Dear Canadians,
We would like to provide you with the following updates regarding the COVID-19 situation:
Information provided on behalf of:
Embassy of Canada Permanent Mission of Canada
Bern, Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland
A) FURTHER EASING OF MEASURES IN SWITZERLAND
The Swiss Government has decided to relax isolation measures (most of them in effect starting 6-8 June), but urges everyone to continue following the rules on hygiene and social distancing. You will find detailed information about this update on the following website: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov.html
B) SERVICES TO CANADIANS
Following the positive evolution of the situation and the regulations in place in Switzerland, we are pleased to announce that we are resuming in-person appointments on 8 June with an updated structure (no more than two persons from the same group at the same time in the waiting area, hand sanitizer at disposal, please bring your own pen – either black or blue ink). While we are accepting in-person appointments, we strongly encourage you to keep mailing us your application packages (passports, citizenship), and to contact us should you have any question: for Canadians based in the Canton of Geneva, send an e-mail to genevcs@international.gc.ca or call 022.919.9200 / for the rest of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, send an e-mail to berncs@international.gc.ca or call 031.357.3200.
You can book your appointments in Berne directly online: https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/switzerland-suisse/contact-contactez.aspx?lang=eng
For appointments in Geneva, please contact the consular office directly (see above).
C) TRAVELING TO CANADA
We would like to remind you that non-Canadians are currently not allowed to travel to Canada, with a few exceptions: https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/france/covid-19.aspx?lang=eng
While non-essential travel is still to be avoided (e.g. vacation, visiting family & friends), Canadian citizens (and Permanent Residents) can travel to Canada while respecting the current legislation (mandatory self-isolation of 14 days, face-covering during the travel). Please note that we are not in a position to provide a timeline about the current restrictions and invite you to regularly consult the following website: www.canada.ca/coronavirus
D) ARRIVECAN APP
In an effort to contain COVID-19 in Canada, anyone entering the country – no matter their citizenship – is required to provide their contact information. Make this process quicker by downloading the ArriveCAN mobile app prior to your arrival to reduce wait times and limit points of contact. The ArriveCan App is currently available in the Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.gc.cbsa.coronavirus) and the Apple App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/arrivecan/id1505394667?ls=1).
Please note that important information is also shared via https://twitter.com/CanSwitzerland or https://twitter.com/CanadaGeneva
