COVID-19 – FAQ for U.S. Citizens

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Travel to the United States

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    Last Updated: June 13, 2022

    As of 12:01 a.m. on June 12, 2022, air travelers to the United States are no longer required to show a negative COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, prior to boarding a flight to the United States. For more information, see the Centers for Disease Control order.

    Proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still required. 

    For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.

    Effective November 8, all travelers to the United States must show proof of vaccination status.

    There are different requirements for different categories of travelers (U.S. Citizens, LPRs, NIV/ESTA travelers) so please read the following information carefully.

    All non-U.S.-citizen, nonimmigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa) airline passengers traveling to the United States, must demonstrate proof of vaccination as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Order prior to boarding a U.S. bound aircraft. More details regarding what constitutes full vaccination are available on this page of the CDC website. Please note that a person who has recovered from COVID-19 and only received one shot is not considered fully vaccinated per the CDC’s requirements to enter the United States.

    Passengers will need to show their vaccination status, and airlines will need to:

    • Match the name and date of birth to confirm the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination.
    • Determine that the record was issued by an official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency) in the country where the vaccine was given.
    • Review the essential information for determining if the passenger meets CDC’s definition for fully vaccinated such as vaccine product, number of vaccine doses received, date(s) of administration, site (e.g., vaccination clinic, healthcare facility) of vaccination.

    Airlines must deny boarding to passengers who do not meet these requirements or those who test positive for COVID-19.

    For additional information or if you have specific questions, please contact your airline and visit the CDC’s website.

    The U.S. Embassy will not provide responses regarding specific vaccine and testing requirements. All questions should be directed to the Centers for Disease Control or the airline.

     

NO.

For more information see CDC’s Testing and International Air Travel page. Always follow state and local recommendations or requirements related to travel.

Testing locations vary by canton.  Find your canton and testing locations here.

NO

U.S. citizens will not be permitted to use their expired U.S. passport to return to the United States after June 30, 2022.

If your passport has expired, please visit our website for information on how to renew your passport.

Click here to find out if you are eligible to renew your passport by mail.

ALL Travelers

RECOMMENDED

If You Are NOT Fully Vaccinated

RECOMMENDED
In addition to the recommendations above

  • Stay home and self-quarantine for a full 5 days after travel.

See CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html

By U.S. law, U.S. citizens are required to ENTER and EXIT the United States on a valid U.S. Passport.
A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent might acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if the U.S. citizen parent met the transmitting requirements.

If a person is a U.S. citizen, he or she is not eligible for a visa. Any prospective applicant believing he or she may have a claim to U.S. citizenship should have his or her citizenship claim adjudicated (officially determined) by a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate before applying for a U.S. visa.

For a formal determination of acquisition of U.S. citizenship, Form DS-2029 needs to be submitted to our office.
Step-by-step instructions are available on our website at: https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/citizenship-services/birth/

You can see what rules apply to you when transiting through Switzerland using the online Travel Check service.

You can see what rules apply to you when entering Switzerland using the online Travel Check service.

The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas.  Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.

  • You can find the most up-to-date information on COVID testing in Switzerland and Liechtenstein through the Swiss Office of Public Health.
  • You can register with your cantonal authority for vaccination through this site.
  • National COVID-19 vaccination info-line (every day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.): +41 58 377 88 92

Veterans registered under the Foreign Medical Program are authorized to receive a COVID vaccine (even non-FDA approved versions) and be reimbursed. This would require they sign-up/receive a vaccine through Swiss authorities https://foph-coronavirus.ch/vaccination/when-can-i-be-vaccinated/#cantons). They should call the toll-free VA contact number (+1 877-345-8179) for more information/to confirm this individually. (source: https://www.va.gov/communitycare/programs/veterans/fmp/index.asp)

Veterans eligible to receive care from military facilities (retirees and medical retirees, for example) can contact Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to see if they are currently eligible for a vaccine (it is likely that they will have to wait until after higher tier groups become vaccinated) https://landstuhl.tricare.mil/

