COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Switzerland (24 November Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Family members of citizens/residents are permitted to enter regardless of their nationality.

• Citizens and residents of non-EU/Schengen countries can only enter for essential purposes or exceptional cases, including cross-border workers, cargo, and goods traffic.

• Entry to Switzerland is allowed for nationals of the EU, European Free Trade Association (EFTA), EE Member States, and the United Kingdom.

• The borders are open for some non-EU countries, including Andorra, Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Holy See, Ireland, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Uruguay.

• Travellers from the UK must be British nationals or nationals of EU/EFTA.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Transit through Switzerland to another Schengen country is not allowed for travellers from any high-risk countries unless all travel or entry requirements have been met. However, transit through Switzerland to a non-Schengen country from high-risk countries may be possible.

• Travellers must have proof of onward travel and must remain airside.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No

• Health screening procedures are in place at airports or other ports of entry.

Test certificate required?

• No

• A COVID-19 test is not required for entering Switzerland.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Currently, only individuals arriving from a high-risk country, or those who have been in a high-risk country, will be sent to quarantine for up to ten days on arrival. The list of high-risk countries and regions can be found here.

• The new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14-days are examined to determine whether a country or region has a high-risk of infection. If the incidence in a country is at least 60 higher than that of Switzerland, the country will be added to the high-risk country list.

• Business travellers and individuals travelling for essential purposes, such as medical reasons, whose trip will not exceed 5 days, are not required to quarantine. Residents of bordering regions are also exempt from quarantine.

• Travellers whose point of origin was a low-risk country will not need to be quarantined if they transited in a high-risk country, as long as the layover was less than 24 hours and they stayed airside.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• There is a contact tracing app called “SwissCovid app”.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• International and domestic flights are operating in Switzerland.

• International flights are allowed to arrive at the Zurich, Geneva, and Basel airports as well as some other regional airports.

• Face masks are mandatory on flights and in airports for everyone 12 years of age and older.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• Borders are open.

• Switzerland has reduced the number of trains to neighbouring countries, including Italy, France and Germany amid partial lockdowns and reduced numbers of cross-border travellers.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• There are no curfews, except for a commercial curfew in place for bars and restaurants from 23:00 to 6:00.

Social distancing restrictions

• Minimal

• Social distancing of up to 1.5 meters must be maintained.

• Work-from-home is recommended.

• Private gatherings and meetings are restricted to 10 people.

• Restrictions may vary from canton to canton.

• In Neuchâtel and Jura, only five people are allowed to gather in public places.

• In Ticino, gatherings are limited to five people, in both private and public places. The restrictions will remain in place until 30 November.

• Other canton restrictions can be found here.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Masks are required.

• There are no restrictions on inter-state or inter-city travel.

• Public transport and trains are operating.

• Masks are mandatory on public transportation for everyone over the age of 12.

• Some long-distance and night services have been closed.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Services and businesses are open and operating, including supermarkets, shopping centres and more.

• In Geneva, all non-essential shops are closed.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• All businesses and public services have resumed.

Restaurants open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Restaurants are open and must close by 23:00. Tables will be limited to 4 people at one time, unless from the same household.

• In Valais, restaurants will close until at least 13 December.

• In Geneva, restaurants remain closed. In Jura, restaurants will remain closed until the end of November.

• In Basel City, restaurants will be required to close, but work and school canteens, along with hotel restaurants for guests and street kitchens will be allowed to remain open. Restaurants will also be allowed to serve takeaway food, although there will be a curfew on these services from 23:00 to 5:00.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Bars and cafes are open. Food or drink consumption is only permitted while seated. Bars must close by 23:00, and a maximum of 4 people per table will be permitted, unless from the same household.

• In Basel City, cafes and bars will be required to close. Cafes will be allowed to serve takeaway food, although there will be a curfew on these services from 23:00 to 5:00.

• Nightclubs and discos will be closed.

• In Valais, bars, cafes and pubs will close until at least 13 December.

• In Geneva, bars remain closed. In Jura, bars will remain closed until the end of November.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes

• Tourist attractions, including zoos, botanical gardens, swimming pools are open.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Museums are open.

• In Jura, museums will remain closed until the end of November.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Services and businesses are open and operating.

• In Basel City, hairdressers and massage therapists will be allowed to remain open.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Churches and religious institutions are open.

Events allowed?

• Yes

• Public events (cultural, religious and sports matches), except for demonstrations will be limited to 50 people. Amateur cultural and sports events and leisure activities can have an attendance of up to 15 people. Private events are limited to 10 people.

• In Obwalden and Schwyz, public events are limited to 30 people. The rule applies to public events indoors and outdoors, but not to political assemblies.

• In Ticino, group sports activities are banned, except for children under 16 years of age. Weddings and funerals can have an attendance of up to 30 people. The restrictions will be in effect until 30 November.

• In Basel City, events are restricted to 15 people.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Masks are mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public spaces, including public transport, airports, restaurants, busy pedestrian zones, and hotels (except for guest rooms).

• Children under 12 years of age and people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks are exempted from the mandatory mask rule.

Other

• Primary and secondary schools are open. Distance learning is compulsory for higher educational institutions.

• Hospitals, medical centres, and medical professionals have resumed services.

• Entertainment venues and establishments in Geneva are currently closed.

• In Valais, entertainment and leisure venues, including cinemas, theatres, fitness centres, swimming pools and sports facilities are closed until 13 December; however, the cantonal government said it would relax some measures from 1 December. In Jura, theatres, cinemas, and libraries will remain closed until the end of November.

• In Basel City, casinos, gaming rooms, gyms, fitness centres, indoor swimming pools, dance studios, and ice rinks are also closing down.

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The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.