foreign representation in the place where you live.
What should I do if I have had authorisation to be issued with a visa (authorisation to enter), assurance of a residence permit, or I have a visa issued by Switzerland in order to come and work, but I have been unable to make use of it because of the restrictions on travel due to corona and it has now expired?
You do not have to submit a new application for a work permit. Your prospective employer should contact the local cantonal migration authority in order to update the entry authorisation or assurance of a residence permit.
What should I do if I cannot or could not leave the Schengen Area in time because of the coronavirus situation?
Contact the cantonal migration authorities if you are unable to leave the Schengen area by the relevant date. The days you spend in Switzerland after the expiry of your visa, or your maximum possible length of stay will be counted towards any subsequent stay here. Once you leave, you can only re-enter Switzerland for a stay that does not require authorisation after 90 days have elapsed.
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 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 16. Dezember 2020) (PDF, 372 kB, 16.12.2020)
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 16 décembre 2020) (PDF, 384 kB, 16.12.2020)
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 16 dicembre 2020) (PDF, 372 kB, 16.12.2020)
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 24.12.2020
