[Anonymous]

24 January 2022 at 14:50:04 #826436

I just read the following Swiss Covid travel update, and wanted to get some feedback.

Travel to and from Switzerland

The rules for entering Switzerland have been updated. From January 22, people who are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 no longer need to present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test before entering Switzerland. People who are not vaccinated or who have not recovered will still need to take a test to enter the country. However, travelers will no longer need to take a second test taken four to seven days after entering the country.

An electronic Passenger Locator must be completed by those only travelling to Switzerland by plane or on a long-distance bus service.

Does mean that the 2G certificate is no longer required?

My understanding is, all that is required now is the one of following:

1- Proof of vaccination, or

2- Proof of recovery, or

3- Proof of a negative PCR or Antigen test

This is great new!!!!!!!

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[Anna]

Reply 1 of 13 • 24 January 2022 at 16:53:45 #938249

Hi Dante31,

Welcome to MySwissAlps.

Ye that is correct. You only need to present a negative PCR test if you are not fully vaccinated or recovered. You can find the latest travel requirement rules here: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/does-the-corona-virus-affect-trips-to-switzerland

Regards,

Anna

[User]

Reply 2 of 13 • 24 January 2022 at 18:55:55 #938250

Anna,

Thank you for the link, and for confirming the information. You have no idea how excited I am to get back to Switzerland, it is one of my favorite countries to visit. I just hope these new rules stay in place, or get totally removed by the time of my trip (May/June).

Have a great day.

Dante

[User]

Reply 3 of 13 • 24 January 2022 at 21:16:17 #938251

I want to confirm. Is 2G the same thing as COVID Certificate? Because from the link provided, it sounds like the COVID certificate IS still required to enter certain places in Switzerland.

Also, United States is requiring us to have a negative COVID test 1 day before getting on a plane to come back. Am I allowed to bring the BinaxNow home test kit (with telehealth service) into Switzerland so I can use it at the end of my trip?

[User]

Reply 4 of 13 • 25 January 2022 at 2:21:13 #938252

Hmmm, i’m not sure if i’m 100% happy about this news. Having a 72hr/24hr negative test result in a way gives me a peace of mind that chance is extremely low to have a positive case on my inbound flight…now the test requirement is removed and I’m a little reluctant about the long flight…

[User]

Reply 5 of 13 • 25 January 2022 at 2:31:07 #938253

I’m not sure if you read the information correctly. You still need to take either the PCR or Antigen test, so your flight will be just as safe.

[Annika]

Reply 6 of 13 • 25 January 2022 at 7:28:43 #938254

Hi all,

There might be some misunderstanding. A test is no longer required upon boarding a plane and upon entry in Switzerland for vaccinated and recovered travelers. But the COVID-certificate still is required to enter restaurants, museums and many more indoor areas. Those are two separate things. So all travelers should still apply for a certificate. If all goes well, the certificate requirement might be abolished at some point, but that’s too early to tell.

Please find all details about entry and the certificate through the link Anna provided.

[User]

Reply 7 of 13 • 25 January 2022 at 14:08:37 #938255

Annika,

My excitement to travel to Switzerland has been quashed, but I thank you for bringing this to my attention.

It appears that the information for entry, in my original post, is not 100% accurate. Apparently there is an entire subset of rules in place, directed at countries considered to be a higher risk. Examples are the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, India and Singapore.

Can I visit Switzerland?

Yes, most travelers can enter Switzerland. These rules apply:

Quarantine is not required.

Fully vaccinated and recovered travelers can enter Switzerland with proof of vaccination or recovery. An additional test is not required.

From many countries, travelers who are not vaccinated and/or recovered can enter too. Examples are Schengen countries, Hong Kong and South-Korea. These travelers will have to present an additional negative test result upon boarding their flight or long-distance bus and upon entry in Switzerland. This can be either a negative PCR test performed no longer than 72 hours ago or a rapid antigen test performed no longer than 24 hours ago. The test can be performed in the country of departure.

