Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a “strong Covid-19 wave” just days before the peak holiday travel period. In a bulletin dated 13 December the agency reported national hospital occupancy at 87 percent, with Zurich, Vaud and Ticino already activating surge plans. Although Bern has stopped short of re-introducing blanket entry restrictions, the FOPH urges vulnerable residents and incoming visitors to avoid crowded trains and to carry masks in case cantonal mandates are introduced on regional transport.
From a mobility perspective, the advisory introduces fresh uncertainty for business travellers. Visas and residence permits continue to be processed normally, but a positive test still triggers canton-specific isolation—usually five days—potentially derailing tight travel schedules. Travel-insurance providers report a spike in requests for “cancel-for-any-reason” upgrades and for coverage that includes forced hotel quarantine.
Inbound travellers should reconfirm that their medical policies cover isolation costs and check whether their home country requires documentation for re-entry. Airlines operating into Zurich and Geneva have kept flexible re-booking rules but warn mask mandates could return with 24-hour notice if cantonal rules tighten. Mobility managers are therefore refreshing remote-work contingency plans and ensuring sick-leave policies apply when staff are stuck abroad.
![Swiss Health Authority Issues Covid-19 Holiday Travel Advisory]()
For those needing last-minute entry documentation or renewals, VisaHQ can be a useful safety net. The company’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) lets travellers and mobility teams apply online, monitor processing times and arrange courier pickup, reducing the admin burden just when health rules may shift without warning.
While Switzerland currently has no testing requirement for entry, the FOPH will reassess the epidemiological situation on 20 December and has not ruled out targeted capacity limits for large indoor events. Corporate travellers booked into conferences in Basel, Geneva and Zurich could face last-minute attendance caps or hybrid-event pivots.
The episode is a reminder that pandemic-related disruptions have not fully disappeared. Companies relocating staff over year-end should build in buffer days, verify local health-care capacity near temporary housing and keep hotline support active.
From a mobility perspective, the advisory introduces fresh uncertainty for business travellers. Visas and residence permits continue to be processed normally, but a positive test still triggers canton-specific isolation—usually five days—potentially derailing tight travel schedules. Travel-insurance providers report a spike in requests for “cancel-for-any-reason” upgrades and for coverage that includes forced hotel quarantine.
Inbound travellers should reconfirm that their medical policies cover isolation costs and check whether their home country requires documentation for re-entry. Airlines operating into Zurich and Geneva have kept flexible re-booking rules but warn mask mandates could return with 24-hour notice if cantonal rules tighten. Mobility managers are therefore refreshing remote-work contingency plans and ensuring sick-leave policies apply when staff are stuck abroad.
For those needing last-minute entry documentation or renewals, VisaHQ can be a useful safety net. The company’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) lets travellers and mobility teams apply online, monitor processing times and arrange courier pickup, reducing the admin burden just when health rules may shift without warning.
While Switzerland currently has no testing requirement for entry, the FOPH will reassess the epidemiological situation on 20 December and has not ruled out targeted capacity limits for large indoor events. Corporate travellers booked into conferences in Basel, Geneva and Zurich could face last-minute attendance caps or hybrid-event pivots.
The episode is a reminder that pandemic-related disruptions have not fully disappeared. Companies relocating staff over year-end should build in buffer days, verify local health-care capacity near temporary housing and keep hotline support active.
