Legal provisions
- The Federal Act on the Ban on Covering the Face (BCFA) came into force on 1 January 2025.
- Since 1 January 2025, it is prohibited to cover one's face in public places.
Fines
- Anyone who covers their face in a public place in Switzerland is liable to a fine of up to CHF 1,000.
- As a rule, violations are dealt with under the fixed penalty procedure. The fixed penalty is CHF 100 and can be paid on the spot.
- If the person concerned refuses to pay the fixed penalty, the normal procedure according to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrimPC) applies.
Exceptions
- on board aircraft
- in premises used for conducting diplomatic or consular relations
- in places of worship
- for health reasons, e.g. wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of infectious diseases
- for safety reasons, e.g. wearing a full-face crash helmet on a motorbike
- to protect against the weather
- to preserve local customs, e.g. wearing masks at Fasnacht
- for artistic or entertaining performances, e.g. dressing up as a character from a fairy tale or comic for a children’s party
- for advertising purposes, e.g. persons dressed as a chocolate rabbit to advertise a particular product, or as a marmot or mountain goat to promote a holiday destination
- to exercise the fundamental rights of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly or the visual expression of opinion, if previously authorised, e.g. wearing a gas mask at a demonstration calling for a cleaner environment, or dressing as a cow at an event promoting near-natural farming practices.
Documentation
Note
For the complete documentation see the pages in German, French or Italian.
Dossier
Press releases
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Last modification 06.11.2024
Contact
Federal Office of Justice
Marc
Schinzel
Bundesrain 20
CH-3003
Bern
T
+41 58 462 35 41
Contact