Switzerland to drop remaining COVID-19 entry requirements
Travel to Switzerland is about to look more normal than it's been in more than two years. Swiss officials announced that the country will remove its remaining COVID-19 entry requirements beginning May 2.
For U.S. travelers, this means yet another popular European destination is shedding pandemic-era restrictions just as a busy summer travel season approaches.
Potential travelers who will see the most significant impact of these changes are those who are unvaccinated. While the country reopened to all tourists in June 2021, according to the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland, the rules were tightened to restrict tourism travel to just vaccinated U.S. travelers.
At the moment, unvaccinated travelers can enter the country, but only for extenuating, essential circumstances, which are currently detailed in Switzerland's TravelCheck online questionnaire. Those requirements will expire May 2.
Starting in early May, travelers will not need to prove vaccination to enter the country.
"As of that date [May 2], the usual rules for entering Switzerland will apply," Switzerland's State Secretariat for Migration said in a tweet April 21. The changes mean that to get into Switzerland you would only need typical documentation (like a passport, etc.) for entering the country.
Related: A country-by-country guide to coronavirus reopenings
The relaxing of these final restrictions come as Switzerland has seen COVID-19 cases on the decline lately. According to data from the World Health Organization, Switzerland saw more than 186,000 new cases the week of March 14. That number dropped to fewer than 32,000 by the week of April 11.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently places Switzerland at Level 3: High levels of COVID-19 on its Travel Health Notices page, but it's worth noting that most countries in Europe and all North American countries (including the U.S.) fall under that same designation.
Related: What it's like traveling in Switzerland right now
Switzerland had already dropped the vast majority of its domestic COVID-19 restrictions, with the bar on unvaccinated international tourists being the key remaining protective measure in place.
This change in May is yet another sign that international travel will be looking much more normal heading into the summer months.
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The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month