Covid certificate
1. What is a Covid certificate?
The Covid Certificate is a way of documenting that somebody has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, has recovered from Covid-19 or has tested negative for Covid-19. Covid Certificates are issued in paper form or as a PDF document with a printed QR code. This QR code can be scanned with a smartphone and stored in an app. You can produce a Covid Certificate by using either the print-out or the electronic version of the QR code in the app. You will need to show your identity card or your passport to confirm your identity when you produce your personal Covid Certificate.
On 17.02.2022, the Federal Council lifted the certificate obligation in Switzerland.
The Covid-19-Certificate has been officially compatible with the EU-Covid-Certificate since 9 July 2021. As a result, the EU Covid Certificate is accepted in Switzerland and can be verified using the Swiss Covid Certificate Check app. All further countries that issue compatible certificates, are listed here. Vice versa, the certificate issued in Switzerland should be accepted in all those countries (Please note that from the 16.11.21 until the 17.02.22 several certificates were issued here, that are only valid in Switzerland). For further information regarding this matter, please click here). Please bear in mind that this does not guarantee for the entry into other countries. The regulations differ from country to country and can change at short notice, people who plan to travel are requested to inform themselves about the travel restrictions via the Federal Office of Public Health (Travel Abroad and Global Statistics (admin.ch)) or directly via the authorities of the destination country or the airline.
You can find more information about the Covid Certificate and its use on the website of the FOPH: https://www.bag.admin.ch/covid-zertifikat
2. Application process for certificates in Basel
1. If you are a Swiss citizen AND/OR have an official residence permit in Switzerland or a Swiss cross-border commuter permit the following process is applicable*:
a) Recovery in Switzerland or abroad -> application via National Application Center, online delivery
- Exception: If you are not a Swiss resident and you tested positive at a mass testing program (at work or school) please follow the instructions under the section "Application for a recovery certificate after participating in a mass testing program"
- Exception: Cross-border commuters without residential address in Switzerland are asked to apply for the certificate via e-mail to epi@bs.ch (the needed documents are listed bellow)
b) Vaccination in Switzerland -> Please contact the place where your vaccination was performed for the issuance of a corresponding certificate. If this is not possible, you can submit an application via e-mail epi@bs.ch (including confirmation of vaccination), online delivery.
c) Vaccination abroad (according to EMA list)** -> application via National Application Center, online delivery (exception: cross-border commuters without residential address in Switzerland are asked to apply for the certificate via e-mail to epi@bs.ch)
d) Vaccinations abroad (only approved by WHO)*** -> application via e-mail to epi@bs.ch and collection at the Migration Office, no online delivery possible
2. Documents to be submitted for application via e-mail to epi@bs.ch:
- Copy of passport/ID
- Copy of vaccination certificate or positive PCR test (for recovery abroad, an isolation instruction or medical confirmation of COVID-19 infection must be enclosed)
- If applicable, copy of cross-border commuter permit or residence permit in Basel (for persons without CH citizenship)
- Transfer code from the Covid Cert app (for direct delivery to the app)
Note: Please make sure to submit all the required documents in a clearly legible form. Applications for certificates that cannot be delivered online must be submitted via epi@bs.ch no later than 3:00 p.m. on the previous day (Mon-Thu).
*At present, vaccination or recovery certificates cannot be issued for tourists.
**Comirnaty® / BNT162b2 / Tozinameran (Pfizer/BioNTech), COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Spikevax® / mRNA-1273 / COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna), Nuvaxovid / NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax), Vaxzevria® / AZD1222 / Covishield™ (AstraZeneca), VLA2001 (Valneva Austria GmbH)
***SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell) (Sinopharm / BIBP), CoronaVac (Sinovac), COVAXIN® /BBV152 (Bharat Biotech), Convidecia (CanSino Biologics)
3. Application for a recovery certificate after participating in a mass testing program
The application process for a recovery certificate after participating in a mass testing program (at work or school) varies depending on the place of residence.
The following applies to cross-border commuters without a place of residence in Switzerland:
Recovery certificates are generally issued by the local authorities of your place of residence.
