Arrival by boat

Border crossing

For persons crossing the border in a private boat registered in Switzerland, the following applies:

If you are only carrying goods that are intended for your private use or as a gift,

passing the landing point (customs border) is considered to be an informal customs declaration.

For all other cases, the following applies:

You must report to a Swiss customs dock and declare the boat and the goods you are carrying. You may then moor the boat to the Swiss shore or to an anchored buoy.

Travel documents

All passengers on board must hold a valid travel document recognised by Switzerland. This applies even if the boat does not call at a port or does not land or moor elsewhere in Switzerland.

Information on entering and staying in Switzerland can be obtained from the State Secretariat for Migration.

Swiss customs dock

The customs docks are marked with a corresponding sign. The current opening hours are available in the list of customs offices.

On Lake Geneva (Lac Léman):

  • Lausanne-Ouchy
  • Genève (Centrale d'engagement Ouest, tel. +41 (0)800 22 20 40)
  • Hermance

On Lake Constance, Untersee and Rhine:

  • Romanshorn
  • Rheinkilometer 170 Basel-Kleinhüningen (Basel Nord border guard post)

On Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano):

  • Gandria
  • Ponte Tresa
  • Brusino

On Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore):

  • Madonna di Ponte

Contact

Opening hours + addresses

Information office for customs regulations

Tel.
+41 58 467 15 15

Contact form

Print contact

https://bazg.admin.ch/content/bazg/en/home/information-individuals/declaring-goods/importation-into-switzerland/arrival-by-boat.html