Switzerland is preparing to open its border with all EU/EFTA countries on the 15th June 2020.
The Federal Council had first announced that the Swiss borders would reopen to France, Germany and Austria on the 15th June. However, due to the net improvement of the pandemic situation, entry restrictions have also been lifted for all EU/EFTA countries as well as the United Kingdom.
This decision aligns itself with the recent meeting held by the Schengen state stakeholders. The Federal Council must still approve the amendments of the COVID-10 Ordinance 2 to enforce the decision.
Concerning non-EU/EFTA citizens, Schengen visas and D visa applications are still suspended until further notice.
At the present moment, crossing the Swiss borders is only allowed for foreigners holding a Swiss work permit or entry authorization or for those who find themselves in a situation of absolute necessity such as business meetings that cannot be postponed (art. 3 al. 1 Ordonnance 2 COVID-19 updated on the 8th June 2020).
Procedures concerning employers who have applied for a work permit for a non-EU citizen before the 19th March 2020 are now being processed again.
Concerning new work permit applications, employers are required to announce job vacancies following the priority procedure to benefit the domestic workforce and minimise the negative economic impact of the crisis.
Family reunification is also possible again as well as short-term permits for marriage and registered partnership procedures.
The Federal Department of Home Affairs, in accordance with the FDJP, has the freedom to order medical examinations at the border such as temperature reading or to quarantine groups of people or foreigners coming from a high-risk country in Switzerland.
