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LIVING IN SWITZERLAND

What will Switzerland’s Covid-19 pass allow you to do?

Switzerland’s Covid-19 pass is being rolled out, but confusion remains on what exactly it will allow you to do. Here’s what you need to know. 

Published: 9 June 2021 10:46 CEST
Updated: 2 July 2021 08:52 CEST
What will Switzerland’s Covid-19 pass allow you to do?
Switzerland's Covid-19 immunity pass will launch this week. Photo by Fabian Hurnaus on Unsplash

Swiss President Guy Parmelin said in early June that anyone who chose not to get vaccinated “would have to face the consequences”. 

“Your own freedom stops where the freedom of others begins. That has to be a consideration” Parmelin said. 

On Monday, June 7th, Switzerland finally released its Covid-19 certificate, which will provide certain rights and privileges to holders for travel and events. 

UPDATED: Everything you need to know about the ‘green pass’, Switzerland’s coronavirus immunity card

The Covid-19 certificate – otherwise known as the Covid-19 pass or the green pass – is available in paper and digital form. 

According to the Swiss government, the pass “provides documentary evidence that you have had a COVID-19 vaccination, have had and recovered from the disease or have tested negative”. 

But while international travel will be one of the major privileges of the pass, little is known about what it will allow you to do domestically. 

What will Switzerland’s Covid-19 health pass allow you to domestically? 

Internationally, Switzerland’s Covid-19 pass will link up with that of the EU, thereby allowing relatively uniform rules for travel. 

Domestically however, the controversial pass has been subject to political debate. 

While the Council of States and the National Council want it to provide almost a complete return to normality, Switzerland’s far-right SVP are skeptical of the plan and have sought to oppose it. 

In a vote on June 8th, the SVP argued that the certificate should only be used for international travel along with attending large events of more than 5,000 people and attending nightclubs and dance events – and that it should only apply until September. 

This proposal was however rejected by the National Council. 

How will the Covid-19 health pass work? 

As at June 9th, it appears that the health pass – also known as a Covid-19 pass, Covid certificate, green passport or Covid passport – will operate on a three-tiered colour system. 

Three colours – green, orange and red – will be assigned to different areas of life in Switzerland. 

Those areas designated green will be deemed as elementary to life and therefore protected by basic freedoms – which means that the Covid-19 pass will not be required to access these areas. 

This includes shops, schools and educational facilities, the workplace (including canteens), public transport and religious venues. 

READ MORE: How to get Switzerland’s Covid-19 health pass

Private events will also be deemed ‘green’. 

The next category, orange, will relate to places which are popular with people but not fundamental, for instance bars, restaurants and cinemas. 

Events with up to 1,000 attendees will be included here, such as trade fairs, sporting events, etc. 

Amateur sport and activities of cultural associations will be included here, as will visiting old people’s homes. 

In ‘orange’ places, operators will be given the freedom to decide which rules they put in place – and whether they require attendees or customers with the health certificate or not. 

If venues do require certificates, they will be allowed to relax other rules, such as those requiring masks or social distancing rules. 

Finally, red areas include “sensitive epidemiological areas” which will require additional protection. 

These will include larger events (more than 1,000 people) and international travel, along with nightclubs and larger events involving dancing. 

Please note that this is still subject to ongoing debate and may therefore change. 

More information is available here from the Swiss government (in English). 

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For members

MONEY

Do adult children in Switzerland have to support their parents financially?

Usually, it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure their kids are well taken care of financially. But can Swiss authorities force the children to return the favour in times of need?

Published: 30 April 2024 15:31 CEST
Do adult children in Switzerland have to support their parents financially?

In most cases, once children are grown up and out of the house, they are (or at least should be) self-sufficient in terms of finances.

Parents too should breathe a sigh of relief that they are no longer obligated to pay for their children’s expenses, except perhaps for giving them some money here and there as a gift.

This is what happens in the best-case scenario.

But what if things don’t go according to this plan — for instance, if the parents find themselves in financial straits and can’t  afford to pay their bills?

Family obligations

Generally speaking, the truly needy people who don’t have enough income to pay for their basic living expenses will receive financial help from the government, in the very least in the form of the health insurance and housing subsidy.

READ ALSO: Can I get financial help in Switzerland if I’m struggling to pay the bills?

However, before doling out public money, authorities will see whether relatives should be made to help the struggling individuals pay their bills.

(In this context, ‘relatives’ means only those in the direct line of descent: grandparents, parents, and children.)

They will do it by checking the tax status of these relatives — how much they earn and what other financial assets they have — to determine whether, and how much, they should be paying toward their parents’ expenses.

Obviously, you will be expected to pay up only if your own financial situation allows it; you will not be forced to part with your money if you have very little of it yourself.

 ‘Favourable financial circumstaces’

Based on a Federal Court ruling, if the adult child  lives in ‘favourable financial circumstances’ they are required to help out their struggling parents.

The Court defined ‘favourable financial circumstances’ as income and assets allowing a comfortable life.

‘Comfortable life’, in turn, was defined by the Swiss Conference for Social Welfare (SKOS), as a taxable annual income of 120,000 francs for a single person, and 180,000 francs for married couples.

“If you have minors in your household, the limit is increased by 20,000 francs per child,” according to AXA insurance.

It goes on to say that you can deduct an exempt amount from your taxable assets.

“Your annual depletion of assets is deducted from the remaining amount. This means that if you are obligated to provide financial support, you are permitted to use part of your assets yourself each year; you don’t have to devote your entire assets to providing support.”

At between 18 and 30 years of age, this is 1/60th per year; from 31 to 40, 1/50th per year; 41 to 50, 1/40th per year; 51 to 60, 1/30th per year; and from the age of 61,1/20th per year. 

Are there any exemptions to these rules?

Aside from not having sufficient funds, you could be exempted from paying if, say, your parents, or parent, have not lived up to their own financial obligations toward you.

In Switzerland, parents are required to  provide financially for their children until the age of majority, and even beyond that if they are still studying or undergoing vocational training — typically, until the mid-20s.

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