1. For your application, you require at least the following information:

  • Information on your nationality or on your residency status in Switzerland (e.g. copy of passport)
  • Information on your country of origin
  • Confirmation of vaccination (e.g. vaccination certificate with details of the vaccines, date of last vaccination, number of doses received, existing certificate if applicable)
  • Reason for your stay in Switzerland, how long you are staying and where
  • Proof of address or residence or proof of arrival in Switzerland (e.g. plane ticket, train ticket, or accommodation booking)

2. The necessary documents must be in Latin script and must be submitted in German, French, Italian or English.

3. Download the COVID Certificate app free from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or Huawei App Gallery. Your COVID certificate can also be directly delivered to the app.

4. You can request a Swiss COVID certificate if you are visiting and if you have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine that is authorized in Switzerland.
Visit the National COVID Certificate application platform to request a COVID-19 Certificate. 

Please contact the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health for any questions or concerns in this regard:

Federal Office of Public Health

Coronavirus Infoline +41 58 463 00 00

COVID-19 Vaccination Infoline +41 58 377 88 92

You will find this information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Website at:
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments

Should you have specific questions in this regard, please contact the IRS directly.
Economic Impact Payment Hotline: +1 800 919 9835

The U.S. Embassy does not cash checks. You would need to work with the local banks.
Banking resources are available on our website at: https://ch.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/living-in-ch/banking-resources/

Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] requirements for importing human remains depend upon if the body has been embalmed, cremated, or if the person died from a quarantinable communicable disease.

At this time, COVID-19 is a quarantinable communicable disease in the United States and the remains must meet the standards for importation found in 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 71.55 and may be cleared, released, and authorized for entry into the United States only under the following conditions:

  • The remains are cremated; OR
  • The remains are properly embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed casket; OR
  • The remains are accompanied by a permit issued by the CDC Director. The CDC permit (if applicable) must accompany the human remains at all times during shipment.
    • Permits for the importation of the remains of a person known or suspected to have died from a quarantinable communicable disease may be obtained through the CDC Division of Global Migration and Quarantine by calling the CDC Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 or emailing dgmqpolicyoffice@cdc.gov.

Please see CDC’s guidance for additional information.

For more information regarding Consular Reports of Death Abroad visit our Website: Death of a U.S. Citizen


Local Resources

In Switzerland, call +41 58 463 00 00, 24/7
Please note: This Infoline does not provide medical advice. Due to the high volume of calls you may experience delays in getting through.

In Liechtenstein, call +423 236 76 82

You have symptoms and you are unsure what action to take? Answer all the questions here to the best of your knowledge.
At the end of the check, you will receive recommendations on what to do.

Find your nearest specialist or general practitioner quickly and free of charge: doctorfmh.ch is the official, comprehensive list of doctors in Switzerland. With more than 30,000 entries, it is updated daily.

The cantonal authorities are responsible for many matters/tasks relating to the coronavirus outbreak. Links to cantonal websites can be found at ch.ch, where you will find information on the new coronavirus along with relevant contact details.

  • Police, dial 117 (same in Liechtenstein)
  • Fire service, dial 118 (same in Liechtenstein)
  • Ambulance, dial 144 (same in Liechtenstein)
  • European Emergency Number, dial 112 (same in Liechtenstein) 

Self-quarantine and social distancing help reduce the spread of COVID-19, but for many dealing with domestic violence, staying home may put people at risk. External factors such as financial strain and stress compound the issue, and when the community is encouraged to remain in their homes, an abuser may take advantage of an already harmful situation. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, call 117 in an emergency and visit Victim Support Switzerland

Travelers and residents are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. The Department uses these Alerts to convey information about terrorist threats, security incidents, planned demonstrations, natural disasters, etc.

Footer Disclaimer

This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland & Liechtenstein. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

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