Pets are animals which are kept as companions, imported
under escort and not sold. They may be imported duty free
as relocation goods (see Customs) and without authorisation.
Protective measures against epidemics remain reserved.
The following are considered as pets: dogs, cats, guinea pigs,
hamsters, canaries, aquarium fish, dwarf rabbits, rabbits, tortoises, parrots,
snakes and the like but not horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, sheep, goats or
pigs.
There are special regulations for dogs, cats, ferrets: they must be vaccinated
against rabies (vaccination certificate) and marked (microchip or tattoo). An
additional authorisation is required from the police authorities for animals which come from a high-risk rabies country and are imported via a Swiss airport. The importation of dogs with cropped ears and/or docked tails is forbidden unless they can be considered as household effects (see Customs).
A veterinary certificate is required for birds from non-European countries and not more than 5 animals may be imported. These provisions are subject to importation restrictions regarding the protection of species (CITES Agreement).
You are advised to first consult the website of the Federal Veterinary Office.
On presentation of the relevant proof (e.g. horse passport, invoice from a veterinary surgeon or animal home), other animals (e.g. horses) may also be imported under relocation goods (see Customs).
A border veterinary control is not required for animals imported from EU/EFTA countries. For wild animals there are additional regulations on the protection of species (IMES Convention on international trading in threatened species).
You are advised to first consult the website of the Federal Veterinary Office.
The majority of plants imported for your own personal use may be imported to Switzerland from the EU/EFTA without being subjected to a phytosanitary control. At present only the importation of cotoneaster and stranvaesia is prohibited from these countries.
Living plants or partial plants as well as bulbs destined for planting, garden earth and compost imported from countries other than the EU/EFTA are, in contrast, subject to a phytosanitary control or are completely prohibited.
The importation of plants to Switzerland is exempt from duty. It is, however, subject to the payment of a value-added tax of 2.4 % or 7.6 % for certain cultivated products. The presentation of a receipt will facilitate customs clearance.
For any further information on this subject, we advise you to consult one of the customs administrations listed below:
Northern Switzerland | Directorate General of Customs Basel | |
|---|---|---|
| Directorate General of Customs Schaffhausen | |
Western Switzerland | Directorate General of Customs Geneva | |
Southern Switzerland | Directorate General of Customs Lugano |
(Source: www.swissemigration.ch)
