Coronavirus (COVID-19)
UPDATE: Travellers have to present a negative Covid-19 test result on arrival in Switzerland and fill in a passenger locator form online before entering Switzerland from Ireland.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has become a worldwide pandemic. Due to the rapidly evolving situation, we recommend that you check the following government websites which give reliable information and are updated regularly.
Situation in Ireland
Please be advised that the Irish government advises against all non-essential travel overseas (including to Switzerland).
All passengers arriving into Ireland are required to have a negative/’not detected’ result from a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland.
As of 26 March 2021, all passengers arriving in to Ireland, who travel without evidence of a negative/”not detected” Covid-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arriving in the State, will be required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine.
Passengers arriving in Ireland from Switzerland (at all airports and ports) are also obliged to complete a Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form before entry. In line with the EU traffic lights approach, there are no entry restrictions on travellers from green regions. Passengers entering Ireland from red, orange and grey regions (Switzerland) are legally required to quarantine for 14 days from arrival. Travellers may reduce the period of quarantine if they receive a negative/not detected result in a PCR test that has been taken a minimum of five days after arrival in Ireland. Please find more information on PCR Test here .
Please also visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade webpage and the Irish Government’s webpage for the latest information and advice.
Please visit the Irish Department of Health webpage for information on how to protect yourself or on how to get medical advice in Ireland.
Situation in Switzerland
General Situation
Please visit the webpage of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health for the latest information and advice on the situation in Switzerland. Please find more information on Coronavirus and on how to protect yourself on the website of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Travel
Ireland has been removed from Switzerland's "quarantine list" (list of states with an increased risk of infection) as of 25 March 2021. Therefore persons entering Switzerland from Ireland do not have to go into quarantine upon arrival unless they have stayed in a state or area with an increased risk of infection within the previous 10 days. Persons who have stayed in a state or area with an increased risk of infection are required to go into quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Switzerland unless they qualify for an exemption. Persons who are obliged to go into quarantine have to report their arrival to the relevant cantonal authority within two days.
Persons entering Switzerland from Ireland additionally have to present a negative Covid-19 test result and to fill in a passenger locator form before entering Switzerland. Travellers who are required to do the quarantine also have the possibility to take a second COVID-19 test after seven days of quarantine, which if negative, might release them from quarantine.
For more information relating to the quarantine requirement please visit the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health website and consult the relevant Q&A. For urgent inquiries that are not answered by the Q&A, travellers may contact the competent helpline.
Switzerland lifted entry restrictions involving EU/EFTA states on 15 June 2020. EU/EFTA citizens can travel from Ireland to Switzerland; freedom of movements has been re-established. Non-EU/EFTA citizens can still face entry restrictions to Switzerland.
Please be aware that as the situation continues to evolve, it is possible that the entry or exit requirements of the Irish government, the Swiss government or a transit country may be adjusted at short notice.
For details relating to Swiss entry regulations please consult the Q&A on the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). In case of urgent inquiries that are not answered by the Q&A, travellers may contact SEM directly (by email or – in the case of emergency – the helpline).
Reopen.eu gives further information about travel in Europe.
While abroad, Swiss citizens should use the Travel Admin App and register their travel data on the App or the online registration service Itineris so that the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs can inform them of any significant changes in the security situation at their place of residence.
Please visit the webpage of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (in German, French and Italian) for general travel advice abroad.
Consular services
In view of the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional Consular Centre (RCC) has adapted its activities.
Where personal presence is required, an appointment must be arranged. Please contact the RCC in a timely manner in order to obtain an appointment. Only visitors with an appointment will be able to enter the building.
Passport / ID card application
The Regional Consular Centre (RCC) is now in a position to process passport/ID card applications again. However, please note that the RCC is experiencing a substantial backlog of applications due to COVID-19 and it is therefore taking longer than usual to process these. Booking any trips while you do not hold a valid passport/ID card is at your own risk.
The RCC appreciates your understanding in these challenging times.
More information
For more information please visit the website of the Regional Consular Centre in London.
