Attention!

Due to the increasing numbers of new Covid-19 infections and more restrictive regulations in South Africa, an appointment is again required for any personal visit to the Regional Consular Center in Pretoria.

To apply for a new Swiss passport and/or Swiss identity card, please log your application online on the following website and wait until you receive the invitation to book your appointment.

A range of consular services can be solicited through the online desk. More information on the various consular services is readily available under "Services".

For any other enquiries, please contact the Regional Consular Centre by phone +27 12 452 06 61 or by e-mail southernafrica@eda.admin.ch

Information for the Swiss abroad regarding Covid-19 vaccine

Dear Swiss Compatriots

Please be informed that the import of vaccines is governed by the legal framework of the respective host country. A vaccine must be approved by the health authorities of the host country and can only then be administered to the population through the designated - officially approved - distribution channels (doctors, hospitals, laboratories etc.). It is therefore not possible at present in South Africa to order a vaccine from Switzerland and then distribute it through the Embassy or Consulate General to the Swiss residents in South Africa. 

Can Swiss nationals who live abroad be vaccinated in Switzerland? Who covers the costs?

• Swiss nationals abroad who have mandatory basic health insurance in Switzerland can be vaccinated in Switzerland in accordance with the vaccination recommendations. You will find more information on registering from the relevant cantonal offices, your health insurance provider and/or General Practitioner (doctor) in Switzerland.
• Swiss nationals abroad who do not have mandatory basic health insurance in Switzerland should have the vaccination at their place of residence in accordance with their host country’s rules. Please contat your local health insurance provider and/or General Practitioner (doctor) to find out more about the vaccination policiy.

More information on COVID-19 vaccination can be found on the FOPH webpages: Coronavirus: Vaccination, Protect yourself and others: Vaccination & FAQ

Other interesting links are:

Swiss Community OSA

Travel to Switzerland for Swiss citizens

Swiss citizens can enter Switzerland at any time.

All travellers must take note of the health-related measures at the Swiss border. The interactive travel check tool shows you what measures apply to you. The complete information can be found on the website of the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH.

Please do not forget to fill in the entry form before travelling to Switzerland. As a further precaution, travelers are kindly requested to respect the local directions for international travels to and from South Africa and to contact your their airline directly in order to establish of any special travel regulations they may require additionally  - such as proof of a negative Covid-19 test.

For more information about the Covid-19 situation and measures in South Africa, please click here.

Important information for Swiss nationals living abroad

In order for us to provide you with the latest information from Switzerland at all times, please always inform us of all address changes (including e-mail addresses) through the online desk or by sending an email to southernafrica@eda.admin.ch.

Services and visa

All consular services for the South African provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West and Free State, as well as for the states of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, have been provided by the Regional Consular Centre Southern Africa in Pretoria, which is attached to the local Embassy of Switzerland.

The Consulate General in Cape Town continues to be responsible for the South African provinces of the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

All Visa applications are handled by the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria.

Information can be found on the websites concerned:

Services – South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius
Visa – South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius

Angola
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Zambia
Zimbabwe