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Travel: Switzerland proposes end to Covid entry rules

The Swiss government’s proposal to end Covid measures includes the scrapping of the entry form and testing rules. Here’s what you need to know.

Published: 2 February 2022 16:42 CET

A Swiss airlines plane takes off while another can be seen on the tarmac in Switzerland

Arriving in Switzerland is set to be easier under new rules being proposed by the Swiss government. Image: Pixabay.

NOTE: Switzerland updated its travel rules on February 17th, removing all Covid-related restrictions. Click here for more information.

The Swiss government on Wednesday afternoon announced the relaxation of some Covid measures, along with a plan to end most remaining measures by the start of March.

The specific measures that have been relaxed – as well as the future plans – are laid out at the following link.

READ MORE: Switzerland announces plans to relax all Covid measures

The Swiss government has also proposed further changes to travel rules, which will also be decided on by the cantons as part of the consultation process.

This includes removing all Covid-related entry rules in place in the country.

The requirement for people who are unvaccinated or not recovered from the virus to be tested on arrival would be dropped.

The requirement to provide contact details in Switzerland’s entry form would also be dropped.

Tourists would no longer need to get and show Covid certificates, as these would not be in use in Switzerland. If they remain in use, i.e. for larger events as laid out in path two above, then tourists would still be required to show certificates at these events.

The Swiss government did however say that the overall Covid certificate would not be scrapped even if it was no longer required domestically as this may need to be shown abroad, i.e. for travel or entry to certain venues.

The consultation is set to end on February 9th, with the changes to be put in place from February 17th onwards.

Stay tuned to The Local for more information when it becomes available.

Click here for the official government press release.

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Why is Switzerland going to collect a database of flight passengers?

Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems are databases that operate by flagging and tracking individuals who may pose a security risk.

The data includes the name, destination, means of payment, and type of baggage for each passenger arriving or leaving a country via its airports.

Until now, Switzerland has not participated in a PNR system in a way that allows data to be freely accessible to partners such as the EU and the US.

Indeed, for years, it has been possible to circumvent the EU’s PNR systems by flying into Switzerland and crossing a land border with the EU.

Now, however, Switzerland is being forced to comply.

The United States has threatened Switzerland’s place in their Visa Waiver Program unless they share data.

Similarly, the EU has applied significant diplomatic pressure to join their efforts – and considerable progress has already occurred, with agreements signed.

Other countries have also signalled that Swiss carriers may withdraw their landing rights or impose heavy fines if Switzerland does not begin participating in a compliant PNR system.

Changes in effect 2026

On Wednesday, Justice Minister Beat Jans announced at a press conference that a PNR program that worked in collaboration with other countries would come into effect in 2026.

The reason given for the length of time it would take to go into effect was that a legal basis for the move does not yet exist in Swiss law—a dispatch on proposed legislation has only just been sent to the Federal Council.

Once passed by the Federal Council and then by the Council of States, the federal police will be responsible for tracking passengers via a new group – the Passenger Information Unit (PIU).

The PIU will examine passenger manifests a day before and immediately before flights taking off or landing and compare them to shared lists of individuals involved in terrorism, organised crime, or who have committed violent crimes.

If there is a match, information will be forwarded to authorities at the relevant airport.

Privacy concerns

Understandably, for the privacy-conscious Swiss, concerns have been raised.

Both the right-wing SVP, the Greens and the SPD have voiced doubts about the security and privacy of passenger data.

In response, the government has announced that all passenger data except for that relates to those linked to terrorist groups will be deleted after six months.

To further ease concerns, Switzerland’s PNR system will be constantly monitored by the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act.

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