Coronavirus (COVID-19)
published on 07.04.2020
In order to contain the disease COVID-19, direct close contact between people should be restricted as far as possible. The Lebanese government therefore urges the population to stay at home and refrain from any kind of assembly. With few exceptions, all schools, public institutions and most businesses remain closed. It must be expected that the local authorities and security forces will impose fines in case of violation.
The international airport in Beirut has been closed since 19 March 2020. At the same time, all land and sea borders will be closed for passenger traffic. These measures are initially planned until 12 April 2020, but an extension or modification is possible.
Swiss travellers and persons residing in Switzerland are requested to register on the platform "Travel Admin". This allows the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA to contact travellers and provide them with information. It is also recommended that contact be maintained with airlines and travel agencies. Information on returning to Switzerland can be found in the link below.
The counters of the Embassy will only be opened for emergencies and only after prior appointment. Please send your inquiries to beirut@eda.admin.ch or contact the Embassy by phone: +961 1 324 129. In case of a consular emergency outside opening hours, please contact the FDFA Helpline: +41 800 24 7 365 / +41 58 465 33 33.
The Embassy asks all Swiss nationals to observe the hygiene recommendations of the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH and the World Health Organization WHO and to follow the instructions of the local authorities.
Organized departure / Flights
At this stage, no charter flight back to Switzerland is planned for Beirut. If the situation changes, the Embassy would inform at this point. Please consult this website regularly.
In order to repatriate Lebanese citizens from abroad, the Lebanese government organizes flights in cooperation with Middle East Airlines (MEA). Until 13 April 2020, flights will be operated to various destinations in Europe, but not to Switzerland. All flight dates and prices are published on the website of MEA. Flight tickets can be purchased directly and exclusively through MEA: Call Centre (Tel. 01 629999) / website Middle East Airlines. The Embassy of Switzerland is not involved in the booking process in any form. There is currently no binding information on whether and when a direct flight to Switzerland will be operated.
Please note that any onward travel to Switzerland must be organized individually by each person and that the Embassy cannot guarantee that travelling to Switzerland from the destination country is possible. You will find useful information on the websites of the respective Swiss representations abroad. Binding information, however, can only be obtained from the authorities and embassies/consulates of the respective countries. Kindly inform the Embassy of Switzerland in Lebanon (beirut@eda.admin.ch) if you have purchased a ticket for one of these MEA flights.
Important sources of information and links
Focus novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Lebanese Ministry of Public Health – Hotline 01 594 459
Visa
On 18 March 2020, the Swiss Federal Council decided, that entry at the Schengen external borders is generally prohibited with few exceptions. Switzerland follows the practice of the other Schengen states. Until 15 June 2020, Switzerland will also no longer issue Schengen visas. National visas will also only be issued in exceptional cases, for example to family members of Swiss citizens with a right of presence in Switzerland who require a visa and to specialists from the health sector. For additional information, please consult the webpage of the State Secretariat for Migration SEM.
The Embassy of Switzerland counts on the cooperation of everyone and will continue to assist you.
Communication of 27.03.2020 (PDF, 273.2 kB, multilingual: English, French, German)
Communication of 16.03.2020 (PDF, 154.2 kB, multilingual: German, French, English)
Communication of 28.02.2020 (PDF, 240.4 kB, multilingual: English, French, German)
