How many borders does Switzerland have and which crossings are best?

Switzerland has 5 borders with different control levels!Borders by complexity:BorderQueuesControls🔴 France20–50 minYES until April 2026!🟡 Germany10–35 minYES until March 2026🟢 Italy5–20 minMinimal🟢 Austria10–30 minRare🟢 Liechtenstein5–10 minNoneRecommendations:🟢 Via Italy — fewest controls!🟢 Via Austria — stable🔴 Avoid Geneva — busiest!

What are traffic fines in Switzerland? (Among the highest!)

Switzerland has VERY HIGH fines — among the highest in Europe!Speeding fines:ExcessFine (CHF/€)1–5 km/h20 CHF (~€21)6–10 km/h40 CHF (~€42)11–15 km/h60 CHF (~€63)16–20 km/h100 CHF (~€106)21–30 km/h200 CHF (~€212)31+ km/h300–500 CHF (~€318–532) + license suspension!Other fines:Red light: 100 CHF (~€106)Phone while driving: 100 CHF (~€106)Alcohol 0.10%+: up to CHF 10,000 (~€10,630)!Limits: Cities 50 km/h, motorways 120 km/h.

What to know about Gotthard Tunnel? (16.9 km — longest!)

Gotthard Tunnel — most important Alpine crossing and longest road tunnel!Specifications:Length: 16.9 kmTransit time: 30–35 minutesMinimum speed: 80 km/hClosure: Wednesday 23:00–01:00 (special transport)Price: FREE!Included in Swiss vignette (CHF 40)No additional tollsCongestion (AVOID!):🔴 Weekends: +30–45 min🔴 Holidays: +60–90 min🟢 Tuesday–Thursday 14:00–16:00 — minimum!Alternatives: San Bernardino (6.6 km), Simplonpass (car train)

Is a vignette required for Switzerland? (CHF 40 — simplest in Europe!)

Yes! Mandatory vignette CHF 40 (~€42) for ALL Swiss motorways!Features — simplest system in Europe:Single price CHF 40 for entire year (not like France/Italy per km!)14 months validity (Dec 1 – Jan 31 next year)Entire network — A1–A22 + national roadse-vignette available online since 2023Gotthard Tunnel INCLUDED (16.9 km!)Where to buy: Online (ezv.admin.ch), at border, gas stations (Shell, BP, Migrol)Fine without vignette: CHF 200 + mandatory purchase = CHF 240 (~€255)!

Is Switzerland in the Schengen zone? (No, but integrated!)

Switzerland is NOT a Schengen member, but fully integrated with it!Unique status:Associated Schengen member (not full member)Separate bilateral agreements with EUFreedom of movement — yes, but controls can occurWhat this means for travel:❌ EES NOT active — Switzerland plans own system in 2026❌ ETIAS NOT required — Switzerland not in EU✅ Passport stamps still used✅ 90/180 days for visa-free countriesAdvantage: No EES biometric checks (yet)!

Why does France control the Switzerland border until April 2026?

France has implemented temporary controls on ALL 6 France-Switzerland crossings until April 30, 2026!Reasons:Terrorism threats (ongoing warnings)Irregular migration through SwitzerlandSmuggling and drug traffickingOrganized crimeMain crossings with controls:Geneva — main entry point (20–40 min queues)Chamonix/Montblanc — Montblanc corridor (20–50 min)Valleiry, Collonges, Saint-Gervais, BellegardeImpact: +10–30 minutes waiting, random document checks.

Швейцарія के साथ सीमा के बारे में अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न

Швейцарія के साथ सीमा पार करने के बारे में अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्नों के उत्तर। दस्तावेज़, कतारें, प्रवेश नियम।

Черги Час роботи

Switzerland has 5 borders with different control levels!

Borders by complexity:

Border	Queues	Controls
🔴 France	20–50 min	YES until April 2026!
🟡 Germany	10–35 min	YES until March 2026
🟢 Italy	5–20 min	Minimal
🟢 Austria	10–30 min	Rare
🟢 Liechtenstein	5–10 min	None

Recommendations:

🟢 Via Italy — fewest controls!
🟢 Via Austria — stable
🔴 Avoid Geneva — busiest!

Транспорт finance

Switzerland has VERY HIGH fines — among the highest in Europe!

Speeding fines:

Excess	Fine (CHF/€)
1–5 km/h	20 CHF (~€21)
6–10 km/h	40 CHF (~€42)
11–15 km/h	60 CHF (~€63)
16–20 km/h	100 CHF (~€106)
21–30 km/h	200 CHF (~€212)
31+ km/h	300–500 CHF (~€318–532) + license suspension!

Other fines:

Red light: 100 CHF (~€106)
Phone while driving: 100 CHF (~€106)
Alcohol 0.10%+: up to CHF 10,000 (~€10,630)!

Limits: Cities 50 km/h, motorways 120 km/h.

Транспорт Час роботи

Gotthard Tunnel — most important Alpine crossing and longest road tunnel!

Specifications:

Length: 16.9 km
Transit time: 30–35 minutes
Minimum speed: 80 km/h
Closure: Wednesday 23:00–01:00 (special transport)

Price: FREE!

Included in Swiss vignette (CHF 40)
No additional tolls

Congestion (AVOID!):

🔴 Weekends: +30–45 min
🔴 Holidays: +60–90 min
🟢 Tuesday–Thursday 14:00–16:00 — minimum!

Alternatives: San Bernardino (6.6 km), Simplonpass (car train)

Транспорт finance

Yes! Mandatory vignette CHF 40 (~€42) for ALL Swiss motorways!

Features — simplest system in Europe:

Single price CHF 40 for entire year (not like France/Italy per km!)
14 months validity (Dec 1 – Jan 31 next year)
Entire network — A1–A22 + national roads
e-vignette available online since 2023
Gotthard Tunnel INCLUDED (16.9 km!)

Where to buy: Online (ezv.admin.ch), at border, gas stations (Shell, BP, Migrol)

Fine without vignette: CHF 200 + mandatory purchase = CHF 240 (~€255)!

Документи EES

Switzerland is NOT a Schengen member, but fully integrated with it!

Unique status:

Associated Schengen member (not full member)
Separate bilateral agreements with EU
Freedom of movement — yes, but controls can occur

What this means for travel:

❌ EES NOT active — Switzerland plans own system in 2026
❌ ETIAS NOT required — Switzerland not in EU
✅ Passport stamps still used
✅ 90/180 days for visa-free countries

Advantage: No EES biometric checks (yet)!

Документи Час роботи

France has implemented temporary controls on ALL 6 France-Switzerland crossings until April 30, 2026!

Reasons:

Terrorism threats (ongoing warnings)
Irregular migration through Switzerland
Smuggling and drug trafficking
Organized crime

Main crossings with controls:

Geneva — main entry point (20–40 min queues)
Chamonix/Montblanc — Montblanc corridor (20–50 min)
Valleiry, Collonges, Saint-Gervais, Bellegarde

Impact: +10–30 minutes waiting, random document checks.