To travel to Switzerland U.S. citizens are required to hold a valid passport. Passengers may be checked twice upon entering Switzerland by land: once by the customs officers of the country they are leaving and another by the border police of Switzerland.

As of early 2026, U.S. citizens traveling to Switzerland for tourism or business for up to 90 days need a valid U.S. passport and a new digital authorization called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System). Your passport must be valid for at least three to six months beyond your intended departure date from the Schengen Area. The ETIAS is a mandatory pre-travel screening that costs approximately €7 (about $8) and is electronically linked to your passport, remaining valid for three years or until your passport expires. You must apply online before heading to the airport. Additionally, upon arrival, border guards may ask for proof of sufficient funds for your stay and a return or onward ticket. While Switzerland is not in the EU, it is part of the Schengen Zone, meaning once you clear immigration in Switzerland, you can travel freely to neighboring countries like France, Germany, or Italy without further passport checks.