Fire and rescue services
Call 118.
Medical emergencies
Call 144.
Police
Call 117.
We advise:
Exercise normal safety precautions in Switzerland.
Call 118.
Call 144.
Call 117.
We advise:
Exercise normal safety precautions in Switzerland.
Exercise normal safety precautions in Switzerland.
Exercise normal safety precautions in Switzerland.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Switzerland has low levels of serious crime.
Petty crime, bag snatching, and pickpocketing are increasing. It regularly happens on public transport and in tourist areas.
Thieves may steal your belongings when your vehicle is unattended or stopped in traffic.
Tourists are a target for robbery:
Crime rates increase in peak tourist seasons around summer and Christmas.
Criminals may operate at events with a large number of foreign visitors.
Thieves often work in pairs. One may distract you while the other steals from you.
To keep safe:
You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you're connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth.
Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media.
More information:
Terrorist attacks could occur anywhere and at any time. Be alert to possible threats, especially in public places. Terrorists may target tourist areas or other places frequented by foreigners and where large crowds may gather.
Possible targets include:
To stay safe:
If there’s an attack, leave the area as soon as it's safe to do so.
Terrorism is a threat worldwide.
More information:
Protests or demonstrations may happen.
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
To reduce your risk:
More information:
Switzerland experiences natural disasters and severe weather, including:
People have died.
The weather in Switzerland, particularly in alpine areas, is unpredictable. It can change suddenly. If there's a natural disaster, follow the advice of local authorities. Get the Alertswiss app and enable push notifications to get real-time weather warnings and advice about the impact of severe weather activity.
Mountain rescues can be extremely costly. Check your travel insurance to ensure it covers you for planned activities.
Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to receive alerts on major disasters.
When you're travelling in alpine areas:
More information:
There are many adventure activities in Switzerland. These include mountaineering, hiking, skiing and air sports. Check your travel insurance covers you for all planned activities.
If you're mountaineering, hiking or skiing:
Hiking or mountain climbing without appropriate footwear (hiking boots) is dangerous. Stick to marked trails.
In some areas, authorities may arrest or prosecute you if you mountaineer or ski off marked trails.
In addition to the above advice, be sure to follow posted etiquette rules as seen at ski resorts when skiing or snowboarding. If in doubt, check with the ticket sales office, tourist office or ski instructors. Failure to follow these rules and give priority to the right people can lead to accidents.
Skiing outside of prepared skiing areas is dangerous and may void your insurance. Stick to marked slopes and trails.
These activities are always dangerous, even in Switzerland, where safety standards are generally high.
Always follow the advice of operators and instructors and wear all safety equipment correctly.
Every year, several people drown in the rivers and lakes in Switzerland.
Most rivers have strong undercurrents and hidden debris. Due to the management of local dams, the undercurrents can vary significantly within short periods.
Lakes and rivers can be significantly colder than the air temperature, leading to thermal shock. Extended periods in any body of water can lead to fatigue.
If you plan to spend time in or on the water:
Wolves, wild boar, deer and cows with young calves are occasionally encountered in Switzerland. You should take particular care if you're in an area where they have been sighted. You should avoid these animals in the wild.
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
You may have to pay thousands of dollars up-front for medical care if you're not insured.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.
More information:
Not all medications available over the counter or by prescription in Australia are available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
You can only bring prescription and non-prescription medication into Switzerland if it's for personal use.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Switzerland. Take enough legal medication for your trip. Consider bringing extra supply in case your trip is unexpectedly extended. Leave medication in its original packaging when travelling.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a dated letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
Tick-borne encephalitis is present in some areas of Switzerland. Make sure you take precautions to prevent tick bites.
The standard of medical facilities and care is similar to that of Australia.
Switzerland doesn't have a reciprocal health care arrangement with Australia.
There are no public hospitals in Switzerland. Medical costs can be extremely high.
Hospitals, doctors and medical centres may ask for payment before treatment if you don't have medical insurance.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
If you're convicted of a crime in Switzerland and you're a foreign national, you may be expelled and unable to return for a long time.
Penalties for possessing, using or trafficking illegal drugs are severe.
More information:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.
Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area, along with many other European countries, meaning you can enter Switzerland without a visa in some cases.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact an embassy or consulate of Switzerland for the latest details about visas, currency and customs.
Carry your passport when crossing borders, even within the Schengen area.
More information:
From November, the new European Entry/Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals, including Australians, travelling in or out of the Schengen Area.
The EES is a digital border system that registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen Area. When entering the Schengen Area, you'll need to have your fingerprints and photo taken. This creates a digital record that registers your biometric details. Passports will no longer be stamped.
You'll need to do this on your first visit to the EU after the EES is introduced. If you visit the Schengen Area again within 3 years of creating your digital record, you'll only need to provide either your fingerprint or photograph at the border on entry and exit.
This process should only take a few minutes per person, however you may experience longer queues at borders when the new system starts.
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) recommends that children under 18 travelling alone or with only one parent/guardian carry a letter of consent from their parents/guardians/non-travelling parent.
The letter should contain the following:
In cases where the second parent isn't present evidence of this should also be provided.
More information:
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing an 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers.
More information:
Switzerland's currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF).
ATMs are widely accessible, and most major credit and debit cards are widely accepted.
Check local media and ask transport providers for updates on border issues.
Drivers must:
Some car hire agencies may need you to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). Get your IDP before you leave Australia.
The standard of roads is generally high.
Pay attention to road conditions in winter.
Ask for local advice on using snow tyres and snow chains.
When driving, be aware that:
It's illegal to use a radar detector.
Penalties for breaking these rules include significant on-the-spot fines.
More information:
Information about rail services is available on the SBB website.
More information:
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Switzerland's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 118.
Call 144.
Call 117.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
Consular assistance is available from the Australian Embassy in Bern and the Consulate-General in Geneva. The Embassy only provides routine passport services by appointment and as scheduled on the website. The Consulate-General in Geneva provides routine passport and notarial services by appointment and emergency passport services.
Australian Embassy, Bern
Address: Weltpoststrasse 5, 2nd Floor – Flex Office
3015 Bern,
Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)31 310 17 80
Email: bern.embassy@dfat.gov.au
Website: Switzerland.embassy.gov.au
X: AusAmbCH
See the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
Australian Consulate-General, Geneva
Address : Chemin des Fins 2, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex
Postal address: Case postale 102, 1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 799 9100
Email: australian.consulate-geneva@dfat.gov.au
Website: geneva.mission.gov.au
Facebook: Australian Consulate-General, Switzerland
X: Australian Consulate Geneva
See the Consulate-General website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
24-hour Consular Emergency Centre
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.