5. COVID certificate for negative tested persons
The COVID certificate is personal. When checked, one must prove one's identity with an official identification document with a photo (e.g. an identity card). The information on the certificate - surname(s), first name(s), date of birth - should be identical to the information on the identity document.
Obtaining a COVID certificate after a test
Testing centers, laboratories, pharmacies may issue COVID certificates for persons who have tested negative for COVID-19 (PCR test or rapid antigen test).
Please note that no COVID certificates are issued for self-tests.
Persons who have tested negative for a PCR test will receive their COVID certificate by email directly from the laboratory. They may then download the test on their mobile phone via the "COVID Certificate" application (blue)
The certificate is valid for 72 hours.
2) Negative rapid antigen test
For persons who have tested negative for a rapid antigen test, a COVID certificate will be issued and handed out on site in the testing facilities (i.e. in some pharmacies, laboratories, primary care physicians offering these tests and in the testing centers). People may then download the test on their mobile phone via the "COVID Certificate" application (blue)
The certificate is valid 24 hours in Switzerland and 48 hours in the Schengen area.
Which test do you need if you are travelling?
With regards to international passenger transport, the length of time before the COVID certificate is valid and the length of validity of the certificate may depend on the rules in force in the country you intend to travel to as well as the countries through which you may transit.
It is therefore always necessary to find out about the entry conditions in terms of sanitary measures of the country you wish to travel to or transit through.
The Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) tropical medicine and travel unit provide a summary document with the list of country requirements in terms of medical certificates, PCR test, antigen test (RDT), COVID certificates of recovery or Covid vaccination certificates (in French only).
HUG - General information concerning COVID tests: List of countries
![]() |
Do you have a question regarding the COVID certificate? |