CUSTOMS

IMPORT REGULATIONS

Pets

• All pets are subject to importation requirements, and some are prohibited.
• A maximum of five animals can be brought into Switzerland. The entry of more than five animals falls under 'import for commercial purposes' but you can apply to the FSVO for a licence if you wish to bring more than five from a third country.
• It is forbidden to bring dogs with docked ears and/or tails.
• Animals aged 12 weeks or younger require a completed official pet passport and must be microchipped. They do not need to have been vaccinated against rabies. However, they do need confirmation that since they were born, they have not been in contact with wild animals. Puppies aged 8 weeks or younger can only be brought into Switzerland if they are accompanied by their mother.
• Animals aged between 12 and 16 weeks old require a pet passport and must be microchipped before being given a rabies vaccination. They must have been given this vaccination 21 days before travelling. However, this period can be waived if the owner provides confirmation that the animal has not been in contact with wild animals since they were born.
• Animals over the age of 16 weeks requite a pet passport and must either have a tattoo or microchip. The chip must be implemented before the rabies vaccination. They are also required to get this vaccination and cannot enter the country until the 21-day waiting period has elapsed. A tattoo will only be valid if it can be proven that it was done before 3 July 2011.
• If the above conditions are not met, then a request for exemption may be made. However, exemptions are only granted in special cases (for example, for dogs and cats with a veterinary certificate stating that they cannot be vaccinated against rabies for medical reasons).
• Rules may differ if you are entering Switzerland from a third country, depending on the rabies risk in the country you are coming from. Make sure to check the rabies status of your country of origin here.
• For further information, please visit Federal Customs Administration Dogs, cats, domestic animals.

Free to Import

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

One of the following:

• 250 cigarettes; or
• 250 grams other tobacco products; or
• 250ml of liquids containing nicotine for 3-cigarettes; or
• 25 units of disposable e-cigarettes.

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

All of the following:

• 5 litres up to 18% alcohol volume; and
• 1 litre over 18% alcohol volume.

Food

All of the following:

• 1kg meat;
• 1kg butter and cream with a fat content of 15% or higher; and
• 5kg oils, fats, and margarine for human consumption.

Currency

• There are no restrictions on the importation of liquid funds into Switzerland.
• Funds of CHF 10,000 or more will be subject to checks and entered into the Customs Administration. 
• For further information, please visit the Federal Customs Administration Cash, foreign currencies, securities.

Other goods

• Personal effects such as clothing, sports gear, and personal electronic equipment. These goods must leave Switzerland when the traveller leaves.
• 30 days' worth of medicinal products for personal use only.
• Safe to handle fireworks up to 2.5kg.
• Vehicles for personal use may be imported without declaration by visitors.
• VAT will be levied on goods where the total value exceeds CHF 150. For further information, please visit the Federal Customs Administration Value of goods exceeds CHF 150.

Prohibited

The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.

• Daggers and knives with one-handed opening systems (such as flick-knives).
• Weapons disguised as other objects.
• Electric-shock devices.
• Automatic and semiautomatic firearms.
• Beating weapons, throwing weapons and slings.
• Silencers and laser and night-vision devices.
• Fireworks not considered safe to handle, such as those that explode on the ground.
• Stolen cultural property.
• Pirated and counterfeited goods. For further information, please visit Stop Piracy.
• Radar equipment.
• Products considered to be doping substances.
• Narcotics for unlawful use.
• Certain plants are prohibited. For further information, please visit Federal Customs Administration Plants, cut flowers and protection of species (CITES).
• Animal products from outside the EU are generally prohibited, with some exceptions. For further information, please visit Federal Customs Administration Plants, cut flowers and protection of species (CITES).
• Most animal and plant species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are prohibited from importation, with some exceptions which instead require permits. For further information, please visit Federal Customs Administration Plants, cut flowers and protection of species (CITES).

Restricted

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival.

• Vehicles imported by those intending to remain in Switzerland must be declared, and are subject to regulations. For further information, please visit Federal Customs Administration Vehicle importation into Switzerland.
• Weapons not classified as 'prohibited' require a permit.
• Cultural property imported from particular countries requires an official export permit from those countries. For further information, please visit Federal Customs Administration Transfer of Cultural Property.
• CB radios intended to remain in Switzerland must be declared and assessed for clearance.
• Permits are required for animal hunting products, including live fish and spawn. For further information, please visit Federal Customs Administration Hunting (wildlife) and fisheries.

EXPORT REGULATIONS

Free to Export

• Personal effects, as described in 'Free to Import'.

Prohibited

• Prohibited weapons as described in 'Prohibited from Import'.
• Pirated and counterfeited goods.

Restricted

• Weapons not classified as 'prohibited'.
• Cultural property.

For further information on the exportation of prohibited and restricted goods, please visit Federal Customs Administration Exportation from Switzerland.

For further information, please visit the Swiss Federal Customs Administration.