For persons residing in Switzerland:
Applications for a recovery certificate must be submitted at the National COVID certificate application platform. You do not need a laboratory sheet or proof of infection for the application, as your data are available.
If you have any difficulties obtaining the certificate, please send an e-mail to our Mass Test Support:
Testing in schools: Covid.Massentest.Schule@bs.ch
Testing in companies: Covid.Massentest.Betrieb@bs.ch
Please provide the following information in the e-mail: Name, first name, place of residence, date of birth, organisation (school/company), test date.
Please note that we cannot issue laboratory sheets/test results.
4. Certificates for rapid antigen tests
As of 02.05.2022, it is possible to obtain an EU-compatible recovery certificate for positive rapid antigen tests performed in Switzerland. The certificates can be applied retrospectively for positive rapid antigen tests performed after 01.10.2021. In this case, it is mandatory that the test was performed in Switzerland.
You have the following options:
- You will receive your certificate of recovery directly on site at the test center.
- Application via National Application Center
Important: The retrospective issuance of recovery certificates for positive rapid antigen tests performed before 01.10.2021 is not permitted.
FOPH_FAQs_Adaptation-of-certificates-in-line-with-the-EU-as-of-02_05_22.pdf
5. Validity period of the certificates
In Switzerland, vaccination certificates are valid for 270 days from the date of administration of the last vaccine dose (except for Janssen vaccine: there, with the first vaccine validity starts from the 22nd day after administration of the vaccine dose).
The validity of recovery certificates starts from the 11th day after the positive PCR test. With the Federal Council resolution of 18.03.2022, the validity period in Switzerland was shortened to 180 days (counting from the test date).
Since the duration of validity may vary from country to country, we recommend that you inquire about the validity period of your certificate in the respective country before travelling abroad.
6. Discontinuation of the certificate counter
As of 08/03/2022, the certificate counter at the Migration Office will no longer be operated by the health department. Individuals who need to pick up their certificate in person will receive instructions via email after submitting their application.
7. Incorrect information on the certificate
Should you find incorrect or incomplete information on your certificate (e.g. name or date of birth do not match the information on your ID card), please submit a request for a new certificate. The request is free of charge and can be submitted via e-mail (documents for vaccination, as well as a copy of ID/passport to epi@bs.ch).
People who do not have internet access can register by calling the cantonal infoline (tel. 0800 463 666, Mon-Sun 8:00am - 5:00pm).
8. Covid Certificate for people who have tested negative for coronavirus
People with a negative PCR test result: the plan is to have certificates delivered by the laboratory. The certificate after a negative PCR test is valid for 72 hours from the time when the sample was taken.
People with a negative rapid antigen test result will get a certificate at the place where the test is carried. The certificate after a negative rapid antigen test is valid for 24 hours from the time the sample was taken.
Covid Certificates are not issued for self-tests.
9. COVID-19 exemption certificate
There are people who cannot be vaccinated or tested for medical reasons (For details please see Appendix 4 of the COVID-19 Special Situation Ordinance). These persons had the possibility to obtain an exemption certificate for a while. With the abolition of the certificate obligation in Switzerland, no more exemption certificates can be issued since 17.02.2022. Certificates that have already been issued remain valid.
10. Covid Certificate in the “COVID Certificate” app
We recommend that you download the Covid Certificate App. You can then upload your certificate to the app and carry it with you digitally at all times. The data is not stored in any central system.
It is possible to store several Covid Certificates in the app, for example if you have several negative test results or if you wish to store your family members’ certificates. The app also shows how long the Covid Certificate is valid for or when it expires in Switzerland.
If requested, you can produce the certificate in paper form or PDF format or using the app. Certificates are only valid in conjunction with your ID or passport.
QR code for downloading the COVID Certificate app
The QR code on the left can be scanned with the iPhone / iPad. The app page in the Apple App Store will then be opened.
You can also access the app page in the Apple App Store using the follolwing link:
To the app in the Apple App Store
The QR code on the left can be scanned with an Android smartphone / tablet. The app page in the Google Play Store will then be opened.
You can also access the app page in the Google Play Store using the following link:
To the app in the Google Play store
To the app in the HUAWEI AppGallery