Coronavirus
Consular Services:
Given the current circumstances, the Embassy of Switzerland and its consular services are operating at a reduced schedule. Consular services will continue to be available for urgent and essential cases only. In order to follow the recommended measures of social distancing, please limit
your visits to the Embassy to appointments that have been scheduled in advance.
Please contact us by e-mail to schedule your appointment: telaviv@eda.admin.ch.
We are currently unable to serve walk in visitors.
Enquiries regarding visas, entry into or transit through Switzerland and mandatory quarantine regulations must be made in writing and may be addressed to: telaviv.travel@eda.admin.ch.
Corona virus / Travel restrictions:
Switzerland
Israel was removed from Switzerland’s ‘quarantine list’ (list of states and areas with an increased risk of infection) as of 29 October 2020. The quarantine obligation for travelers from certain states and areas has been in force in Switzerland since July 2020. You will find all the information on the OFPH website.
Please note that the other entry requirements remain unchanged and you are permitted to enter Switzerland if you are
- a Swiss citizen;
- or a person with rights of free movement; The entry into Switzerland or a country within the Schengen area ;
- or a person who holds a valid passport of any country together with one of the following document:
- a valid residence permit, i.e. a Swiss residence permit (L / B / C / Ci permits);
- an FDFA legitimation card;
- a national visa issued by Switzerland;
- a person who is travelling via Switzerland please contact the border control of the airport concerned.
Should you not be in possession of one of those documents listed above, kindly contact the Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv.
From 3 August 2020, persons who have a life partner in Switzerland are also entitled to enter Switzerland, provided they can prove this relationship. Further information can be found on the information sheet «Information sheet for life partner and close acquaintance (PDF, 49.0 kB, English)»
Consult the website of the State Secretariat for Migration SEM before your journey where you will find FAQs on entry restrictions and exceptions, freedom of movement and visas.
Israel
On March 18th 2020, the Government of Israel imposed a complete entry ban on all foreign nationals and people without residence in Israel. As of 16 August 2020, the entry and quarantine regulations for various countries were relaxed. The current list can be found on the website of the Israeli Migration Authority. Please note that all travelers must fill out an online form from the Israeli Ministry of Health before flying to Israel and foreign travelers must also apply for an entry permit at the Israeli foreign mission responsible for their place of residence. An online form must also be filled in before leaving Israel. The Israeli Ministry of Health provides information on its website about the current entry requirements.
All Israeli citizens and residents (Israeli ID required) who have stayed in a country that is not on the list of Israeli migration authorities during the last 14 days prior to entry into Israel are required to enter a 14-day quarantine at home immediately upon entry.
All non-Israeli citizens or residents will be prevented from entering Israel, even if they have proven the ability to stay in home quarantine. Exceptions will be made for those whose lives are based in Israel. (See website the Israeli migration authorities).
Travellers from Switzerland who are already in Israel are obliged to follow the instructions on the website of the Israeli Ministry of Health - in addition, please register on the Travel Admin app of the FDFA:
If you do not feel well and/or develop symptoms of the virus (fever, cough, runny nose, head and chest pains), you are requested to immediately contact the MADA (Magen David Adom) services at the phone number 101.
Maintain a high level of hygiene and avoid hand shaking.
Document the course of your travel in Israel.
Other measures have also been issued. For more details on travel restrictions and quarantine procedures, please refer to the website of the Ministry of Health of the State of Israel.
The Israeli Ministry of Health Hotline +972 (0)8-6241010 is available between 08:00 through 21:00 (Israel time) for questions about the novel coronavirus.
Israel Airports Authority provides useful information on flights still operating from and to Israel.
General advice
We also recommend that all Swiss nationals in Israel follow the recommendations of the Federal Office of Public Health (Switzerland), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the FDFA travel advice “Focus Corona Virus (2019-nCOV)”:
Federal Office of Public Health (Switzerland)
World Health Organization (WHO)
FDFA Travel Advice, Focus Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), in German, French, Italian
For urgent questions, please contact the FDFA Helpline (Tel. +41 800 24-7-365 / +41 58 465 33 33).
