Coronavirus (COVID-19)

^{Update 31 March 2020}

Dear Swiss citizens in Nepal

On Sunday, 29 March 2020, the Government of Nepal has extended the lockdown until 8 April 2020, while international flights remain suspended until 15 April 2020.

The Federal Council calls on all its citizens abroad to return to Switzerland immediately.

The Embassy of Switzerland is coordinating with different European countries regarding evacuation flights back to Europe. Two such flights have left on 28 and 29 March 2020, giving priority to people who belong to a risk group (i.e. over 60 years, families).

The Embassy is currently exploring options for another evacuation flight for remaining Swiss citizens, which could possibly depart from Kathmandu next week. As soon as we have further information, we will share the information on this website and contact those Swiss citizens who have registered with us and signaled interest to fly out. Therefore, please regularly check this website for updates and if you haven’t registered yet with the Swiss Embassy, please immediately contact the Embassy of Switzerland by email (and kindly provide your full name, date of birth, number of passport, contact number and address in Nepal):
kathmandu@eda.admin.ch

Further information:

If you are stranded in Kathmandu and are looking for a place to stay, there are a number of hotels/guesthouses, which remain open so far, amongst others, the following two (as per 25 March):

• Golden Temple Inn, Battisputali (along the ring road on the way to the airport), contact Sumit: +977 9852 623 612

• International Guest House, Khaldara (West side of Thamel), contact: +977 (0)1 4252299

What to do if your Nepali visa expires? The Government of Nepal has temporarily closed the Department of Immigration, where visa extension are carried out. Expired visa will not be punished under the current situation and a departure from Nepal permitted in any case. 

Note: All information is subject to change and the Embassy of Switzerland cannot take any guarantee of completeness and correctness of the above-mentioned information.