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Citizens of the EU and the EFTA and their family members

EU or EFTA citizens must satisfy the following entry requirements:

  • They must present valid personal identification, an ID card or a passport.
    Depending on the country, Switzerland may recognise other travel documents. Overview:
    Overview of ID and visa provisions according to nationality.
  • They must not pose a threat to public order and security.
  • You may not be expelled from Switzerland.

 
Family members of EU and EFTA citizens who themselves are citizens of a third country must meet the following entry requirements:

  • These persons, regardless of their visa obligation status, wishing to enter the Schengen Area for a short-term stay (without exercising a gainful occupation) not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period must be in possession of a recognised travel document that meets both of the following two requirements:
    •  The travel document is valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area; and
    •  it was issued within the last 10 years (the date of issue only concerns entry into the Schengen Area).

    The travel document’s date of issue is the determining factor, regardless of any decision made by the authorities to extend the period of validity.

    The two conditions mentioned above do not apply to travel documents of third-country nationals who hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen country,
    List of residence permits issued by Schengen Member States (PDF, 872 kB, 05.05.2023)
    or to persons who were issued a valid category D visa for a long-term stay by a Schengen country (national visa, considered as equivalent to a residence permit[1]). In such cases, the travel document must be valid at the time of entry and remain valid for the entire duration of the planned stay in Switzerland or in any other Schengen country.

    Please find travel documents entitling the holder to cross the external borders in the following document:
    Table of recognised travel documents
    To ensure that the most recent documents are available at all times, reference is made to the website of the European Commission. The documents can be found at the bottom of the page under «Related documents»: (Travel documents issued by third countries and territorial entities (Part I); Travel documents issued by Member States (Part II); Travel documents issued by international organisations and other entities subject to international law (Part III); List of known fantasy and camouflage passports).
  • They must not pose a threat to public order and security.
  • The may not be expelled from Switzerland.

 
Regardless of their citizenship, the following are considered as family members of EU and EFTA citizens:

  • The spouse or registered unmarried partner of an EU or EFTA citizen. Registered partnership status must be based on legislation in effect in the EU/EFTA member state and this status must be established as legally equivalent to marital status in both the EU/EFTA member state and host country;
  • A direct descendant under the age of 21 of an EU or EFTA citizen and his/her spouse or registered unmarried partner. The family will be responsible for providing for this person's basic necessities for the entire duration of his/her stay in Switzerland;
    e.g. children, grandchildren
  • A relative in an ascending line of an EU or EFTA citizen and his/her spouse or registered unmarried partner. The family will be responsible for providing for this person's basic necessities for the entire duration of his/her stay in Switzerland.
    e.g. parents and grandparents

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[1] Temporary stay permits shall not be considered as equivalent to a residence permit, since these documents are only issued for the time period required to review an initial application for a residence permit or an application for asylum.

Glossary

EU
European Union

EFTA
European Free Trade Association

Short stay
90 days in any 180 days period

Third countries
Countries that are not members of the European Union and/or the Schengen Area

Travel document
Swiss passport, temporary passport or ID card

   

Last modification 14.09.2021

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