Questions & Answers
The following information is intended as initial guidance only and does not replace official advice. Please check the official sources linked below shortly before traveling, as the applicable rules may change.
This information has been compiled with the greatest possible care but is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice concerning an individual case, please contact the competent authority, embassy or consulate in your country.
These FAQs will be updated shortly before the event if the applicable rules change.
IMPORTANT: In Switzerland is a Vignette requirement.
Updated: June 2026
For EU/EFTA citizens travelling to Switzerland as tourists for up to 90 days, a valid national identity card is sufficient. A passport is not mandatory.
Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, it is part of the Schengen Area. Therefore, systematic border checks are not normally carried out. However, random checks may take place at any time.
Important:
- The identity document must remain valid for the entire duration of the stay.
- Children and minors must have their own identity card or passport. Being entered in a parent’s passport is not sufficient.
- Travellers from third countries whose nationals require a visa may need additional documents, such as a visa or residence permit. Please contact the competent embassy or consulate in good time.
- ETIAS is expected to be introduced for visa-exempt third-country nationals, such as citizens of the United Kingdom or the United States, from late 2026. No action is currently required.
Official information:
Answer:
When travelling with a dog between EU countries, Germany and Switzerland, the following requirements apply. The same rules generally also apply to cats and ferrets:
The animal must have an EU pet passport or a valid Swiss pet passport. Both documents are mutually recognised.
The animal must be identified by a microchip compliant with ISO 11784/11785. The microchip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccination.
The animal must have a valid rabies vaccination. The initial vaccination must have been administered at least 21 days before crossing the border. No waiting period applies after a booster vaccination administered within the required time limit.
Special rules apply to puppies between 12 and 16 weeks of age, for example requirements concerning accompaniment by the mother or a declaration from the owner. Please consult your veterinarian in advance.
Additional requirements for Switzerland:
A maximum of five pets per private vehicle may be transported without a special permit.
If more than five dogs are transported, for example where several dogs belonging to one team or exhibitor travel together, a special permit may be requested from the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, the BLV.
Certain Swiss cantons maintain lists of restricted breeds. Particular breeds may be prohibited or may require authorisation, including Pit Bull Terriers in some cantons. Please check the rules of the canton in which the event takes place before travelling.
Dogs with cropped ears or docked tails may enter Switzerland for holidays or other short-term stays, even though cropping and docking are prohibited in Switzerland.
For Germany:
The general EU requirements apply: a pet passport, a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. Germany does not require additional treatment against tapeworm, unlike Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland.
Official information:
In both Switzerland and Germany, there is no specific rule requiring one particular type of restraint system.
However, dogs are legally treated as a load for the purposes of road traffic law. They must therefore be secured in such a way that they:
- do not endanger or obstruct anyone; and
- cannot slide, be thrown around or fall during emergency braking or an evasive manoeuvre.
Animal welfare legislation also applies. The dog must not suffer or be injured and must have:
- sufficient space;
- protection from heat, cold and draughts; and
- regular breaks, recommended every one to two hours.
Permitted and recommended methods of transport:
- In a car: A stable transport crate, ideally positioned across the direction of travel in the luggage compartment; a safety harness with a seat-belt attachment; or a solid partition or safety net between the luggage compartment and the passenger area.
- In a motorhome: A well-secured and stable transport crate, ideally permanently installed.
- In a trailer: Transport is generally permitted. Particular attention must be paid to adequate ventilation and the safe discharge of exhaust gases from the towing vehicle, so that the dog is not exposed to excessive heat or exhaust fumes.
A dog must not be allowed to move freely inside the vehicle, for example on the front passenger seat or unsecured on the rear seat. The dog could distract the driver and become a serious hazard in the event of an accident.
Further information:
Answer:
Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. The EU roaming rules known as “Roam Like at Home” therefore do not apply automatically.
Telephone calls, text messages and mobile data may be considerably more expensive in Switzerland than within the European Union.
Some mobile operators, including Deutsche Telekom under certain tariffs, voluntarily treat Switzerland in the same way as an EU country. However, this is not standard practice and depends on the individual provider and tariff.
Discount tariffs and older prepaid contracts frequently do not include Switzerland.
In border regions, a mobile phone may automatically connect to a Swiss network without the user noticing. It may therefore be advisable to deactivate automatic network selection.
Recommendation:
Before travelling, contact your mobile provider directly and confirm whether calls and mobile data in Switzerland are included in your tariff and under what conditions.
Possible alternatives include a local Swiss prepaid SIM card, for example from Swisscom, Sunrise or Salt, or a Swiss eSIM.
Answer:
A motorway vignette is mandatory for the use of Swiss motorways and expressways by vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.
This applies to cars, motorhomes and trailers. A trailer requires its own separate vignette.
The vignette costs CHF 40 and is valid from 1 December of the preceding year until 31 January of the following year.
The vignette should only be purchased through the official online shop:
These are the official online services of the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, the BAZG.
The BAZG expressly warns against fraudulent third-party websites that may charge considerably higher prices or attempt to obtain payment information. The BAZG will never ask by email for payment details to be entered again.
Driving without a valid vignette may result in a fine of CHF 200, in addition to the obligation to purchase a vignette.
Answer:
As the applicable rules may change at short notice, we recommend checking the following official sources again shortly before the event:
- Veterinary requirements for Switzerland:
BLV – Travelling with Pets - Entry requirements and border controls for Switzerland:
SEM – Entry FAQ - Travel and security information for Switzerland issued by the German Federal Foreign Office:
auswaertiges-amt.de - Customs and motorway vignette information:
BAZG – Swiss Motorway Vignette
Answer:
Yes. However, dogs staying in a car, dog trailer or similar vehicle during the day must be checked regularly and taken out at appropriate intervals for exercise, water and their other needs.
Answer:
No. Leaving a dog alone overnight in a car, dog trailer, transport crate or similar facility is not considered appropriate accommodation and is therefore prohibited.
Yes. Participants may stay overnight together with their dog in a camper van or caravan, as this is considered shared temporary accommodation.
This information must be clearly communicated on the event website during the registration process, particularly to all participants.