After 18 months of inability for nationals from the Schengen area to enter the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Swiss citizens will also be able to re-enter the USA from the beginning of November.
The prerequisites for this are a complete vaccination against the corona virus, a negative test and an ESTA for Swiss citizens. How exactly the proofs will look like in detail will be announced in the next few weeks.
However, it is already clear what requirements will apply to those entering the USA from Switzerland. We explain what these are below.
Do Swiss citizens need a visa for the USA?
Switzerland participates in the so-called “Visa Waiver” program of the USA, which means that entry is possible for tourist purposes, business travelers or for transit without a visa. However, the length of stay of up to 90 days may not be exceeded per stay. A visa is required for longer trips to the USA.
The prerequisite for entry into the USA is a machine-readable biometric passport, a return or onward flight ticket and an ESTA for Swiss citizens. In addition, proof of Covid-19 will be required.
Covid-19: Entry requirements for Swiss nationals to the USA
Since January 2020, entry into the USA has not been allowed for most citizens from the Schengen area. Only a few groups of people, such as state officials, are excluded from the entry restrictions.
However, as the US government announced on September 19, 2021, the strict entry ban for citizens of the EU, Great Britain and Schengen countries will be lifted at the beginning of November 2021. The following requirements must be met:
● A negative Covid-19 virus test (PCR or antigen), which must not be older than 72 hours before the start of the trip.
● A valid vaccination certificate as proof of full Covid-19 vaccination or
● Proof of Covid-19 recovery within the last three months.
● Wearing a mouth and nose protection is mandatory during the entire trip.
Anyone who can meet these requirements will be excluded from the quarantine obligation. What exactly the proof of entry of Swiss citizens into the United States will look like, in particular what form the vaccination and recovery certificate must have, is still to be announced on the official pages of the USA. However, it is assumed that only digital vaccination, recovery and test certificates will be accepted.
A digital Covid certificate can be applied for in the canton of residence or residence of Swiss citizens. It has a validity of 365 days. Digital proof for those who have recovered is valid for 180 days. Testing facilities are available in your canton or at Zurich and Geneva airports. It must be noted that the test is valid for 72 hours before the start of the trip, as there are also tests with a validity of only 48 hours.
How do you get an ESTA to enter the United States?
Although Swiss citizens do not need a visa to enter the USA, they do need a digital entry permit, the so-called ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). This must be applied for online before the start of the trip.
However, ESTA is only valid for stays of up to 90 days. For longer visits, a visa must be applied for. The ESTA is valid for two years and allows multiple entries to the USA. The requirements for the issuance are as follows:
● Swiss citizen or from another country that participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program
● Electronic biometric passport with two stored fingerprints
● The passport is valid for at least six months
● Valid round-trip, return, or onward tickets
● Entry is only for tourism, business or transit purposes
● The stay in the USA will not exceed 90 days
The ESTA for Swiss citizens can be applied for here . Usually, the issuance takes place within a few hours, but this can take a few days for exceptions.
General regulations regarding Covid-19 in the USA
The general regulations regarding Covid-19 vary depending on the country. In principle, however, since May, masks have also been compulsory for fully vaccinated people in places where a minimum distance cannot be maintained, including health facilities, schools, in companies with a mouth-nose protection requirement and on public transport.
Many states such as New York, for example, require a valid proof of vaccination to visit a restaurant in order to dine there. However, this is usually not necessary for shopping in shops and grocery stores.
Even though the exact entry requirements for Swiss nationals to the USA have not yet been announced, it is to be expected that the requirements will not differ from other countries. Therefore, we recommend applying for an ESTA online now and also a digital Corona certificate.
