The Consulate General in Cape Town is the first point of contact for all consular services for Swiss citizens living in the provinces of the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape.
Consulate General of Switzerland in Cape Town
Specific information related to covid 19 for travelling to Switzerland: Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa
COVID-19, Travel
The Consulate General of Switzerland recommends to all Swiss nationals who are currently travelling or living in South Africa to follow closely the information and recommendations of the local authorities as well as of the World Health Organisation WHO.
On state level, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health has information about the new coronavirus and publishes updates of the current situation and measures to be taken.
IMPORTANT: If you are currently travelling abroad, please make sure you download the EDA Travel Admin App and register or update your travel plans and contact details. By doing so you ensure that you can be contacted by the relevant Swiss representations if necessary.
More information on the situation and measures in South Africa
National Institute of Communicable Disease
COVID-19 General Hotline for the public: +27 800 029 999 / National Health and Laboratory service COVID-19 Hotline: +27 82 883 9920
WhatsApp Coronavirus Support Line from the National Department of Health: +27 60 012 3456
Other relevant sources of information are
Infoline Coronavirus Switzerland: +41 58 463 00 00
Show solidarity and take the necessary precautions and measures to protect yourself and others.
Information for the Swiss abroad regarding Covid-19 vaccine
Please be informed that the import of vaccines is governed by the legal framework of the respective host country. A vaccine must be approved by the health authorities of the host country and can only then be administered to the population through the designated - officially approved - distribution channels (doctors, hospitals, laboratories etc.). It is therefore not possible at present in South Africa to order a vaccine from Switzerland and then distribute it through the Embassy or Consulate General to the Swiss residents in South Africa.
Can Swiss nationals who live abroad be vaccinated in Switzerland? Who covers the costs?
- Swiss nationals abroad who have mandatory basic health insurance in Switzerland can be vaccinated in Switzerland in accordance with the vaccination recommendations. You will find more information on registering from the relevant cantonal offices, your health insurance provider and/or General Practitioner (doctor) in Switzerland.
- Swiss nationals abroad who do not have mandatory basic health insurance in Switzerland should have the vaccination at their place of residence in accordance with their host country’s rules. Please contat your local health insurance provider and/or General Practitioner (doctor) to find out more about the vaccination policy.
More information on COVID-19 vaccination can be found on the FOPH webpages: Coronavirus: Vaccination, Protect yourself and others: Vaccination & FAQ
Other interesting links are:
Important information for Swiss nationals living abroad
In order for us to provide you with the latest information from Switzerland at all times, please always inform us of all address changes (including e-mail addresses) through the online desk or by sending an email to capetown@eda.admin.ch .
NEW: Through their “SWI plus” app, Swissinfo provides Swiss citizens living abroad and other interested parties with information and news about Switzerland. This app is now also available in English, free of charge for downloading from the app stores. The focus is on daily news relevant for the Swiss community.
For more information, please visit Swissinfo
SWI plus for Android
SWI plus for iOS
Visa information regarding entry/travelling to Switzerland and entry requirements for transit air travel
For further information please click here
Services and visa
All consular services for the South African provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West and Free State, as well as for the states of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, have been provided by the Regional Consular Centre Southern Africa in Pretoria, which is attached to the local Embassy of Switzerland.
The Consulate General in Cape Town continues to be responsible for the South African provinces of the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape.
All Visa applications are handled by the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria.
Information can be found on the websites concerned:
Services – South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius
Visa – South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius
Warning
Instructions relating to phishing data from the Swiss Abroad: Phishing
Important
Warning to Swiss Bank Account Holders
Swiss citizens living in South Africa have lately become victims of banking frauds. The perpetrators get access to details from Swiss or Liechtenstein banking accounts (names, addresses, signatures, credit balance, etc.) and use this information to forge orders to transfer money to bank accounts in Asia. To prevent such cases, the Consulate General of Switzerland recommends Swiss or Liechtenstein bank account holders to be vigilant with their banking identity details and to request their bank not to send correspondence via postal service and not to process any written money transfer order without prior consultation of the bank account owner via the telephone number that is lodged with the bank (not the one on the instructions).
