Information about travel to Switzerland related to COVID-19
Starting February 8, 2021 Switzerland temporarily stopped accepting visa applications and issuing of Schengen visa type C for short-term stays of up to 90 days in the Schengen area for tourism, business or visit. At the moment, it is unfortunately unclear when the situation will allow the issuance of Schengen visas again. It will be published on this website, as soon as the acceptance of visa applications is possible again.
Entry to Switzerland is permitted to Swiss citizens, EU/EFTA citizens and people with a valid residence permit or work permit. Japanese citizens cannot enter Switzerland until further notice. There are exceptions for extremely urgent cases of hardship and for certain family members of Swiss nationals or foreigners residing in Switzerland. For further exemptions, visit the following website: SEM FAQ border closure.
Proof of family membership must be provided with appropriate documentation. Unmarried partners must present the following documents when checking in or entering Switzerland:
- Written invitation of the partner in Switzerland incl. passport copy of the partner
- Written confirmation of a stable partnership (signed by both partners)
- Proof of at least one mutual visit before the pandemic (flight tickets, photos, etc.)
The airline is doing the boarding at its own discretion. Therefore, we recommend that you contact the airline to verify boarding requirements.
If your trip to Switzerland includes transit through another foreign country, you must also check the entry restrictions of that country. Flying directly into Switzerland is recommended.
For further information, please consult the COVID-19-Ordinance or the website of the State Secretariat of Migration.
If you are eligible for an exemption on the basis of hardship but do not have documentation to prove this to the airline company and immigration officer at the Swiss border, please contact the embassy by e-mail (no phone calls please), provide your first name, last name, date of birth and nationality, and specify your situation.
The following changes will take effect as of February 8, 2021:
- Travelers from Japan must present valid proof of a negative PCR test, taken no more than 72 hours (time of specimen collection) before departure. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the test requirement. For further exemptions and acceptance of a rapid immunological test conducted less than 24 hours before departure, please see the website of FOPH.
- For the time being, a 10-day quarantine is not necessary for travelers from Japan, but this could change anytime. Please consult the FOPH list of risk countries before you travel.
- All persons entering Switzerland are obliged to leave their contact details - swissplf.admin.ch.
Please visit the website of the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH for detailed information and instructions.
The FDFA has no authority to give instructions to air carriers on matters concerning passenger access to the aircraft.
Please note that boarding is done by the airline at its own discretion. Therefore, it is recommended that you contact the airline, well in advance of your departure, to check the requirements for boarding.
Important information on the entry requirements can be found on the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
For further information please consult the State Secretariat for Migration SEM - COVID19-Ordinance 3 or the website of the Q&A - SEM
Applications for national type D Visa are accepted. Please consult Tokyo Visa Desk - Long stay visas D
Starting July 6, 2020, travelers from specific countries have to go into quarantine when entering Switzerland. For further information, please consult the website of the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Please note, that the entry-ban issued by the Japanese authority is still in place for foreigners living in Japan.
