2021 update on the Covid-19 pandemic

Last updated: 05.07.2021

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PLEASE NOTE: due to ongoing restrictions to contain the coronavirus epidemic the 2021 UTMR goes ahead but with a “Special Edition” with all race routes entirely within Switzerland. We made our decision to best ensure the health and safety of all our runners, volunteers and our host communities. See you in September!

Information about the 2021 “Special Edition”

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We have done our best to summarise the entry requirements / restrictions for Switzerland. Please do check the official advice for your own situation.

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Permission to enter Switzerland

If you are coming from outside Switzerland this will help you to find the latest information about any restrictions on entry. Please note the tier system which includes

• (i) permission to enter Switzerland
• (ii) restrictions on entry if you are permitted entry

Please note that entry restrictions are continually updated according to the changing situation.

Due to the ongoing pandemic Switzerland has restricted entry to foreign nationals. This is set by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and you can find further information here.

As of 26.06.2021 you may enter Switzerland if

1. You are a Swiss citizen or have a Swiss residence permit
2. You are a citizen of a state within the Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden).
3. You are a citizen of Andorra, Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Holy See, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand.
4. You are a citizen of a third country (ie any country outside the schengen area plus those mentioned above) and you have been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine (see below)

Who is not permitted to enter Switzerland?

Foreign nationals without proof of a recognised vaccination (see below) seeking to travel to Switzerland from a SEM high-risk country (any country not mentioned above) without permitted visa or permit for a stay of up to three months are not permitted to enter Switzerland. These persons include: persons who wish to obtain services in Switzerland; tourists, visitors and participants in events; persons who wish to come to Switzerland for medical treatment that has not yet begun or that is not regarded as urgently required; persons seeking employment or who have been invited for a job interview in Switzerland; persons who wish to submit an application for a residence permit.

Check if you are allowed entry

If you are unsure if you are allowed entry then use the online Travelcheck to check your own particular situation, or consult these COVID FAQs.

Consult the online TRAVELCHECK   

Rules for entering Switzerland

If you are permitted to enter Switzerland, you must check what rules apply to entry. You might have to fill out an entry form for incoming travellers, show proof of a negative test and/or go into quarantine.

1. Entry form for incoming travellers: swissplf.admin.ch
2. Negative test result
3. Quarantine

Anyone arriving in Switzerland from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) list of countries and areas with an increased risk of infection must go into quarantine. This list is updated every 14 days according to the epidemiological situation.

1. FOPH list of risk countries plus links to an explanation of the list, criteria for the list etc. This list is updated every two weeks, so please check. Countries with a worrying variant currently include India, Nepal, United Kingdom, and you must quarantine unless you are fully vaccinated.
2. How to Quarantine. Please note that you must report your arrival to the cantonal authority responsible within two days. For 10 days after your arrival in Switzerland you must stay in your accommodation without going out.

How can I prove that I am vaccinated?

You will regarded as vaccinated if you have been vaccinated with a vaccine that:

1. is authorised in Switzerland and has been administered in full in accordance with the FOPH recommendations (see Swissmedic);
2. has been authorised by the European Medicines Agency for the European Union and has been administered in full in accordance with the requirements or recommendations of the country in which the vaccination was administered (see European Medicines Agency); or
3. has been authorised under the WHO Emergency Use Listing and has been administered in full in accordance with the requirements or recommendations of the country in which the vaccination was administered. Currently this includes  Pfizer/BioNTech, Astrazeneca-SK Bio, Serum Institute of India, Janssen, Moderna and Sinopharm vaccines (see World Health Organisation).

The vaccine must have been administered in full within the past 12 months. Proof of vaccination may take the form of a COVID-19 certificate. If the certificate has not yet been introduced, vaccination must be proven by another suitable document. This must contain the following information

• Surname, first name(s)
• Date of birth
• Date of vaccination,
• Vaccine used

Please note:
Persons under the age of 18 who have not been vaccinated because of their age and who are travelling with an adult who has been fully vaccinated are permitted to enter Switzerland.

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Entering Italy

Please note we no longer maintain or update this section on Entering Italy but the information might be useful for anyone traveling via Milan. Please make sure you check the official guidance, thank you.

