Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Dear Madam/Sir,
Dear Swiss citizens,

Traveling to Switzerland

From 20 July 2020, the Republic of Korea has been removed from the list of high-risk countries. Normal entry requirements apply to any persons entering Switzerland directly from the Republic of Korea. However, it is not permitted to travel to Switzerland via another high-risk country.

Transit in Europe

Germany did not remove the Republic of Korea from the list of high-risk countries. Unless you have a compelling and urgent reason to travel accepted by the German authorities, you might not be able to travel to Switzerland via Germany. Please contact the competent German Embassy for further information.
France and the Netherlands do not apply the same rules. You might also consider flying via Paris or Amsterdam in order to reach Switzerland.

Please find the list of countries subject to normal requirements for entering Switzerland.

List of countries subject to normal requirements for entering Switzerland

For additional information, please consult the webpage of the State Secretariat for Migration SEM.

Quarantine

People arriving in Swtizerland from certain countries and areas will be required to go into quarantine (entry into force 06.07.2020 00h00 CET)

Federal Office of Public Health FOPH > Mandatory quarantine

List of airlines flying directly to Europe

For your convenience, and on an indicative basis only, the Embassy of Switzerland in Seoul learned that the following airlines are flying directly from Incheon airport to Europe at the moment:

• Asiana (Frankfurt/London/Paris)
• Korean Air (London/Paris/Amsterdam/Frankfurt)
• Air France (Paris)
• KLM (Amsterdam)
• LOT (Warsaw/Budapest available)
• Finnair (Helsinki)
• British Airways (London available from 1 September)
• Lufthansa (Frankfurt/München)

Please be aware that this information can change at any time. You must regularly check with the airlines.

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Traveling to the Republic of Korea

Visa waiver agreement (entry into force 13.4.2020 00h00 CET)

Korean authorities have informed us that the visa waiver agreement that allowed visa-free entry to the Republic of Korea for Swiss and Liechtenstein citizens will no longer be in force effective 13 April 00h00 CET. As a consequence, Swiss and Liechtenstein citizens will need a visa to enter the Republic of Korea.

New regulations regarding re-entry Permits to Korea for long-term visa holders of Korea (entry into force 1.6.2020 00h00 CET)

Please visit the following websites to be updated:

Immigration

Hikorea

Please find the standardized multilingual medical certificates, which can be used for the  re-entry in Korea from Switzerland.

Medical certificate with covid test (PDF, 424.2 kB, English)

Medical certificate without covid test  (PDF, 422.7 kB, English)

Special entry procedures adopted by the government of the Republic of Korea (entry into force 12.06.2020 00h00 CET)

At the immigration,

Travelers with symptoms will be tested.

• If positive, isolation and treatment at a hospital or treatment center
• If negative, self-quarantine for 14 days at home or facility for short-term travelers
• Travelers without symptoms will be tested.
• Long term (living in Korea): self-quarantine for 14 days, testing within 3 days
• Short term (not living in Korea): testing at the entry point right after their arrival or at a government-designated facility within 3 days, quarantine at the government-designated facility
• If positive, admitted to hospital or treatment center.

All in-bound travelers are required to download the Self-Quarantine Safety and Protection App on their smartphone. In case travelers violate the self-quarantine order and leave the designated location without justifiable reasons, they may be subject to fine or deportation.

If you travel abroad, please register the dates of your trip on Itineris

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Embassy services / Life Certificates

The Swiss Compensation Office in Geneva (SAK / CSC / CSC) accepts - due to the current situation, delays in postal traffic and difficulties in contacting the competent authorities - life certificates with copy of passport/identity card by e-mail to the following address: sedmaster@zas.admin.ch. These can be confirmed by the insured by means of their signature. (No official stamp).

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please follow the prevention recommendations from the local Korean authorities, especially the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and download the Emergency Ready App available on IoS and Android.

For additional information in a Swiss national language or in English, the following homepages might be useful :

Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)  > New coronavirus (de,fr,it)

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Safetravel.ch, also contains addresses of institutes for travel medicine.

Communication of 29.01.2020 (PDF, 401.0 kB, English)  

Communication of 25.02.2020 (PDF, 390.2 kB, English)

Communication of 28.02.2020  (PDF, 379.0 kB, English)

Communication of 16.03.2020 (PDF, 327.2 kB, English)

Measures Federal Council – airlines, 17.03.2020 (PDF, 530.2 kB, English)

Recommendations for Swiss tourists, 19.03.2020 (PDF, 519.2 kB, English)

Communication of 30.03.2020 (PDF, 412.0 kB, English)

Implemented measures, 30.03.2020  (PDF, 475.7 kB, English)

New re-entry permit visa, 25.05.2020 (PDF, 464.4 kB, English)

Update on re-entry permit, 08.06.2020 (PDF, 575.8 kB, English)

Multilingual Medical Certificate, 25.06.2020 (PDF, 387.2 kB, English)

Warning to future students and interns in Korea

The Embassy was informed by some students and interns that they were victims of fraud while trying to rent a studio or flat in Seoul. Therefore, if you rent an apartment, please do not make any advance payments. Payments should only be made when you move into the rented property. Otherwise, you may be caught by fraudsters and lose your money.