Does the coronavirus affect trips to Switzerland?
The thread was started by tourists seeking clarity on travel to Switzerland amidst COVID-19 challenges. They wanted to know entry requirements, testing protocols, and local health certificates. Information shared included updates on vaccination recognition, potential quarantine measures, and the ease of accessing COVID-19 tests in Switzerland.
- Travelers need a valid COVID certificate or proof of vaccination to enter restaurants and other indoor venues in Switzerland.
- Non-EU visitors can apply for a Swiss COVID certificate online if vaccinated with an accepted vaccine.
- The COVID test must be taken within 72 hours before arrival in Switzerland, and travelers are encouraged to check specific local regulations before their trip.
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Hi we are leaving on 9/14 hopefully Swiss will still be open with no qaurantine. Can you just get a rapid antigen test 48 hours before for the return trip. I called my hotel, in Wengen, the Hotel Alpenrose, and they said it was no problem to get a test in Wengen. The antigen test is cheaper than the PCR test. I fyou are looking for a great place to stay in Wengen, stay at the HOtel Alpenrose, a outside yard that overlooks the valley, same family forove ra 100years, friendly black retriever, and the greatest meals I have ever had in Switzerland. The interior is traditional Swiss wood in all the rooms. They will pick you up at the train station and even give you a ride into the Manlichen Cable Car each day. We have staye dthere many times and always loved it. We met a couple that came back many times because it was the site of their secret and forbidden romance after one of the wars. They would come back every year.
Thanks for all the updates. It gets scarey when I read that the Netherlands were qauranting U.S. visitors. That situation would mean we would have to cancel our trip, I hope Switzerland stays open
Roger
Hi Roger,
We have no indications yet that Switzerland will do the same as The Netherlands. Switzerland will no longer allow non-vaccinated US citizens from mid-September, but vaccinated travelers remain welcome.
Good to hear all is working out for you Billandsuz1. Enjoy your time in Switzerland!
Rodger, we arrive on the 14th as well. Can you PM me. ——-@—— dot com. Thanks
Hi Richard123,
sorry, I had to delete your email address from your previous post for security reasons. Please have a look at our forum rules at http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/rules. Thank you for your understanding,
Regards,
Ildiko
No problem. Thanks
On the continuing subject of Certificates, I just received this email. “FC – Coronavirus: Federal Council extends COVID certificate requirement and launches consultation on new entry rules”. Of course, this appears to take effect on our arrival date of September 14th. Not sure how visitors will be able to obtain the necessary certificates….
I will be looking for your updates on this.
Thanks.
The process is not very clear, but you’re supposed to be able to obtain a certificate from the cantonal authorities in the canton where you are staying:
foph-coronavirus.ch/certificate/how-do-i-get-a-covid-certificate-and-how-do-i-use-it/#contents1
Some of the cantonal websites seem better set up for visitors than others. I’m planning to be in Wengen next week, which is in the canton of Bern, so I used that cantonal website and clicked “Application for persons vaccinated while abroad.” I uploaded scans of my passport and CDC vaccination card and used the address of my hotel as the place I am temporarily staying, and received a certificate with QR code back via e-mail that I added to the Swiss COVID cert app.
Dear members,
Please see our “Update 8 September” part in the first post of this thread. It explains the new travel rules from September 20. Not all details are clear yet. We’ll add further updates once we know more.
We also included the link explaining where to get a COVID-certificate once you’re in Switzerland.
Thank you all for sharing your experiences and information!
We are in Lucerne and were told today in the Swiss Museum of Transport that the government will make a decision tomorrow (?) about an additional restriction regarding entry into museums and other features. If they make the decision, proof of vaccination will be needed to enter these facilities. We have our certification of vaccination for entry into the country. Hopefully, that’s the proof they’ll need.
Clearly, there are a lot of questions about the certificates for those outside of Switzerland. The good news, we have a car and we can get carryout and eat in the car…..
Thanks for your response.
Following your instructions, I clicked on your link and then the link for the canton of Bern. It’s only in German or French, so where do I find “Application for persons vaccinated while abroad” to click on?
Use google translate?
That’s an awful lot to translate. Can someone tell me what phrase in German or French I should be looking for? Or give me a direct link?
It’s in the list of options on the left under “Covid-Zertifikat”:
Unlike pretty much everything else on the site, the form is available in English. In the section where you enter your name, you have to pick “de” or “fr” for language, but the form letter they sent back with the certificate was translated into German, French, and English, so I don’t think it matters what you pick unless there’s some kind of problem (in which case Google Translate is probably your best bet.)
I just right clicked with the mouse and the whole document translates. I submitted it but did not get any kind of reply . I am notsure it works. I was going to the Bern website. I tried the Valais website and it did not work well. I am nots ure if i was supposed to get an instant reply from the Bern website. Did anyone else try it and have any success? If I cannot get it to work will it affect getting on cable cars and trains? We are vaccinated and have our documents.
For Bern canton, I tried the link given by traveler42 and it worked: select “en” option for the language, all questions are in English. You need to upload a picture of your passport and your vaccine certificate(or other documents which apply to you). They sent an acknowledgement of the receipt.
Good news, I did get the Covid certificates from the Bern Canton today. It took 24 hours to get. So we are now hopefully all set to go and enjoy a Swiss holiday of hiking, apple strudel, and Fedant wine. Thank you all you Swiss Alp readers for your great advice. Auf Wiedersehen, my german is horrible luckily everyone in Switzerland speaks 4 languages including English and Mastercard.
Thanks, Rgoppelt, for posting your success! I submitted request several hours ago (we are in Wengen now) and was concerned that I hadn’t yet heard anything. Good to know it took 24 hours.
And many, many thanks to Traveler42 for posting the link!
“luckily everyone in Switzerland speaks 4 languages including English and Mastercard.” That’s funny!!
Thank you so much for the extra link. The reason why I didn’t see this is because I was using my iPad and when I opened the page, I only could access the center of the web page and I did not have access at all to the list on the left! Isn’t that strange? I’m sorry I must have sounded so stupid! I opened the links on my computer and now I see the whole page and where it says “application for persons vaccinated or recovered while abroad”. So my advice for others looking for this – use a computer!
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