Travel requirements for Switzerland
Everything a UK traveller needs to know before visiting Switzerland — passport and visa rules, recommended vaccines with lead times, and whether you need an International Driving Permit.
Entry requirements for Switzerland
Passport validity
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you arrive.
Visas
British passport holders do not normally need a visa for short tourist stays.
Source: UK Foreign Travel Advice — Switzerland. Always confirm the latest requirements before you travel.
Vaccines for travel to Switzerland
Based on NaTHNaC TravelHealthPro guidance for UK travellers. Lead times assume protection is needed on the day you arrive.
-
Tetanus / Diphtheria Recommended
Booster recommended if last dose was more than 10 years ago.
-
4 weeks before travelRabies (Pre-exposure) Consider
No terrestrial rabies, but bat lyssavirus present. Pre-exposure recommended for bat handlers, veterinarians, laboratory staff, and cavers.
-
2 weeks before travelTick-borne Encephalitis Consider
Risk in all areas. Recommended for camping, hiking, farming, forestry, and fieldwork in forested areas. Ticks most active early spring to late autumn.
Driving in Switzerland
To drive in Switzerland with a UK driving licence, you may need an International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1968 Vienna Convention.
- You do not need an IDP if you hold a UK, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or Isle of Man photocard licence.
IDPs are issued by PayPoint (no longer the Post Office) — find an issuing store.
Plan your Switzerland trip in Trek Ready
Free, private, no account needed. Log the vaccines you already have and see what's left.
Start planning →