Passenger Locator Form

Before entering Italy, from any country of origin and for any travel reason, and via all means of transportation, the digital European Passenger Locator Form (dPLF) must be completed.

You can find out the conditions of entry into Italy from your country with a couple of clicks at viaggiaresicuri.it You will be asked to indicate:

• Country of origin
• Country(ies) you have travelled through in the last 14 days
• Possession of EU citizenship or citizenship of a country in the Schengen Area
• Possession of registered residence in Italy as a long-term resident or kinship with a long-term resident residing in Italy

At the end of this process, you will be informed if there are any restrictions in place for travel to Italy from your country, the documentation you will have to present and the conditions applied on your arrival.

Check if you are allowed entry   

Entry to Italy from the countries of the European Union and the Schengen Area, Israel, Canada and the United States

Travellers from EU countries, the Schengen area, Israel, Canada, Japan and the United States can enter Italy without any quarantine obligation, provided that:

1. They fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy

2. They present on arrival a COVID-19 Green Pass issued by the Health Authorities their home country, certifying:

• complete vaccination against COVID-19 performed at least 14 days beforehand
• recovery from COVID-19 and the termination of medical isolation
• negative result for a rapid molecular or antigenic test performed in the 48 hours prior to entry into Italy

Green Passes must be in Italian, English, French or Spanish and can be presented in digital or printed formats.

The COVID-19 Green Pass is also mandatory for movements from and to regions that may be classified in “red” or “orange” zones (more details herein below) and may also be requested for attendance at public events (such as trade fairs, concerts, sports competitions and parties following religious or civil ceremonies).

3. Notify arrival to the Prevention Department of the Local Health Authority (toll-free numbers and regional information)

Please note: regardless of your nationality, if you have been in one of the countries listed above for more than 14 days you are allowed to enter Italy on these terms.

Entry to Italy from the UK

Travellers who have stayed in the United Kingdom in the 14 days prior to entering Italy must present a negative certificate for a molecular or antigenic test performed within 48 hours prior to entry into Italy and undergo fiduciary isolation and health surveillance for 5 days. At the end of the isolation period, they will have to perform a new molecular or antigen test.

Entry to Italy from the Brazil, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

Entry and transit in Italy are forbidden for persons:

• who, in the previous fourteen days, have stayed or transited in Brazil (see exceptions)
• who arrive from or have stayed in the previous fourteen days in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (see exceptions)

Entry to Italy from the rest of the world

Travellers from all other countries may be required to:

• fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy
• present a negative result for a molecular or antigenic swab taken no more than 72 hours prior to entry into Italy
• notify arrival to the Prevention Department of the Local Health Authority (toll-free numbers and regional information)
• reach the final destination in Italy only by private means of transport
• undergo fiduciary isolation and health surveillance for 10 days
• at the end of the 10 day isolation, take an additional molecular or antigenic swab

Travellers arriving from some non-EU countries can enter Italy without undergoing fiduciary isolation and health surveillance provided they use COVID-tested flights (refer to the specific section).

EU DIGITAL COVID CERTIFICATE

The EU Digital COVID Certificate allows all travellers to move freely within the European Union and the Schengen area and will be operative in all EU member states as of 1 July. Until such date, the instructions in the “Entering Italy” section at the top of this page must be followed.

The document certifies one of the following conditions:

• vaccination against COVID-19
• negative result of an antigen or molecular test carried out within the last 48 hours
• recovery from COVID-19

COVID-TESTED FLIGHTS

Passengers travelling on COVID-tested flights authorized by the Ministry of Health can enter Italy without having to comply with health surveillance and fiduciary isolation obligations.

Passengers travelling on “COVID-tested” flights are required:

• to present a certificate to the airline on boarding and its control personnel testifying a negative result for a molecular or antigen swab test taken no more than 48 hours prior to boarding
• to fill in the Passenger Locator Form to be presented before boarding
• take another molecular (RT PCR) or antigenic swab test on arrival at the destination airport

For further information and a list of routes operating COVID-tested flights, consult the Ministry of Health website.

Transit through Italy

“Anyone (regardless of nationality) can transit by private means through the Italian territory for a period not exceeding 36 hours, with the obligation, at the end of that period, to leave the national territory immediately or, failing that, to begin the period of surveillance and fiduciary isolation.”