Information about the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territory

The FDFA is closely monitoring the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and in Israel. The Swiss Representative Office in Ramallah is operational and responds to enquiries from Swiss citizens at weekends too (alternatively, you can contact the Helpline FDFA which is available 24/7). It is also in contact with the relevant authorities on the ground. The FDFA's travel advice for the occupied Palestinian territory, published on the Internet, reflects the current assessment of the situation. They are checked on an ongoing basis.

Travelers already in the country concerned:

• Stay in contact with the tour operator.
• Keep in touch with family and friends.
• Anyone wishing to interrupt their trip should contact the tour operator. If you are travelling individually, it is best to discuss any changes to your itinerary and the measures to be taken with your travel insurance company beforehand.
• Tel Aviv airport is currently open, but commercial flights are limited. The borders with Jordan – Sheikh Hussein Bridge (north) and Sheikh Hussein Bridge (Allenby) – are also operating, but opening hours are changing regularly and limits on crossings are imposed. The FDFA does not itself organise departures from the oPt. If the FDFA becomes aware of organised departures from partner countries from which Swiss nationals could benefit, a notice will be sent to all persons registered with the Swiss Representative Office in Ramallah and on Travel Admin.

Travelers who are still in Switzerland:

• It is currently inadvisable to travel to the West Bank for tourist trips and any other non-emergency travel. It remains inadvisable to visit regions located in or around the cities of Nablus and Jenin, as well as the Gaza Strip.
• If you still have to travel to the oPt for compelling reasons, find out about developments in the situation in the media and from a local contact person before you leave and during your trip. Stay away from roadblocks, crowds and demonstrations of any kind, and obey the instructions of the local authorities.
• For information on flight connections and other transport, please contact the airlines and transport companies directly.
• If you have booked your trip through a travel agency, we recommend that you contact your tour operator.
• The decision as to whether or not to undertake a trip is, of course, your own decision and your personal responsibility.

You can also take advantage of our additional services:

• Consult our Travel Reports: You can subscribe to the Travel Reports for one country, for several countries or for all countries simply by making your choice and entering your e-mail address. You'll be informed of all future updates.

Register travel plans:

• Register your travel plans with the FDFA online at www.traveladmin.ch or via the Travel Admin application. Your details will enable the FDFA to locate you better and contact you (SMS or e-mail) if a crisis occurs abroad.

COVID-19: Entry restrictions lifted as of 02.05.2022

The entry restrictions currently in place will be lifted from 2 May. As of that date, the normal entry requirements apply again to any person entering Switzerland. You will find information about visas, travel documents, etc. here: FAQ – Entry.

To see what rules apply to your own particular situation when entering Switzerland, consult the online TravelCheck.

The arrangement of an appointment on www.swiss-visa.ch and the visa application form are free of charge. 

Travelling to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia

For vaccinated third-country nationals, the regular entry restrictions to the above mentioned countries applies again.

Due to COVID-19, special regulations apply upon entering the above mentioned countries. Holders of a Schengen visa are not entitled to automatic enter into the country, but must respect the travel instructions in place. All travelers are responsible for verifying travel restrictions in place before departure, as follows:

Estonia: please consult the webpage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Latvia: please consult the webpage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previous registration at www.covidpass.lv is required for all travelers.

Slovenia: please consult the webpage of the Ministry of Interior and the measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections

Lithuania:  please consult the webpage of the National Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania: