Shipping from China to Bern, Switzerland — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Bern · via ZRH air / Basel rail · clearance by Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG)
We move freight cargo from South China into Bern through ZRH air / Basel rail. Bern is federal capital, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
On the destination side, Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) handles clearance; budget 2–5 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
How this lane actually runs
Switzerland charges customs duty by gross weight, not customs value — so heavy packaging directly increases duty on low-value goods, and light high-value goods are treated generously. It is also outside the EU customs union, so cargo arriving through Rotterdam or Genoa clears a second time at the Swiss border. VAT at 8.1% is among the lowest in Europe.
| Air gateways used | ZRH (Zurich), GVA (Geneva), BSL (Basel) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 4–6 business days |
| Sea gateways used | No seaport — via Rotterdam, Antwerp or Genoa, then rail or Rhine barge to Basel |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 30–40 calendar days via a continental port |
| Gateway serving Bern | ZRH air / Basel rail |
| Inland leg to Bern | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–5 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Duty, tax and clearance into Bern
Imports into Switzerland are cleared by Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG). The headline position is: VAT 8.1%; customs duty is assessed on gross weight rather than value, which is unusual and changes how packaging affects cost. The de-minimis threshold is Duty and VAT waived when the total tax due is under CHF 5.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: CE marking generally accepted; Swiss labelling rules for consumer products. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Switzerland: Weight-based duty means excess packaging is a direct cost. A separate Swiss clearance is required even for goods transiting the EU. Some agricultural and food products face high protective rates.
Air, sea or overland into Bern?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 4–6 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 30–40 calendar days via a continental port | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Switzerland gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Bern and 2–5 days of clearance.
Pre-shipment checklist for Bern
- Check the de-minimis position (Duty and VAT waived when the total tax due is under CHF 5) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Switzerland lane.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Confirm the consignee in Bern can act as importer of record — Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: CE marking generally accepted; Swiss labelling rules for consumer products.
Mode guides for Bern
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Bern take?
China to the Switzerland gateway is 4–6 business days by air, 30–40 calendar days via a continental port by sea. On top of that, allow 2–5 days of clearance with Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) and a same-day inland leg to Bern.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Bern?
Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) applies: VAT 8.1%; customs duty is assessed on gross weight rather than value, which is unusual and changes how packaging affects cost. The de-minimis position is Duty and VAT waived when the total tax due is under CHF 5. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Bern.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Bern?
Yes. Delivery to a Bern address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG), and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
What documents does Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (CE marking generally accepted; Swiss labelling rules for consumer products). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Which port or airport does cargo for Bern clear through?
Cargo for Bern is routed via ZRH air / Basel rail. Sea gateways for Switzerland are No seaport — via Rotterdam, Antwerp or Genoa, then rail or Rhine barge to Basel; air gateways are ZRH (Zurich), GVA (Geneva), BSL (Basel). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Bern?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Other delivery cities in Switzerland
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Switzerland change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) or your broker before you ship.
- Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG)
- Tares tariff database
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Bern
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.