Swiss Covid vaccination certificate requirements and mask wearing rules
When in Switzerland, if you want to enter the indoor areas of restaurants, bars and leisure facilities you will need a Covid certificate if aged 16 or over. You will also need a certificate if you want to use the Italian ski lifts in Cervinia, this also applies to kids from the age of 12 upwards.
In Zermatt you are required to wear a mask on all enclosed lifts and stations and wherever a minimum social distance of 1.5 metres can not be kept. In Cervinia a mask is required on all lifts, the mask needs to be of the FFP2 kind for enclosed lifts.
No certificate is required for eating at outdoor terraces, in shops or public transport, or on ski lifts in Switzerland. However, you will need to wear a face mask in all enclosed public spaces.
The certificate has to prove double vaccination and is valid directly after the date of your second vaccination (except for Janssen where validity starts 22 days after the single dose), or recovery from Covid (no more than 180 days ago).
For all holders of either the EU or Swiss certificate, both the paper or the app are valid, together with ID. The UK NHS app (version after November 1st with updated QR code) is also valid.
If you have a foreign certificate from a country different to the above (e.g. North America, South East Asia, Australia etc.), you will need to convert it into a Swiss certificate. This will work for all vaccinations recognized in Switzerland, which are the same as those approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) .
Here is the list of accepted vaccinations:
Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen/Johnson&Johnson, AstraZeneca and all licensees thereof such as Covishield. Additionally, the following Chinese vaccines will enable you to get a Swiss certificate for up to 30 days: (Vero Cell) (Sinopharm/BIBP) or CoronaVac (Sinovac).
In order to request your Swiss Covid Certificate you will need to complete an application on the Swiss Covid Certificate website
The processing time of an application can take up to 5 working days and the application is subject to a fee of CHF 30.- for visitors to Switzerland.
Swiss border Covid entry regulations in a nutshell:
If you are double vaccinated then normal entry rules apply.
All travellers must fill out a Swiss Passenger Locator Form.
A useful tool is the official Swiss Travelcheck website which will inform you of requirements based on your set of particulars.
For non-Schengen citizens, here is an overview of visa requirements by country (PDF).
Please note:
Persons under the age of 18 who have not been vaccinated because of their age and who are travelling with an adult (parents, siblings, grandparents or other caregivers) who has been fully vaccinated are permitted to enter Switzerland.