From some countries, only fully vaccinated travelers can enter Switzerland. Examples are the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, India and Singapore. The list of such countries will be updated frequently. See the links under #4 and the Switzerland Tourism country list that can be downloaded at the bottom of this post.

[Anna]

Reply 8 of 13 • 25 January 2022 at 15:14:24 #938256

Hi Liz G,

The 2G requirement essentially means you either have to be fully vaccinated (geimpft) or recovered (genesen), so yes to prove this you do need the Covid certificate.

A few of our fellow forum members have mentioned about using the BinaxNow home test kit before their flight home so I think that is possible.

Regards,

Anna

[Annika]

Reply 9 of 13 • 26 January 2022 at 15:31:04 #938257

Hi Dante31,

The information you pasted in your first post is accurate. So is the information here: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/does-the-corona-virus-affect-trips-to-switzerland. Both state that vaccinated and recovered travelers no longer need a test to enter Switzerland.

But once you’re there, a COVID-certificate is still required at the moment (this may change). I think you initially missed that information.

You can look up the rules applying to travelers from your home country by downloading the Switzerland Tourism list from the bottom of the forum thread I linked to above. And you can fill out the travelcheck tool. A link to this tool can be found in the same forum thread. Did you run these checks?

If you’re still unsure, please tell us more about your situation. Then we’ll be able to tell you what applies to your specific circumstances.

[User]

Reply 10 of 13 • 26 January 2022 at 15:57:41 #938258

Annika,

According to the information on http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/covid-19_coronavirus–the-situation-in-switzerland/45592192, the following countries are on the HIGH risk list, and will require full vaccination. A negative covid test or recovery is not acceptable.

“From some countries, only fully vaccinated travelers can enter Switzerland. Examples are the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, India and Singapore.”

Some of the people travelling with me are not vaccinated, and do not plan to be, due to their own reasons. So unless things change, it doesn’t look good.

TravelCheck states the following: Entry is not currently possible. You want to enter Switzerland from a risk country but you do not meet the requirements. For this reason, entry is not possible.

We are truly hoping that things change prior to our proposed trip date. Keeping fingers crossed.

[User]

Reply 11 of 13 • 26 January 2022 at 18:06:29 #938259

Hi Dante,

yes, and at the moment you also need the Covid certificate to be able to enter public spaces like restaurants and museums, baths etc.
I cannot predict, but I think that a Covid certificate will be necessary for still a long time to enjoy Switzerland totally. But as things are changing very fast, make sure to check the first post in this thread regularly: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/does-the-corona-virus-affect-trips-to-switzerland

Take care,
Ildiko

[User]

Reply 12 of 13 • 27 January 2022 at 4:17:07 #938260

Hello everyone and thank you for the great information. I am planning a trip to Italy and Switzerland this coming May and I have just a couple of questions about entering Switzerland. I am fully vaccinated with Pfizer and received my booster shot on October 2, 2021. So the valid date of 270 days would put it somewhere just around the end of June 2022 somewhere?

Also I read that no test was needed for fully vaccinated persons from the U.S. if flying into Switzerland. I will be visiting Italy first before Switzerland and flying into Zurich after staying in Italy about a week. I will get the EU Covid card for Italy and wanted to know if the same card will be enough for entry to Switzerland and do the same rules apply to an U.S. citizen flying in from another European country and not directly from the U.S.. Thank you again everyone for all the fantastic information.

[User]

Reply 13 of 13 • 27 January 2022 at 8:50:11 #938261

Hi Kitsus001,

Yes, that is right, you are good until the end of June 2022 with your booster shot.

Yes, the EU Covid Card is valid in Switzerland.

Just one short notice, if you haven’t bought your flight ticket from Italy to Zurich, I recommend traveling by train instead of flying. Remember, we have smaller distances here than in the US. For example the Bernina Express route is amazing, you could include that in your trip from Italy to Zurich: http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress. More information about traveling from Italy to Switzerland: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/italy

Also, I would like to ask you, next time please start a new thread for your question, so others can find it easier. Please, see the forum rules at http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/rules. Thank you.

You can find more information about the coronavirus at http://www.myswissalps.com/coronavirus

Take care,
Ildiko