Hardly days (or a few hours) seem to go by lately without another of Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) countries imposing additional entry restrictions due to the Omicron variant. This time its Switzerland, becoming the 17th VTL country to impose a pre-departure requirement for travellers.
In this case it’s one of the more significant conditions – a PCR test within 72 hours of departure in order to enter the country (Antigen / ART not accepted).
Additionally, travellers must be fully vaccinated and will also be obliged to undergo a post-arrival test on Day 4 to Day 7.
In order to continue to prevent the new Omicron variant from entering the country as far as possible, a stricter testing regime will now apply for all arrivals into Switzerland. This testing requirement also applies to those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from the disease. In addition to taking a PCR test before travelling, a second test (PCR test or rapid antigen test) must be carried out between the fourth and seventh day after arrival. This test ensures that infected persons who have contracted the virus shortly before or during travel are detected.
Test costs must be borne by the traveller.
Federal Office of Public Health
The announcement was part of a wider tightening of restrictions in Switzerland by its Federal Council in an effort to ease pressure on the country’s hospitals, due to the spread of the Delta variant, but also in light of Omicron concerns.
Switzerland new entry requirements
With effect from 4th December 2021, all travellers:
- Must be fully vaccinated with one of these vaccines.
- Must present a completed entry form.
- Must be able to show the negative result of a PCR test performed no more than 72 hours prior to departure (see the cheapest options in Singapore here). If you cannot show such a test, you will not be allowed to board the aircraft.
- Rapid Anitgen tests are not accepted.
- Children aged 15 or younger are exempt from the pre-departure test requirement.
- Transit passengers who are flying to Switzerland then on to a third country (international onward flight) on the same day without leaving the airport are exempt from the pre-departure test, but must still complete the entry form.
Additionally, if your stay in Switzerland is more than four days:
- You must take another PCR test or rapid antigen test (ART) between the 4th and 7th day after ent