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EXPLAINED: Who can enter Switzerland right now and what are the rules?

Switzerland’s new entry rules came into effect on September 20th. Here’s what you need to know.

EXPLAINED: Who can enter Switzerland right now and what are the rules?
Switzerland's entry rules are only slightly less complicated than this collection of signs in front of the Swiss Transport Museum. Photo by hatoriz hanso on Unsplash

On November 26th, Switzerland again updated its entry rules, putting in place quarantine and testing requirements along with a handful of travel bans. Please click here for up-to-date information. 

On Monday, September 20th, Switzerland put through its latest update to the entry rules. 

While the press release announcing the rules said they would apply “irrespective of where (someone) is traveling from”, in effect the country of departure will make a significant difference to the rules on arrival. 

READ MORE: Switzerland confirms only vaccinated Americans and Brits can enter

Here’s an overview. 

What are the new rules? 

After a summer where entry rules had been somewhat relaxed – although of course not to pre-pandemic levels – Switzerland in early September announced stricter rules would come into play. 

The rationale for the change was increasing Covid cases, higher hospitalisations and the country’s low vaccination rates. 

Whether you are vaccinated – and where you are arriving from – will be crucial in determining whether you can enter. 

Everyone who arrives – vaccinated or unvaccinated – will need to fill out a form (explained below). 

OK, so I’m vaccinated. Can I enter Switzerland? 

For anyone who is vaccinated, the new rules will mean unrestricted entry, regardless of where you are travelling from. 

You do not need to show a negative test and you do not need to have Switzerland’s Covid certificate, although you will need proof of vaccination. 

The list of vaccines accepted for entry into Switzerland is relatively broad and includes several vaccines which are not approved for use in Switzerland itself. 

The list can be seen at the following link. 

UPDATE: Which vaccines are accepted for entry into Switzerland?

I am unvaccinated. Can I come to Switzerland? 

Unvaccinated people from countries not on the SEM high-risk list will not be banned from entry. 

However they will have to complete two negative tests or show proof that they have recovered from the virus in the past six months. 

When arriving, they must show proof of a negative test upon arrival in Switzerland, regardless of the means according to which they have arrived (i.e. rail, air, car or foot). 

Four to seven days later, they will have to undergo another test, which they must pay for themselves.

Both PCR and antigen results are accepted. 

The rules are much tighter for the unvaccinated from high-risk countries, who are banned from entry. 

Even those who have had the virus and recovered the past six months or those who have tested negative will not be allowed to enter. 

Which countries are ‘high risk’?

As at September 20th, this high-risk list included the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Israel and several other countries. 

Most European countries and a handful of other nations across the globe are not considered high risk. 

The official list can be seen here. 

What about the exceptions? 

Please keep in mind that Swiss citizens and residents are allowed to enter regardless of vaccination status, as are Americans or Brits who have a valid visa for a Schengen or European Union country. 

The test and entry form requirements do not apply to travellers in transit through Switzerland without stopping, drivers who transport people or goods professionally, cross-border commuters, and people entering from border areas.

Children under 16 are also exempt from the test requirement, according to the Federal Council.

If you are unsure of whether you can enter Switzerland, the Swiss government has developed an interactive tool to check your credentials. 

The tool is anonymous and can be found at the following link. 

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

What form do I need to fill out? 

All travellers– whether vaccinated, recovered or with a negative test – must also complete the passenger locator form before entering Switzerland.

“This will enable the cantons to carry out random checks to determine whether people who have not been vaccinated or have not recovered and who entered the country with a test have actually taken the second test after four to seven days”, the Federal Council said.

Whoever violates these rules could incur a fine of 200 francs for entry without a test certificate and 100 francs for an incomplete form.

READ MORE: Here is the form you need to enter Switzerland

You will also need to get a Swiss Covid certificate to do most things in Switzerland. More information about this is available here

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TRAVEL NEWS

Closure of A13 motorway: The alternative routes from Switzerland to Italy

As summer school break in many Swiss cantons is about to begin, your plans to drive south for the holidays may be seriously disrupted by the closure of one of the main routes between Switzerland and Italy.

Closure of A13 motorway: The alternative routes from Switzerland to Italy

Italy is one of the most favourite summer destinations for many Swiss families: not only is it geographically close enough to get there by car, but it also has abundance of beaches and good weather is almost guaranteed.

But driving to Italy this summer, especially in the next few weeks, will be no simple matter.

Recent massive thunderstorms unleashed a landslide of mud and rubble, which destroyed a part of the north-south axis of the A13 motorway.

The collapsed section, between Thusis (GR) and Bellinzona (TI), is an important throughway for both passenger and commercial traffic, as it connects Switzerland with Italy.

The San Bernardino Pass, which straddles the A13, is consequently closed to traffic, as are the impacted parts of the motorway.

They will remain closed ‘until further notice,’ which is a general and non-specific term — primarily because nobody knows for sure.

According to the Graubünden cantonal police, this section will remain out of service “for months,” while the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) said it expects “to be able to reopen the A13 in three to four weeks.” 

But even this slightly more optimistic forecast is not definite.

Roads will reopen within this timeframe “only under the assumption that there will be no ‘nasty surprises,’ according to FEDRO. “The clean-up work and reconstruction depends, among other things, on the weather.”

Either way, if you are heading south in the immediate future, expect, as Swiss media reported, “impending traffic chaos.”

To make matters worse, the cantonal road, which is normally used as an alternative, was also damaged by the storm, and is closed to transit and through traffic in both directions.

What alternative south-bound routes are there?

FEDRO recommends the Gotthard route — either via the tunnel or the Pass.

There are other options as well, though they will take longer:

In Switzerland:

  • Over the Oberalp and Lukmanier passes
  • Over the Julier and Maloja passes
  • Over the Albula and Bernina passes via Poschiavo
  • Over the Grimsel and Nufenen passes
  • Through the Lötschberg car transport and the Simplon pass
  • From the Brünig pass road via Grimsel and Simplon
  • Via Martigny over the Great St. Bernard

Alternative routes abroad, for which fees may apply:

  • Via South Tyrol
  • Via Geneva through the Mont Blanc tunnel
  • Via Geneva, Annecy and the Fréjus tunnel

Will you be able to avoid traffic jams on these alternate routes?

It is highly doubtful.

During the holiday season, there is almost always congestion and bottlenecks in front of the Gotthard Tunnel, the Great St. Bernard, and the Lötschberg.

Traffic could be lighter if you avoid peak travel hours and weekends, but don’t expect miracles.

You can find real-time information about traffic jams and road conditions here:

TCS

strassen.gr.ch

Should you travel by train instead?

It is always a good idea if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, and trains are typically a more relaxing and reliable way to travel.

Except this summer.

From June 9th, and for at least three months, the train service between Italian cities of Domodossola and Milan will be interrupted due to railway works, also disrupting travel between western Switzerland and Italy.

A bus service set up by Swiss national railway company, SBB, will run between the two cities, adding at least an hour to the trip in the best traffic conditions.

But train traffic to and from other countries — including France, Germany, and Austria — will be chaotic as well.

You can find more information about these disruptions here:

READ ALSO: Why you should not rely on trains to and from Switzerland this summer 

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