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TRAVEL

Q&A: What you should know about travelling abroad from Switzerland right now

As summer holidays are fast approaching, more and more people are booking their foreign holidays. But before you leave, know what rules are in place for residents of Switzerland.

Q&A: What you should know about travelling abroad from Switzerland right now
Most of Europe is open to vaccinated residents of Switzerland. JAIME REINA / AFP

After nearly 18 months of closed borders and tight entry restrictions, non-essential travel is permitted again, at least to some foreign lands – but it all depends on each country’s epidemiological situation.

And just in time for the summer, a number of airlines are adding dozens of new destinations from Switzerland.

READ MORE: Airlines add dozens of new destinations from Switzerland in time for summer

So let’s look at various aspects of international travel – where you can go and what do you need to get there?

I am a resident of Switzerland. Can I travel throughout Europe without any problems?

Depending on the country, different requirements may apply.

Some have no entry restrictions for fully vaccinated people or those who recovered from Covid in the past six months, while others require either a PCR or antigen test, especially if you haven’t been vaccinated.

And speaking of vaccinations, only people who were administered EU-approved vaccines will be admitted without a test.

‘Travelcheck’: This tool shows you what you need to enter Switzerland

This includes Moderna and Pfizer / Biontech – the two vaccines used in Switzerland.

Another point to remember is that by “vaccinated” governments mean travellers who have received both doses of the vaccine, except for Johnson & Johnson which is a single-dose vaccine.

But for Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, travellers must show proof of being inoculated with both doses; otherwise, they will have to have a negative Covid test.

There are also rules in place for travelling with children.

READ MORE: COMPARE: What are the Covid test requirements around Europe for child travellers

Keep in mind that regulations can change from one minute to another if epidemiological situation in your destination country worsens, so check the updates often.

Q: What are the rules for Europe right now?

There are no entry restrictions for people arriving from Schengen zone countries, including Switzerland, provided they have been vaccinated. 

This rule pertains to anyone residing in Switzerland, no matter what nationality they have.

What counts is the place of residence, not citizenship.

Q: What about further afield? 

Outside the Schengen/EFTA zone, things get a little more complicated. 

Entering the United Kingdom is possible, however as Switzerland is on the UK’s amber list, you must quarantine for ten days, along with bringing a negative Covid test (even if you’re vaccinated). 

Once there, you will need to pay for two more Covid tests, one on the second day and one on the eighth day, before ending the quarantine on the tenth day. 

As far as the United States, Australia and New Zealand are concerned, the travel ban on foreign tourists is still in place, with no news about when it will be lifted.

Q: Do I need an antigen or PCR test?

Regulations vary depending on your destination, especially for unvaccinated travellers.

You should check either latest travel advisories for the country where you are going, or the website of its embassy / consulate in Switzerland.

Also, regardless of what test you need, it must be in the form of an official document (either printed or  digital) with the name and address of medical facility where the test was performed, your name and date of birth, the date when test was done, as well as the signature and stamp of the facility.

It can be issued in any of Switzerland’s national languages, but English must also be included.

Keep in mind that dates when screening is done vary according to the type of test: 72 hours for PCR and 14-48 hours for antigen.

Q: Will the EU recognise my Swiss Covid certificate?

The government said that Swiss certificate is compatible with the EU format.

However, keep in mind that the Covid certificate is not a travel document, at least not at this early stage.

To prove your immunity, you should  carry either an official copy of your vaccination certificate or proof of recovery from the disease.

Q: What else should I pay attention to before I travel abroad?

Check what the requirements will be upon your return to Switzerland.

Right now, and assuming that the situation doesn’t get worse, you can enter the country without having to test if you are fully vaccinated or recovered.

If you are not, then you will have to have a test.

Right now, these rules apply.

READ MORE: UPDATED: Who can travel to Switzerland right now?

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For members

QUALITY OF LIFE

‘Pleasantly constant’: Why Switzerland ranks as the ‘world’s best country’ — again

For the sixth time, Switzerland wins the coveted title of the world’s top country in an international ranking. Why does the nation make it to the no.1 spot —time after time?

