Embassy of Switzerland in Russia
As the official representation of Switzerland, the embassy covers all matters concerning diplomatic relations between the two countries. It represents Swiss interests in the areas of political, economic and financial affairs, legal arrangements, science, education and culture.
Coronavirus: Update of the travel restrictions
Travelling to Switzerland (no quarantine required)
Find out which COVID-19 related measures apply to you when entering Switzerland via the new interactive travel check tool.
Travel restrictions: Swiss citizens and holders of a Swiss residence permit L, B, C or a national visa D, citizens of a Member State of the European Union and citizens of a Member State of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as well as third country citizens who are fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine are allowed to enter Switzerland. There are regular direct flights between Russia and Switzerland (Zurich and Geneva).
Third country citizens travelling from Russia who are not fully vaccinated are only allowed to enter Switzerland in exceptional cases (cf. Ordinance 3 on Measures to Combat the Coronavirus). The visa counters of the Embassy and those of our partner TLS Russia remain closed. Russian citizens who are in a situation of necessity and have to travel to Switzerland, need a special authorization (laissez-passer) from the Embassy of Switzerland to enter Switzerland even if they have a valid Schengen visa.
Vaccination: Travellers with a certificate of vaccination which is recognized in Switzerland can enter the country. The normal entry requirements apply and no special permission issued by a Swiss foreign representation is necessary.
All travellers (including vaccinated and recovered persons) must present a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours or a rapid antigen test not older than 24 hours at the check-in counter at the airport of departure. Children under 16 years are exempt from testing. As of 20 December 2021 vaccinated and recovered travellers are no longer obliged to undergo a second COVID-19 test after their arrival in Switzerland.
There are currently no countries on the list of countries with a variant of concern so there is no quarantine requirement for people arriving in Switzerland at present.
Entry form: All travellers from Russia are obliged to fill in an entry form before crossing the border. The obligation to provide contact details when flying into the country also applies to travellers who have been vaccinated or have recovered. It is important to fill out the electronic entry form on a computer or smartphone at the earliest 48 hours before the travel in order to receive a QR code by email. This code needs to be kept at hand for inspection upon arrival in Switzerland. The controlling authority can impose a fine if the entry form is not completed or if the information provided is false.
If you wish to receive a special authorization (laissez-passer) for Switzerland because you are in a situation of necessity or have other specific questions, please contact the Visa Section of the Embassy by email: moscow.visa@eda.admin.ch
Further updated information on entry rules is available via the following links: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
For frequently asked questions about returning to Switzerland in times of coronavirus, please visit the page "What does the FDFA advise?".
For further information on travel restrictions worldwide, please check the FDFA travel advice.
Travelling to Russia (no quarantine)
The Russian Government has decided that until further notice:
Russian boarders are partly open (tourism, for travelling on business, education and medical purposes). International commercial air traffic from and to Russia is temporarily restricted.
According to the government decree of 1 August 2020, Swiss nationals and people with a residence permit for Switzerland are excluded from the restrictions to enter Russia. They can now enter Russia by airway either directly from Switzerland or through one of the countries which also resumed flights with Russia. The official list of these countries can be found on the website of the Russian Federation in Russian. Information in English is also regularly updated on the website of Aeroflot.
The Russian travel restrictions also do not apply to diplomatic and consular staff in Russia and their families, to professional drivers of international shipping and bus companies, to crew members of airlines, maritime and river vessels, to liaison staff of international railways, to official delegation members, to holders of diplomatic, service and regular private visas attending funeral services of immediate relatives, and to persons holding permanent residence in Russia.
To enter Russia, foreign nationals are obliged to provide a medical certificate in English or Russian of a negative test for the coronavirus (PCR test) that is no more than 48 hours old before their arrival in Russia. This certificate has to be presented at the airline's check-in counter at the airport of departure.
For more information, please consult the Consulate of Russia in Switzerland.
Due to the current situation, Swiss nationals may extend the validity of their residence permit or visa in Russia, if these have expired. To do so, please consult the nearest office of the Main Directorate for migration of the Russian Ministry of the Interior.
If you contract the COVID-19 during your stay in Russia and overstay your visa due to the subsequent quarantine, you may need an exit visa. In this case, please contact the nearest office of the Main Directorate for migration of the Russian Ministry of Interior. The Embassy cannot assist you in obtaining the visa.
We remind you that it is necessary to respect the sanitary measures in force in your place of stay and to follow the evolution of these measures. The following websites will inform you about the measures in place:
- Official Russian coronavirus website (hotline: 8-800-2000-112)
- For the city of Moscow (hotline: +7 495 870 45 09)
We kindly ask all Swiss nationals or residents in Switzerland, who currently travel in Russia, to register on the Travel Admin application.
For specific questions regarding the current situation, please contact the Embassy of Switzerland in Russia: moscow@eda.admin.ch
Services and visa
All consular services and visa support for residents of the countries listed below are provided by the Regional Consular Centre Moscow. Information can be found on the websites concerned:
