Visa and Immigration Information for Switzerland

Switzerland

Visa Information

Passport requirements

All nationals require a valid passport.

Only exception are nationals of the following countries who may also present an alternative document of identification instead of a passport: Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden.

Mentioned validity: after intended period of stay

Visa requirements

Who does not require a visa?

Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa when entering as a tourist:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, USA, Vatican City.

Note: If staying for longer than 3 months, or if total length of time spent in Switzerland exceeds 6 months within a 12-month period, a residence permit is required.

Required documents for visa application

Tourist Visa:

Application form
Passport-size photo
Valid passport with 1 full blank page
Return ticket
Evidence of sufficient funds for stay
Proof of purpose of visit
Visa fee payment

Visitor: Invitation letter from Swiss residents sent directly to the Embassy, accompanied by a copy of the Swiss resident's Swiss Passport/ID card or Swiss Resident Permit. Student: CV, including explanation of intentions of applicant in Switzerland, plus diplomas/school reports and attestation from educational institution in Switzerland, and proof of payment of school fees.

Validity of Visa

Tourist Visa: 90 days.
Student Visa: 90 days.

Costs of Visa

Student Visa: 15-20 EUR

Children aged under 18 included in a parentâ€™s passport are not required to pay a separate visa fee. 2) € 17 for unmarried passengers aged under 18 with separate passports.

Time required to issue visa

Tourist Visa: 1 days
Student Visa: 1 days

Apply at least 1 week prior to departure and no earlier than 3 months before proposed travel.

Embassy contact information

Embassy of Switzerland in England UK:
Embassy of Switzerland in USA:
Embassy of Switzerland in Australia:
Embassy of Switzerland in Canada:

All information on this page has been carefully investigated. However visa requirements change frequently and the information is provided without any guarantee.

Before departure it is recommended to check the website of the embassy. For further questions regarding visa requirements contact directly the embassy of Switzerland in your country.

Accredited language schools in Switzerland

Switzerland - language schools:Bern Geneva Zurich

Best rated language schools in Switzerland:

Switzerland: Zurich: LSI - Language Studies International

Former student ratings: