A higher percentage of first generation immigrants in Switzerland say they trust Switzerland’s institutions than native Swiss, according to a recently published report from Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office looking at integration. Of the first generation immigrants questioned, 55% said they trusted political institutions, 63% said they trusted the judiciary and 72% said they trusted the […]
Switzerland’s list of 29 compulsory quarantine countries
Anyone arriving in Switzerland from a state or area with an increased risk of infection is legally required to quarantine themselves for 10 days. If you enter Switzerland and have spent time in a country or region where there is an increased risk of infection in the past 14 days you must go to your […]
Coronavirus: Switzerland confirms lifting of COVID restrictions regarding all EU/EFTA states and UK
On 12 June 2020, Switzerland’s Federal Council approved an earlier plan by the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to remove Schengen States from the list of high-risk countries, and reintroduce rights of free movement into Switzerland from 15 June 2020. All restrictions imposed on persons entering Switzerland from the Schengen Area will be […]
Switzerland holds off on open borders with Italy
Switzerland’s Federal Council announced on June 2 that it plans to maintain border restrictions with Italy until further notice as a reciprocal border arrangement with Italy would be premature. From 3 June 2020, Swiss residents will be able to travel to and return from Italy, but Italians or Italian residents will not be able to […]
Coronavirus: Switzerland plans to lift all restrictions on Schengen movement
Switzerland’s Federal Council plans to lift all travel restrictions and re-establish free movement of persons across the Schengen area no later than 6 July 2020 and possibly as early as mid June, it announced today. If the epidemiological evolution allows, restrictions on entering, working and living in Switzerland will be lifted for all Schengen states […]
Coronavirus: unmarried couples can cross between Austria, Germany and Switzerland
On 15 May 2020, the Swiss government announced that the borders between Switzerland, Germany and Austria are to open again for unmarried couples in long-term cross-border relationships from midnight. These borders are also open for those wishing to visit relatives or attend important family events. Restrictions will also be lifted for people who own a […]
Coronavirus: Switzerland sets date for fully reopened borders with Germany, Austria and France
On 13 May 2020, Karin Keller-Sutter, Switzerland’s ministerial head of police and justice, said Switzerland is aiming to fully reopen borders between Germany, Austria and France on 15 June 2020. After discussions with her counterparts in these three countries she said there was a common will to return to normal as quickly as possible including […]
Steep drop in asylum requests in Switzerland
Recent figures show a steep decline in the number of people applying for asylum in Switzerland during the coronavirus crisis. During April 2020, 332 asylum requests were made in Switzerland, 65.5% fewer than in March 2020 and 70.3% fewer than during April 2019, according to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). The main originating countries […]
Becoming Swiss: municipalities with high and low naturalisation rates
When it comes to gaining Swiss citizenship, where you live matters. Some municipalities have high rates of naturalisation while some have not granted citizenship to a single person since 1992. A recently published study by researchers at Geneva University (UNIGE) looks at naturalisation rates by municipality between 1992 and 2017. The municipalities of Rueyres (VD), […]
Swiss government bans large gatherings
In a press release this morning, Switzerland’s federal government announced a ban on all events involving more than 1,000 people. “In view of the current situation and the spread of the coronavirus, the Federal Council has categorised the situation in Switzerland as ‘particular’ in terms of the Epidemics Act. Large-scale events involving more than 1000 […]
