Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Update 22 September 2021

Schengen visas (Type C) for Switzerland Starting 26 June 2021

On 23 June 2021, the Federal Council decided to lift the entry restrictions for persons from third countries who are fully vaccinated. The Embassy of Switzerland is currently accepting all visa categories for persons from third countries (Nepal) who can prove that they have been fully vaccinated with a recognized vaccine.

Booking of a prior appointment is mandatory for all applications types (C+ D).  Please contact our visa section to make an appointment if you wish to apply.

National visas (for a long-term stay of more than 90 days, type D) are processed as usual.

Applications on behalf of Poland, Latvia and Slovakia are still suspended until further notice.

Vaccines

For fully vaccinated third-country nationals with CHE, EU and WHO recognized vaccines, the regular entry requirements will be applicable again from 26 June 2021. This also means that these travelers no longer have to be quarantined after arriving in Switzerland. Please note that this relaxation does not apply to airlines which might have their own requirements and regulations.

Entry restrictions continue to apply to foreign nationals who are not vaccinated and are without rights of free movement, entering from risk countries or regions and who do not belong to any of the exceptional categories of the Covid-19 Regulation 3 (hardship cases). For more information and exceptions, please consult the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), Covid FAQ’s (Entering Switzerland>Situation of special necessity>What constitutes a case of special necessity).

Currently there are no countries on the list of countries with a variant of concern. India, Nepal and the UK were removed from the list with effect from 4 August.

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.

You will also find more information and updates on the Federal Office for Public Health web page.

COVID-19 Certificate

Since Monday, 13 September, a COVID-19 certificate is required to access indoor areas of restaurants, cultural and leisure facilities, and events held indoors.

As of  20 September, anyone who has been vaccinated abroad with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency EMA and who is resident in or travelling to Switzerland can apply for a Swiss COVID certificate. 

Contact Tracing

Everyone entering Switzerland must present an online form on arrival With this information, cases of infection can be identified more easily and transmission chains broken more rapidly.

Information Regarding Nepali Visa and Visa Extension

The current arrival and visa requirements for foreign visitors are published on the website of the Department of Immigration. According to the latest notice regarding arrival/departure facilitation, travellers entering Nepal by air have to present a negative PCR/COVID-test not older than 72 hours and proof of hotel booking for a 10-days- hotel-quarantine. 

Situation Related to Covid-19

For information on the situation related to Covid-19 in Nepal, please refer to the official website of the World Health Organization. Please also follow the recommendations of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) travel advice "Focus Corona Virus":
Federal Office of Public Health (Switzerland)
FDFA Travel Advice, Focus Coronavirus (COVID-19)

We ask all Swiss travelers abroad to register their details and place of stay on the "Travel Admin App". This will enable the FDFA to provide you with better support and to contact you in an emergency.

Flight Operations

International and domestic flights have partially resumed their operations starting 1 July 2021 with a limited number of flights. Flight operations schedules are frequently published on The Civil Aviation of Nepal CAAN website.

Further Information

If you are sick and show symptoms such as fever, cough and difficulty breathing, please call the Covid-19 hotline under +977-9851255839; +977 9851255837 or +977 9851255834. After consultation with a medical staff per phone/hotline, visit the nearest hospital has been designated by the Government of Nepal to treat cases of Covid-19 infection. Here is a non-exhaustive list of hospitals:

• In Kathmandu: Sukraraj Infectious and Tropical Disease Hospital (STIDH), Patan Hospital, Bir Hospital, Grande International Hospital, Star Hospital, HAMS Hospital
• In Dhulikhel: Kathmandu University Hospital in Dulikhel
• In Pokhara: Pokhara Academy of Health Science

For Covid-19 PCR testing: Every Province is now equipped to perform Covid-19 PCR tests. Please contact the Provincial Hospital for more information.

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.