'Pleasantly constant': Why Switzerland ranks as the 'world’s best country' — again

It’s official: Switzerland has been ranked ahead of 87 other countries analysed by the US News & World Report for its 2023 ranking, which was released on Wednesday morning. 

It is the sixth time that Switzerland tops the rankings, which measure a country’s global performance based on 73 categories. They include entrepreneurship; quality of life; adaptability and progress; social purpose; and other attributes listed here

What exactly makes Switzerland the best in the world?

The country “snags the top spot for business-friendliness and education, “and ranks in the top 10 for quality of life, social purpose and cultural influence,” according to study authors. “Among attributes, it was considered No.1 for being economically stable, safe and least corrupt.”

“And while people may not see it as the sexiest place, they would like to live there.”

One of Switzerland’s top qualities, the study showed, is ‘consistency.’

Unlike the political and economic volatility of many other countries, “there is something pleasantly constant about Switzerland,” the survey found.

It is true that change of any kind is slow to come here.

Part of the reason for this sluggishness is cultural: the Swiss don’t like spontaneity (unless it’s planned) or doing anything on a whim. 

They believe that rushing things and making hasty decisions will have disastrous results, which is why they prefer to take a cautious — even if painstakingly slow — path.

As a general rule, the Swiss have a penchant not only for planning, but for pre-planning as well. They like to thoroughly examine each aspect of a proposed change and look at it from all possible angles.

Another reason (besides the cultural one mentioned above) contributes to Switzerland’s notorious slowness in decision-making — the country’s political system.

Due to Switzerland’s decentralised form of government, the Federal Council must consult with cantons before a decision can be made at the national level.

That, as you can imagine, could take a while as each of the 26 cantons may drag their individual feet, and there could be no consensus among them.

READ ALSO : Why are things so slow to change in Switzerland? 

While some may see this ‘consistency’ as a negative, the US News & World Report considers it to be a definite plus.

How did Switzerland rank in major categories?

‘Open for business’

In this category, the country is in the first place (100 points out of 100).

Simply, this means  the country  is ‘business friendly’ because the government has created a good environment for businesses to thrive. 

“Switzerland has low unemployment, a skilled labour force and one of the highest gross domestic products per capita in the world,” the report relates. 

‘Educated population’

Here, too, Switzerland excels (100 points, first place).

Switzerland not only has an excellent and accessible education system, but according to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), well over 80 percent of the country’s population have an upper secondary education or above.

This proportion is higher than the OECD average of 75 percent.

READ ALSO: How can foreigners get into a Swiss university?

‘Quality of life’

Here, Switzerland also got a high score ( 96.7), which places it in the fourth place.

This particular category, which includes essentials such as broad access to food, housing, quality education, healthcare, and employment, also comprises “intangibles such as job security, political stability, individual freedom and environmental quality.”

This is not exactly a surprise, as Switzerland often ranks highly in this category in other international surveys as well. 

In which categories does Switzerland rate poorly?

‘Power’

Switzerland’s score here is 26, which lands it in the 20th place.

But this is actually good news, if you consider criteria for this category:

“The world’s most powerful countries also are the ones that consistently dominate news headlines, preoccupy policymakers and shape global economic patterns. Their foreign policies and military budgets are tracked religiously.”

Needless to say, Switzerland has no interest in wielding global power.

Besides (unintentionally) invading neighbouring Liechtenstein on three occasions, Switzerland is not at all power-hungry.

This is not only because it is neutral, but also because its politics is based on peaceful coexistence.

(The number 1 spot in this category was snagged, not surprisingly, by the United States).

‘Movers’

This too is not a major surprise, since the sub-category here is ‘dynamic’, for which Switzerland was given a low score of 29.1.

The country did a bit better in the ‘distinctive’ and ‘unique’ sub-category, with scores of 43.5 and 42.1, respectively.

Overall, Switzerland is in the 26th place.

You can see details of each category here.

What is the Swiss reaction to the report?

Overwhelmingly positive, of course.

“What people love about us is our reliability and our predictability,” said Jacques Pitteloud, the Swiss ambassador to the U.S.

“With us, you know what you get, which is rare nowadays,” Alexandre Edelmann, head of Presence Switzerland, a government agency that promotes the country abroad, pointed out.

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