DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Swiss news & articles
250.000 people in Switzerland to lose 2G status from February
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

250.000 people in Switzerland to lose 2G status from February

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

April 2025 in Switzerland: 10 major changes expats need to know aboutApril 2025 in Switzerland: 10 major changes expats need to know about
October 2024: 10 changes expats in Switzerland need to know aboutOctober 2024: 10 changes expats in Switzerland need to know about
COVID and flu vaccinations in Switzerland: What you need to knowCOVID and flu vaccinations in Switzerland: What you need to know
9 important things expats in Switzerland need to know about in October 20239 important things expats in Switzerland need to know about in October 2023
Switzerland says yes to Climate, OECD and COVID-19 actsSwitzerland says yes to Climate, OECD and COVID-19 acts
Expat guide to the Swiss national referendums in June 2023Expat guide to the Swiss national referendums in June 2023
7 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in November 20227 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in November 2022
Swiss cantons to recommend new COVID measures: What you need to knowSwiss cantons to recommend new COVID measures: What you need to know
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Feb 1, 2022
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

250.000 people are expected to lose their 2G COVID certificate status from February 1, after the Swiss government shortened the validity period of a vaccination certificate from 365 days to 270. Up to 70.000 people who are fully vaccinated but not boosted could lose their COVID certificate every week, according to a survey by Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF).

Shortened validity of COVID certificates to align Switzerland with EU

The decision to shorten the validity of the certificate is designed to align Switzerland with the EU, which also shortened the validity of its passes from February 1. While this is unlikely to affect those who are boosted, anyone else who received a vaccination or recovery certificate before or on May 6, 2021 will see their “2G” status invalidated.

2G status is awarded to those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and is used to access most businesses. International travel in some cases relies on a vaccination certificate and some international companies have made it a requirement for workers.

Up to 350.000 certificates will be invalidated each week

According to the Federal Office of Public Health, the change in validity will affect several hundred thousand people in Switzerland who chose to receive the original vaccination but not the booster. According to a survey by SRF, 250.000 people have already been affected by the loss of the certificate. They estimate that 170.000 to 350.000 certificates will be made invalid every week.

The loss of certificates will also affect businesses that rely on valid passes to operate, like restaurants and bars. A spokesperson for GastroSuisse, the industry association for restaurants, said that they “will definitely notice a slight drop in the number of guests.”

The organisation hopes that the certificate will soon be scrapped, as more and more people find themselves unable to visit restaurants and entertainment venues. While Alain Berset, the Swiss Health Minister, has indicated that the days of the certificate may be numbered, no clear indication has been given by the government.

By Jan de Boer