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Shopping in Italy? This is what you can expect at the Swiss border

Since Italy opened its border on Wednesday to the Schengen area countries, many residents of Switzerland have already driven into Italy.

Published: 4 June 2020 14:38 CEST

Shopping in Italy? This is what you can expect at the Swiss border

Shopping in Italy is still banned. Photo by AFP

According to the Swiss-Italian television channel RSI, many cars with Swiss license plates already crossed into Italy since June 3rd.

Some went to visit their families living on the other side of the border.

However, many went to Italy with the intention of shopping, as prices for groceries and other items are cheaper across the border than they are in Switzerland.

But cross-border shopping — whether in Italy, Germany, France, or Austria — remains banned.

According to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), border controls for those who return to Switzerland from Italy “will be intensified”.

What does this mean?

People who go into Italy for the sole purpose of shopping could be fined $100. And if the price of their purchases exceeds 300 francs, they will also have to pay the Value Added Tax (VAT).

However, there is a way to avoid the fines on cross-border shopping.

“The decision depends on the judgment of the Swiss border guard”, according to the RSI.

If, for example, residents of Switzerland go to Italy to visit a relative and, while doing so, they purchase some items, the primary goal of their trip will not be considered as a shopping expedition, and the fine will likely not be imposed.

However, “be ready to show at the border a photo taken with a mobile phone”, showing you and the relative, the RSI said.

But even though people from Switzerland will be allowed to go to Italy, they should do so at their own risk, Swiss authorities warned, as the Covid-19 situation in Italy “is still more delicate than in Switzerland”.

READ MORE: Switzerland warns against ‘premature’ travel to Italy

Also, people coming back to Switzerland from Italy could face border controls upon their return. For example, they may have to fill out special forms and produce a health certificate.

Italians won’t be able to enter Switzerland at all at this time, except for the cross-border G-permit holders who commute to their jobs in Switzerland each day.

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A sign on the Swiss border with France.

Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

The so-called ‘shopping tourism’ is very popular among Switzerland’s public, as food and many other goods are cheaper in neighbour countries.

At certain times during the Covid-19 pandemic, crossing the border for non-essential reasons, including shopping, was banned, but far fewer restrictions are in place now.

This is what you should know before you go shopping across the border(s):

Italy

As the Lombardy region of Italy is in the red zone since Monday due to a surge in the number of Covid cases, Ticino officials asked federal authorities to strengthen controls at the border.

They noted that “already a year ago, Ticino suffered the first pandemic wave precisely because of the free movement of people from Lombardy”.

This measure, intended primarily to stop Italians from coming into Switzerland, could also impact Swiss residents returning from a shopping trip.

However, Karin Keller Sutter, the head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police, said Switzerland is not planning to implement systematic checks at the Italian borders.

So while theoretically a jaunt across the border is possible, a ‘red zone’ classification means that shops, along with restaurants, schools and museums, are closed.

This is also a situation in Piedmont, another region that borders Ticino.

The only people with unrestricted access both ways are Italian cross-border workers who are employed in Switzerland.

READ MORE: Which of Switzerland’s neighbouring countries can you enter – and what are the rules?

France

Swiss residents are not prohibited from entry into France and do not have to quarantine. But arrivals to France will need to provide a negative test result which is not older than 72 hours.

However, cross-border commuters and people who reside within 30 kilometres of a border area do not need to provide evidence of a test. The evidence that can prove that your residence is within the authorised distance includes an ‘attestation de domicile’ from your local commune or an official envelope with your address on it.

But some shoppers have said that the 30-km requirement is not systematically checked or enforced, because smaller border crossings are unmanned on the French and Swiss side.

In fact, Swiss residents go to France not just for shopping but also to get Covid tests, as they are cheaper than in Switzerland.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Why are Swiss residents going to France to get tested?

Keep in mind too that France has a 6 pm curfew, so you have to return to Switzerland before that time.

Austria

Current regulations require a 10 to 14-day quarantine for all arrivals, including from Switzerland.

The only exemptions are for urgent family matters or work, including the cross-border employees.

So no shopping in Austria for the time being.

Germany

Travel into Germany from Switzerland is discouraged but not banned. This includes tourist and shopping travel, although tourist accommodation is not allowed to open at present in Germany.

While you may be allowed to enter, you may also be required to quarantine.

Whether or not you will have to quarantine depends on which of the 16 German states you are entering. Click here for up to date official information.

Both Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the two states closest to Switzerland, do not consider shopping to be a valid ‘exception’ – meaning that anyone entering to go shopping will be required to quarantine, which is a great way to spoil a shopping trip.

If the German state requires you to quarantine, it will last for ten days but can be ended early from the fifth day with a negative test result.

People entering from Switzerland must have a negative test result of less than 48 hours and must register online.

Anyone who visits the state of Thüringen/Thuringia will need to quarantine on their return to Switzerland.

Note: This page was updated on March 16th to reflect the updated policies of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, both of which consider shopping and tourism not to be valid reasons to avoid coronavirus quarantine.

Editor’s note: Please keep in mind that this article, as with all of our guides, are to provide assistance only. They are not intended to take the place of official legal advice.

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