Schengen at EuroAirport

At EuroAirport, the Schengen Agreement came into force on March 29, 2009. Ever since, passengers from the Schengen Area have been separated from other passengers when entering the Boarding Area for departure and before the baggage claim area upon arrival.

Passengers travelling within the Schengen Area are no longer subject to systematic passport controls. Passengers coming from countries outside of the Schengen Area or entering it, however, are subject to systematic passport controls. Customs inspections remain in place for all passengers.

Identity checks for people during the check-in and boarding process will continue to be carried out as well. Therefore, all passengers are required to carry a proof of identity.

Infrastructure design and simplified control procedures for 70% of all passengers

The infrastructure includes the following facilities:

  • At the Departure Level in the Boarding Area (Y-Finger Dock): two passport control checkpoints of the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) as well as the French Border Police, Police Aux Frontières (PAF), located before the access to the Non-Schengen Area. 
  • At the Arrival Level: In this area, doors are separating passenger flows from the Schengen and Non-Schengen Areas. In addition, two passport control checkpoints for the Swiss FOCBS as well as the French Police Aux Frontières are located before the passage to the baggage claim.
  • Additional space is available for checks in both the Arrival and Departure Area in order to maintain passenger flow in the event of individual controls.

Border control for non-Schengen passengers

The Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security is in charge of border control for arriving and departing passengers within EuroAirport’s Swiss Sector.
Passengers departing for a non-Schengen destination or arriving via a non-Schengen flight are checked in accordance with the provisions of the Schengen Borders Code.  The same rules apply as for border crossings to countries outside the Schengen Area.
In concrete terms, this means that every passenger is subject to an identity check. The extent of the check varies depending on the status of the concerned traveller: citizens of Switzerland or any EU or EFTA member states are subject to limited identity checks upon entry; citizens of other countries as well as persons requiring a visa will undergo comprehensive ID verification.
In addition, employees of the Swiss FOCBS carry out searches via the Schengen Information System (SIS).

Besides identity checks for passengers, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security provides a valuable service for Swiss citizens: In the event of loss or invalidity of the proof of identity enabling the holder to cross the border, it can issue emergency passports before departure.

Customs inspections

The Schengen Agreement concerns identity checks for persons; however, it does not concern customs inspections. Therefore, customs regulations for entering Switzerland and France apply to all travellers.

Schengen Countries

The following countries signed the Schengen Convention and put an end to border controls along shared borders:

  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Spain
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (without its Oversea Departments)
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxemburg
  • Malta
  • Norway
  • The Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Czech Republic

Contact information

EuroAirport
Phone: +33 3 89 90 31 11 (F), + 41 61 325 31 11 (CH)
Fax: +33 3 89 90 25 77 (F), + 41 61 325 25 77 (CH)
www.euroairport.com

Swiss Customs authorities
Zoll Nord / Swiss Customs North
During office hours:
Phone: +41 58 469 11 11
Fax: +41 58 469 13 13
Outside office hours:
Phone: 0800 800 110
www.bazg.admin.ch

Information center for customs regulations and formalities for passenger traffic
Phone: +41 58 467 15 15
www.bazg.admin.ch

Swiss Customs at EuroAirport
Phone: +41 58 480 65 00
Fax: + 41 58 480 65 29
www.bazg.admin.ch

French Customs authorities
Regional Customs Office Mulhouse (Direction Régionale des Douanes de Mulhouse)
Phone: +33 3 89 66 94 00
Fax: +33 3 89 66 35 99
www.douane.gouv.fr

Border Police duty by the French Police Aux Frontières (Service Police Aux Frontières, SPAF) at EuroAirport
Phone: +33 3 89 90 28 15
Fax: +33 3 89 90 38 43