Import without certificate

Neither animal health permits nor certificates nor veterinary border inspections are required to introduce up to 5 pet birds - except those caught in the wild - from the following third countries:

• Andorra
• Faroe Islands
• Greenland
• Iceland
• Croatia
• Monaco
• Norway
• San Marino
• Vatican City State

Please take into account the provisions relating to law on conservation of species that apply for protected or non-domesticated species. See right column CITES  "Importation d'animaux sauvages vivants" (in French).

Import with certificate

Imports of up to 5 pet birds - except those caught in the wild - from other third countries may be imported, if:

a) a health certificate according to Annex II of Decision 2007/25/EC is provided (see "Further information" on the right on this page). The options (Part I.25 and Part II) that would foresee a vaccination against bird flu or placing under quarantine at arrival are not accepted for imports to Switzerland, as the vaccination is prohibited and no approved quarantine stations are presently available. Resulting from this, imports to Switzerland are only possible under the "other options", namely after officially supervised isolation of at least 30 days or quarantine of at least 10 days and official testing for avian influenza before dispatch as prescribed by the provisions of Decision 2007/25/EC.

b) a declaration of the owner or a person acting on behalf of the owner according to Annex III of Decision 2007/25/EC is provided (see "Further information" on the right on this page).

Please take into account the provisions relating to law on conservation of species that apply for protected or non-domesticated species. See right column CITES  "Importation d'animaux sauvages vivants" (in French).

Border veterinary inspection

A border veterinary inspection is compulsory for all pet birds. They can therefore only be directly imported into Switzerland via Zurich and Geneva airports. It is recommended be checked in as accompanied freight. In this case, the birds will be sent directly to the border veterinary inspection office - cost CHF 88.

Otherwise, on arrival at Customs, the animals are forwarded to the border veterinary inspection office in the freight area of the airport. This transport is done in Zurich by a private company, and the importer is billed for the transport. At present it costs a further CHF 130.

The required inspection of the animals is only carried out during the normal opening hours of the inspection office concerned (for opening hours of the Border Veterinary Service, see on the right "Further information > List of Swiss border inspection posts). In the case of arrivals outside these times, the animals are taken to the animal room of the inspection office and not checked until the next working day.

Import of more than 5 pet birds

Introductions/imports of more than 5 pet birds from third countries must comply with certifaction and other requirements for commercial imports. See: