Information on: Swiss Covid certificate and application for Swiss certificate if vaccinated abroad
The information below is based on the COVID-19 certificate ordinance and on information provided by the competent cantonal authorities. It is subject to change at short notice.
The requirement to present a Swiss COVID certificate or compatible QR code currently applies to access public (indoor) establishments such as restaurants, cafés, cultural, leisure and sports facilities or events requiring a certificate. Until 24 October 2021, all foreign vaccination certificates (e.g. WHO yellow vaccination booklet) for vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency will remain valid as a transitional measure.
Issuance of a Swiss Covid certificate for persons vaccinated or cured abroad and living in Switzerland
Persons residing in Switzerland can obtain a Swiss Covid certificate if they have been fully vaccinated abroad with a vaccine authorised by the EMA or, under certain conditions 1 , by the WHO protocol for emergency use (see summary below).
COVID-19 vaccines currently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Comirnaty® / BNT162b2 / Tozinameran (Pfizer/BioNTech)
Spikevax® / mRNA-1273 / COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna)
Vaxzevria® / AZD1222 / Covishield™ (AstraZeneca)
COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
Vaccines authorised by the WHO in addition to those already on the EMA list
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell) (Sinopharm / BIBP)
CoronaVac (Sinovac)
Persons who have recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection that was confirmed by a positive PCR test abroad and is not more than 180 days old can also obtain a Swiss Covid certificate.
Issuance of a Swiss Covid certificate for persons vaccinated or cured abroad who enter Switzerland temporarily without permanent residence (e.g. delegates) These persons also have the possibility of obtaining a Swiss Covid certificate, but only if they have been vaccinated with an EMA-approved vaccine or if they can prove by PCR test that they have been cured within the last 6 months.
Procedure for applying for a Swiss COVID certificate
The above-mentioned persons, who do not already possess an EU Digital COVID Certificate, may apply for a Swiss Covid Certificate at the competent authority of the canton in which they reside or are temporarily staying, or through which they entered Switzerland.
From the week of 18 October 2021, a unique online registration platform for Covid certificate applicants who are vaccinated (valid for 12 months) or cured (valid for 6 months) abroad will allow them to obtain a certificate by email and/or SMS with a download link.
In the meantime, please refer to the links to the websites or forms of the cantons, in particular: Geneva (https://www.ge.ch/certificats-covid-19), Vaud (https://www.vd.ch/toutes-les-actualites/hotline-et-informations-sur-le-coronavirus/faq-covid-et-sante/certificat-covid), Bern (https://www.gsi.be.ch/fr/start/themen/coronavirus/zertifikat/antrag-fuer-personen-mit-impfung-oder-erkrankung-im-ausland.html), Basel-City (https://www.coronavirus.bs.ch/en/covid-zertifikat.html).
Information required to complete the online application:
Information about your citizenship (e.g. copy of your passport or residence permit in Switzerland). Reason, duration and place of stay in Switzerland.
Proof of residence or temporary stay, or proof of travel to Switzerland (e.g. plane ticket, train ticket or accommodation reservation).
For vaccinated persons: confirmation of vaccination (e.g. vaccination certificate with indication of the vaccine, number of doses received, date of last vaccination and name of the issuing country).
For people cured from Covid: information on the test center or institution where the test was conducted, the date and time of sample collection (not older than 180 days) and the type of test (only PCR tests are accepted).
NB. The required documents must be written in the Latin alphabet, in French, German, Italian or English.
COVID Certificate App
Download the "COVID Certificate" application for free from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and the Huawei AppGallery.
You can receive your certificate directly in the application.
For more information please refer to the FOPH website (https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/fr/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/covid-zertifikat/covid-zertifikat-erhalt-gueltigkeit.html)
Processing times
Processing times for certificate applications may vary from canton to canton and from period to period. The concerned authorities do their utmost to process applications as quickly as possible, but depending on the number of applications, processing times may be several days. People who plan to come to Switzerland and wish to obtain a Swiss Covid certificate are strongly advised to complete their online application early (ideally 2 to 3 weeks before their arrival), in order to receive their certificate before their trip.
Emolument
The responsible authority is entitled to charge a fee for issuing a Swiss Covid certificate to non-residents.
